“What is the one thing you would love to be able to do?”
Touched by Olivia’s next chapter builds upon the incredible learnings of inclusion through play. By recognising that all people, no matter their age, ability, or background, have the right to belong, feel connected and valued, we, as a community, need to be doing more! And so, Touched by Olivia’s coming of age is all about driving community communities through community circles!
Community Circles in Australia
Touched by Olivia has proudly introduced the internationally proven Community Circles model to Australia, adapting it to our local culture and environment. Community Circles has already created life-changing outcomes for hundreds of people, helping them connect, participate, and belong.
By partnering with local councils and community organisations, Community Circles strengthens neighbourhood ties by supporting people who need it most, promotes participation in local activities and events, and fosters genuine connections across diverse groups.
Community Circles can be individualised to a person’s needs. Often a person finds themselves disconnected from society or in need of extra support to help them live their best lives. This could be through health setbacks, family challenges, disability or ageing. These Circles are co-designed to match a person’s needs with the support on offer. By tapping into their own family and friends, and even their neighborhoods, we have discovered that help can be right there on their doorstep! With the guidance of a connector, the person can choose the support how and when they need it, thereby preserving their sense of agency and dignity. You can learn more about individualised Community Circles by clicking the button at the bottom of this page.
Community Circles can also be group-based, bringing people together to share common interests. Thanks to recent government funding, Touched by Olivia has run a pilot of group-based Community Circles in 2 Sydney LGA’s with overwhelming success. The funding enabled Touched by Olivia to employ 2 paid Community Connectors whose roles were to evaluate the current opportunities for social connection in their respective LGA’s and create opportunities for people to come together in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment. The Circles created more than 700 connections and data collected from the participants proved that joining Community Circles had made a significant positive impact on their wellbeing, as noted below:
- 83% agreed that Community Circles supported their independence
- 96% agreed that Community Circles made them feel more connected to people in their community.
- 95% agreed that Community Circles made them feel more confident living in their community.
- 96% agreed that Community Circles helped improve their mental wellbeing.
Hear what our participants had to share:
Community Circles has allowed me to engage with people who share a mutual understanding of a particular situation.
Without them I would not have been able to create the group – their input and advice is invaluable…Jacquie
The variety of groups, activities and events created by Community Circles is wonderful. After moving to the area recently it has had a huge impact on my ability to make social connections and find events to get involved in…Rachael
I was introduced to Community Circles Program via Rose Shaw whom with perseverance & patience has been an instrumental guide helping me to break free from my introverted isolation, solitude, worthlessness, loneliness & depression in which have plagued me for many years by connecting me with various programs, events as well as meeting other like minded individuals whom share same common ground & interests. I highly regard with utmost appreciation & humbled gratitude Rose Shaw alongside other highly respected community programs advocates & consider their positive much needed crucial humanitarian ethics servicing the
communities psychological needs of to be very a valued asset indeed as well as considering these humanitarians as angels with hidden wings..… Susan
Community Circles also enabled a number of meaningful collaborations as summarised below:
Recent Collaborations
- First Nations Cultural Circles – In partnership with Wingecarribee Council and Highlands Community Centre, we have supported cultural circles, initiatives, and events for First Nations people.
- Kaleidoscope Festival – A vibrant street party hosted by Wingecarribee Council, where we brought together Irish, Spanish, and Indian Circles to celebrate diversity and inclusion.
- Community Connections – We actively promote local activities across our network, encourage participation, and share partnerships that spark collaboration — such as linking council services with the Resource Recovery Centre.
Through Community Circles, we are building stronger, more inclusive communities where everyone can feel connected and valued.
