Connect Up 2617

Connecting 18 to 30 year olds in Belconnen and Bruce

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Connect Up 2617

Find your people,
build your community

Connect Up 2617 is a community development program that creates opportunities to meet new people, make friends and build social connections. The program is for people aged 18-30 who live, work or study in the suburbs of Belconnen and Bruce (postcode 2617)!

Why Belconnen and Bruce? These suburbs have more than twice the number of 18-30 year olds as the ACT average. Research shows that this age group is also the loneliest.

Connecting young people with community events and activities is one way to build a sense of belonging.

Join our community

Social connections can improve our life in so many ways.

To spark connections in big moments including community events and small moments including a conversation over coffee, the program offers a variety of activities each week.

There are also opportunities to support the program as a volunteer or community leader.

Visit the Connect Up 2617 website to find out what’s on and join our community at www.connectup.au.

Follow our research

The Health Research Institute is working to address the important health issue of loneliness and young people. Research shows that being lonely (socially isolated) is directly linked with wellbeing.

As a result, Connect Up 2617 was developed by and for the Belconnen and Bruce communities during 2024 through community consultation and a co-design process. Read our summary report.

Connect Up 2617 is run by the Health Research Institute and funded through the Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF).

Read more about us in this UC news story.