As Mental Health Month in Australia continues, Selby Community House and it’s over-60s social group, ‘Wise Ones’, have welcomed the news of a community grant from Australia Post.
Delivered the news at their regular meetup on Thursday 9 October, the Wise Ones of Selby House received a community grant to support more social gatherings within the house and the area for their group.
Selby Community House and Monbulk Rangers Soccer Club in the Yarra Ranges were two of 88 not-for-profit community groups Australia Post gave funding to in its 2025 Community Grants program.
With the intention to rebuild resilience, reduce isolation, and foster belonging in the wake of the 2021 storm, Selby House Manager Danielle Steele said their house applied for the grant to give to be able to give their group ‘a little something more’ and to continue to address loneliness and isolation among older adults in the Selby area.
“Out in this area, some people are limited by lack of access to transport, limited income, lots of issues that keep them isolated, and can really impact on mental health and their physical health as they age,” she said.
Australia Post General Manager of Community and Stakeholder Engagement, Nicky Tracey said applications for this year’s program showed an outstanding level of local initiatives, strengthening connection and resilience in communities across the country.
“In times of disaster, it’s local organisations that are best placed to support the recovery process, as they understand their communities, know what’s needed, and are there for the long haul,” she said.
Danielle said that the Wise Ones group began when the house recognised the need for community connection in the over-60s demographic and began holding unfunded regular meetings on-site.
“We had no extra funding, but wanted to offer the house up to them and try and bring people together,” she said.
Beginning small, then slowly growing, Danielle said Wise Ones has become a beautiful group, with noticeable changes and connections forged.
“There are some really lovely friendships that have developed, people bake things and bring things along to share,” she said.
“I’ve seen members of the community actually really change and flourish from when they first started coming to now.”
As the group flourished, the Selby house staff and volunteers began looking at grants to offer the group a little more, with the intention of providing some more structured activities for the group to do together.
“We wanted to expand on the unfunded Wise One’s social group, and we knew that with some funding, we could provide some regular activities like facilitated chair yoga or pilates sessions, maybe some community lunches each term for the group,” said Danielle.
“The idea was really to foster connection among the group and keep the connection going, along with some physical well-being, and to continue the community engagement among older people,” she said.
Involved in Selby House from its grassroots beginnings, committee member and Wise One member Susan brings something homemade every time to the group.
“The people who come seem to really enjoy it. I’ve had good feedback, and I think others have as well, about the value of it,” she said.
The members of Wise Ones suffered a loss within their group earlier this year, who was a well-known resident and character of Selby and a member of Wise Ones who cherished and grew within the connection the group provided.
Susan said he became a fully fledged and well-loved person in Wise Ones, and they do miss him and that the group will continue to meet, and that those who come along see its value and enjoy themselves.
“I bring homemade morning tea and check that people are happy and that sort of thing,” she said.
The Community Grants program is part of Australia Post’s commitment to mental health, which includes a partnership with Beyond Blue that has delivered 21 million Connection Postcards to households across Australia.
“Our Post Offices are at the heart of Australian communities, and we understand the important impact locally led initiatives have on the community,” Ms Tracey said.
The Wise Ones group will now set about deciding how exactly they will best use the funding.
“Wise Ones is doing the job that it was intended to do, people feel accepted,” said Susan.
“Thanks to this new funding, we’re excited to plan even more meaningful activities and fun outings for our Wise Ones over the next year,” read Selby House’s social media post.
