Social Isolation Profile and Community Asset Mapping

Community members of Melbourne's Southern region (defined below) are experiencing social isolation and disadvantage due to a complex combination of issues. Of particular concern is the lack of transport infrastructure and services and how this reduces access to employment, education, housing, recreation and critical support services and programs such as early years.

The project will analyse how the lack of transport infrastructure, services and related barriers increases social isolation and therefore contributes to the region's disadvantage by reducing economic and community connectedness.

This project defines social isolation as an objective state of having minimal contact and interaction with people, community and services. This is distinct from loneliness, which is a subjective feeling regarding the perceived quality of a person's relationships.

This Request for Services seeks the services of a suitably qualified firm or individual to:
1. Undertake a literature review of existing research, reports and data on the lack of transport infrastructure and services in the Southern region and its impact on social isolation by reducing access to employment, education, housing, recreation and support services. This will create a consolidated regional view of how these factors contribute to economic and social disconnectedness.
2. Develop a regional community asset mapping to demonstrate the above and build evidence needed to respond to these issues. This social infrastructure mapping will be used to inform public transport initiatives, planning decisions, infrastructure and service allocations.
3. Develop a regional social and economic profile, with a focus on the lack of transport infrastructure and services in the Southern region and how this impacts on social isolation by reducing access to employment, education, housing, recreation and support services.