Journaling for Connection: A Cross-Community Moment That Mattered

In March 2025, ahead of Loneliness Awareness Week, residents of our Brookhaven community in Queensland came together for a special Journaling for Connection workshop led by Emily, a resident from Ed.Square in New South Wales. The session offered a simple yet powerful way for neighbours to reflect, connect and explore themes of community, belonging and loneliness.

The idea began in July 2024, when Emily’s journaling sessions at Ed.Square impressed our Community Development team with their ability to foster quiet reflection and meaningful conversations among residents. Inspired, Emily was invited to bring the experience to Brookhaven.

At the Community Development Conference in August 2024, Brookhaven community champions shared their own experiences, sparking interest in exploring innovative resident-led initiatives across Frasers Property communities. Plans were set in motion, and by February 2025, the workshop was officially scheduled – and perfectly timed for Loneliness Awareness Week.

Workshop Highlights

The session was fully booked with 15 residents, following a teaser video shared in the community Facebook group. On the night, participants rotated through three conversation stations, each designed to encourage reflection and connection:

1. Journaling with Emily – Prompt cards, quiet writing and open sharing.
2. Loneliness in the Community – Honest discussions about experiences of loneliness.
3. Letters to Our Younger Selves – A heartfelt tie-in to the 2025 theme of Loneliness Awareness Week, Moments Matter.

The evening concluded with a shared Burmese dinner, prepared by the resident café owner, reinforcing the power of food – like journaling – to bring people together.

Why It Matters

For participants, the workshop highlighted how small, intentional moments can nurture human connection, ease loneliness, spark new friendships and create safe spaces to be heard.

For Emily, it was an opportunity to extend her impact, gain confidence and inspire future community initiatives. She returned home energised, carrying insights from Brookhaven to enrich her own community programs.

For Frasers Property, the workshop reinforced our purpose of creating happier, more connected neighbourhoods. It supported the Thriving Communities aspect of our ESG strategy by empowering residents, fostering leadership and building capacity from within. Additionally, the session offered practical insights into how residents experience loneliness and belonging – invaluable data for shaping future initiatives, campaigns and community tools.

Moments like these remind us that sometimes all it takes is a prompt card, a pen and someone saying, “You’re welcome here.”