Discover stories, insight and support from our community
2025 Social Impact Report
Befriend’s 2025 Social Impact Report captures how grassroots community building is strengthening connection, belonging, and wellbeing across Greater Perth. With…
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Helping Others Feel More Connected
Supporting someone to feel more connected means creating the right conditions for friendships to grow. By focusing on shared interests,…
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Ep 1. The Builder
Alyssa Nixon-Lloyd has always had a keen interest in community. Growing up in a small country town, community-building was second…
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Ep 2. The Sociologist
2020 will always be known as the year we all jumped on online to socialise. But we had a question;…
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Ep 3. The Researcher
We see a lot in the media about the downside of online connections and the superiority of face-to-face friendships. But…
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Ep 4. The Dreamer
Valerie Weyland dreams big. In her early 20’s she moved by herself to Australia, a place where she knew no-one,…
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Ep 5. The Optimist and the Listener
Fee has a happy knack of seeing the best in everyone. As a woman with an intellectual disability and autism,…
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Ep 6. The Empowerer
In this episode, we talk with occupational therapist and disability rights advocate, Dr. Bec Waters. Bec teaches a unit about…
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Ep 7. The Facilitator
Dave Lindner is Befriend’s Community Connector – he’s the guy who helps Befriend members create new communities and connections. In…
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Give the gift of connection this Christmas!
Human connection is the best gift of all. We tend to think of the festive season as a busy time…
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The Swan Repair Cafe
The Swan Repair Café is not just about mending broken items – it’s about people, community, and giving things a…
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"I Like People!"
Tim’s story shows how connection grows through purpose, creativity, and contribution. Living with expressive aphasia and using a wheelchair, he…
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Resilient Together Wanneroo Project
Befriend is building stronger, more resilient communities in Wanneroo and Perth’s northern corridor by nurturing local connections and community-led initiatives.…
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New tactics for a new era
Strong social ties determine how communities survive disasters. Research from the Australian bushfires shows connected places recover faster and suffer…
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People Need People
People need people, yet modern life makes community fragile. Even intentional groups struggle to live well together. In rapid, uncertain…
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Garry's Story
Garry is the one of the Hosts of the Burns Beach Sunset Walk and the Neil Hawkins BBQ, alongside his…
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Cav Cafe - "setting the world right in our little way"
“I was sitting in the cafe in January with my husband and grandchildren, when I noticed a little Befriend postcard…
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Nurturing your own community idea to life
Nurturing a new community idea to life can feel like stepping into the unknown – exciting and a little intimidating!
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Sarah-Lee's story
Sarah Lee Parker is no stranger to bringing people together. “To tell you the truth, I’ve always been a community…
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Robyn's story
With so much land development happening across greater Perth, we continue to see the development of new suburbs and new…
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Alice's story
It’s been 9 years since Alice had to finish work, due to a combination of workplace changes and a personal…
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Sandie Thorne has been a Host and a friend of Befriend for 6 years. After many months of juggling multiple…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Alysha
When Alysha dashed off stage to grab her guitar from hiding, and told us she had never before performed in…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Samantha
Samantha learned of the The Possibility Fellowship in late 2022 at a Ceremony for Befriend Volunteers in Wellard, where she…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Gonzalo
I always considered myself a curious person, ever since I was a child. It’s just that: how could one not…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Patricia
When Patricia left Colombia for Australia, she embarked on a journey far greater than the physical distance between these two…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Marika
Marika’s curiosity and love of play enticed her to come along to the taster session for the Possibility Fellowship 2023.…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Kim
It was in 2021 that Kim Hutchinson discovered her autistic identity, an important revelation in her ongoing quest for self-discovery,…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Barbara
Barbara began her community work as a 20-year-old at an Italian bakery in Brunswick Street, Fitzroy, an iconic district in…
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Sue's Story
This is what I wrote during yet another lonely and frightening night of being unable to sleep, sitting in the…
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The Possibility Fellowship Alumni - Journeying with Dianne
The event kept popping up on her phone screen. She thought of all the reasons why she shouldn’t participate—a 3-month…
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Sharron's Story
Sharron’s journey is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the power of community. After a sudden…
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The Empathy Effect: sparking friendships through the art of understanding each other!
Empathy is a powerful way to build connection and friendship, even with strangers. By showing curiosity, listening deeply, and keeping…
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Give it a Go in Swan
Give it a Go is a fun, free travelling community adventure happening across different locations in the City of Swan!…
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Open Communities - coming together in learning
Open Communities invites community builders, volunteers and organisations to co-design a shared learning space for connection and collaboration. Through gatherings,…
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Feeling awkward about meeting new people? It's totally natural!
Do you often find yourself saying “I’d like to go… but I don’t really know anyone and it might be…
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Margarita's Story
Margarita’s story is one we’ve loved to watch unfold: someone who stretched out of their comfort zone to spark connection…
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Elizabeth's story
This is Elizabeth’s story, written by community dreamer, weaver, writer, story-teller and Befriend staff member, Nicola. It’s a story of…
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Nicola's story
Meet Nicola. Nicola has been a Host with Befriend for a little over a year. But the journey that led…
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Supporting Community: A Network Development Project in the City of Kwinana
We are a non-profit social enterprise based in Perth, Western Australia who exist for one single purpose; to foster inclusive,…
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How do I make friends in Perth if I’m introverted?
You want to meet people, form friendships and feel less alone, but you think that your introverted nature is an…
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Creating a friendship that lasts
Do you find that even if you chat with new people while out and about, these interactions don’t lead to…
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COVID-19 was a strange time. It was a unique moment in history where we bunkered down safely at home wherever…
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