Niki, a counsellor in the Adelaide Hills, always felt like an outsider. As a child, she never quite belonged. As an adult—amid other parents, peers and even church friends—she still felt alone. “Everyone else seemed to be connecting but me” said Niki. 

In her late thirties, while studying full-time at university, friends suggested that she might be neurodivergent. Testing confirmed she had Autism, and suddenly, everything made sense. “It was like a light was switched on,” she recalls.

Now in her mid-forties, Niki channels this clarity into her work as a counsellor and art therapist specialising in neurodivergence. “Embracing who I am has enabled me to better connect with people. I’ve made some fantastic friends… it’s opened a lot of doors.”

A public health crisis
Loneliness isn’t just Niki’s story. Nearly one in three Australians report feeling lonely, with one in six experiencing severe loneliness, according to the 2023 State of the Nation report. Chronic loneliness doubles your risk of long-term illness, spikes the chances of depression nearly 5-fold and anxiety over 4-fold. It’s also tied to heart disease, stroke, diabetes, cognitive decline, and even early mortality.

The World Health Organization (WHO) Commission on Social Connection released its global report in June declaring social disconnection to be an urgent public health crisis. With one in six people lonely worldwide and around 100 deaths every hour, it calls for urgent action from governments and organisations. The report also reveals that stronger social connections can improve well-being, reduce preventable deaths, boost economic resilience and build healthier communities.

Enter Spark: Igniting Human Connection
In 2022, riding a wave of new research and growing concern on the topic of loneliness, Dr Nadia Corsini and her co-researchers from UniSA teamed up with The Hut Community Centre and other partners to find solutions to tackle this issue. Their co-designed pilot project Spark was launched in September 2024 in the Adelaide Hills. Its mission: to ignite human connection through a range of evidence-based, community-led initiatives. Their vision is a future where everyone feels belonging and communities are inclusive, resilient, and compassionate.

Spark’s initiatives respond directly to this issue, by inviting people to connect in welcoming, low-pressure environments. These include conversation meet-ups, social activities, a co-working club for remote workers, a men’s social group and more. Anyone can join in, and most activities are free.

Each connection, however small, can ripple into big change. Since launch, nearly 650 attendances have been recorded at 170 Spark events in the Adelaide Hills region, showing that people keep coming back for friendly faces, shared laughter, and a sense of belonging.

Volunteers Powering Connection
At the heart of Spark’s approach is a focus on empowering volunteers to become community connectors. Known affectionately as Sparkies, Spark Volunteers create spaces where people can meet, feel welcome, and build genuine relationships. Niki joined the Sparkie team in early 2025, drawn by a desire to give back and deepen her ties within the community. For her, it’s more than just volunteering; it’s a way to help others find the connection she once longed for.

Growing The Spark
In recognition of their impact, Spark has just been awarded a major grant from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC). While the Adelaide Hills will remain its base of operations, Spark will extend its reach into the Alexandrina and Murray Bridge council areas, bringing its proven, community-led approach to even more people.

“Everyone deserves to feel like they belong,” says Dr Corsini. “Loneliness isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a social one. That’s why community-led solutions like Spark are so vital.”

To learn more about Spark and discover upcoming opportunities to connect, head to the Ignite Connection page. You can also subscribe to the newsletter for regular updates, stories, and invitations straight to your inbox. 

Written by Jo Kiley, Sparkie | Communications and Storytelling