World Health Organization (WHO) has declared loneliness to be a threat to global health, finding that its mortality effects are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
This is why Australian Red Cross programs like TeleCROSS are essential. 
TeleCROSS involves friendly volunteers making check-in calls, 365 days a year, to isolated older people. An extension of TeleCROSS, our TeleCHAT and TeleYARN programs focus on providing longer support calls, helping people feel socially included.
In 2022/23 alone, we’ve supported 5,364 people, with a total of 216,101 hours of support.
Red Cross services Telecross and Telechat are social connection services over the phone. If you have 1 hour a week spare you could volunteer in one of these programs and help people feel more connected to their community and make some new friendships.
Maltese Welfare NSW has Maltese speaking volunteers working with Australian Redcross in their TeleCHAT program. Contact them for Details https://brnw.ch/TeleCROSS_
Lawrence Gatt
President Maltese Welfare NSW
