This Open Access book reimagines social connection beyond the crisis narrative of loneliness, presenting an innovative interdisciplinary model that bridges individual experiences with community infrastructure. Drawing on research with urban fringe residents, it reveals how meaningful connections form through complex interactions across physical and digital spaces, shaped by environmental contexts and personal capabilities. Beyond Loneliness offers a strengths-based framework through rich thematic analysis and six powerful, detailed personal narratives that illuminate connection journeys. These storied stories serve multiple purposes—as research evidence, therapeutic resources, and self-help tools—while demonstrating how people actively navigate their social worlds, investing time and emotional labour in relationships that span from intimate bonds to community belonging. The book examines how contextual factors, including social, built, technological, and institutional, influence connection opportunities. For practitioners, policymakers, and researchers, this accessible work provides practical insights for fostering environments where diverse pathways to social connection can flourish. By moving beyond deficit-focused interventions toward comprehensive strategies that recognise social connection as a dynamic, relational process, Beyond Loneliness offers a transformative approach to building more connected, resilient communities. Jane Farmer is Professor of Health and Social Innovation at Swinburne University, Australia. She also works as an independent consultant. Jane has a background in research with communities in projects involving community co-design, social enterprises, community health, and rural communities. She has published over 200 peer-reviewed journal articles and five books. Milovan Savic brings a global perspective to researching how digital technologies influence human connection and community life. Drawing on extensive experience across three continents, he combines rigorous qualitative research with a commitment to making knowledge accessible beyond academic confines and turning findings into practical solutions for communities. Tracy De Cotta is an urban planner turned researcher who explores how places and spaces influence wellbeing. She investigates the physical and digital environments' impact on mental health and social connection through innovative methods like co-design and qualitative GIS mapping, translating research into practical tools for communities. |