The Social Inclusion Action Group (SIAG) is a community-driven project, supported by Frankston Council, that aims to make Frankston a more welcoming and inclusive place.
It brings together a diverse group of local residents, who seek to understand Frankston’s unique needs and strengths, and how being isolated, disconnected or excluded can impact wellbeing. SIAG members then help connect the ideas, people and organisations around our community, and make funding recommendations for projects that strengthen community ties.
The SIAG is an initiative that was created after the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Mental Health system, which recognised that local communities are often best placed to support wellbeing, connection and mental health. Frankston is one of the first areas to set up a SIAG, which aims to be set up in every municipality across Victoria.
Find out more about the State Government initiative here.
Other SIAGs are located in the following government areas:
If you would like more information
Email: SIAG.TEAM@frankston.vic.gov.au
Phone: 0427 249 033
Too busy? Register your interest here and we will call you back.
Click here to view form.
How does the SIAG work?
The SIAG is made up of two elements:
The SIAG members
A group of 15 to 19 dedicated community members who meet regularly to guide the SIAG’s decision-making. Each member brings unique perspectives, skills, and experiences, enriching the SIAG’s understanding and ensuring a diversity of voices is represented. SIAG members identify local needs and connect people, ideas, and organisations across the community. They ensure the SIAG’s efforts remain community-driven, transparent, and focused on promoting social inclusion and connection.
SIAG projects
These are initiatives that SIAG members have supported and connected with, helping to foster growth and resilience. Some projects have received SIAG funding, while others have benefited from community connections we’ve helped build, resulting in more collaborative and sustainable outcomes.
Supported by
The SIAG is funded by the Victorian Government and operates under the auspices of Frankston City Council, which provides project management, support and advice for the SIAG. Council is committed to providing the SIAG with a high level of autonomy to ensure this is a genuinely community-led program.
SIAG Frankston: The journey so far
The SIAG Frankston began in November 2023. Over the past year, the SIAG has built a strong foundation, developing values, processes, and policies that reflect the voice of Frankston’s community. Together, they’ve crafted guidelines for decision-making, a framework for prioritising initiatives, and defining the SIAG’s goals and purpose.
In 2024, the group focused on exploring Frankston’s strengths and identifying areas where social connection and support can grow, laying the groundwork for meaningful partnerships and community-led projects in the years to come.
Collaboration in action! These photos capture the spirit of teamwork at SIAG, where members come together to brainstorm innovative ideas and work towards shared goals.
At SIAG it’s the collective effort and support of every individual that makes all the difference
Values
The SIAG operates on a foundation of core values that guide our interactions, decision-making, and community engagement. These values, collaboratively developed by all SIAG members at the project's inception, form the acronym WRAPT. They encapsulate our commitment to creating a welcoming, respectful, and inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and heard.
The SIAG Framework is a strategic model designed to guide the SIAG in its efforts to enhance social inclusion and connection within the community. This framework outlines the priorities, activities, target beneficiaries, and underlying theoretical foundations that shape the SIAG’s work. This framework sets the foundation for sustainable and impactful community development in the future.
Key Components:
- Who: Outlines the people who should most benefit from SIAG’s work
- Why: How each project’s purpose will address one of four fundamental needs
- What: The activities that are within the scope of SIAG’s work
- How: The enablers of social inclusion the need to be embedded in each project.
Download the SIAG Frankston Framework(PDF, 270KB)
The primary role of the SIAG is to connect people, organisations, and ideas, but we also make funding recommendations for projects that strengthen community ties. Inclusion Action Grants are available to support community projects that contribute to building a more equitable, inclusive, and connected Frankston.
If you have an idea for a project, come and have a chat to us! We can help connect you with other organisations or initiatives that could strengthen your idea. We are always looking for ways support initiatives that address critical and social issues around isolation, disconnection, and wellbeing, and cater to the diverse needs of our community members.
Got an idea? …lets chat:
The SIAG are available to build your ideas and get support for a project in your community. Please get in touch with the team:
Email: SIAG.TEAM@frankston.vic.gov.au
Phone: 0427 249 033
Australia's Most Accessible Beach - Coming December 2025
The Social Inclusion Action Group (SIAG) works to increase connection and inclusion in our community. We recognise how important accessible community spaces are for everyone to participate and feel included - particularly for people living with disability, mobility challenges, older people and carers. One of the priorities identified in Frankston City Council's Disability Action Plan is improving beach access, and SIAG is proud to help make this a reality by supporting Council and Accessible Beaches Australia to launch the Australia’s Most Accessible Beach pilot program at Frankston Beach this summer.
This three-month pilot, delivered with significant financial support from SIAG as well as from local businesses and organisations, will transform our iconic beach into a truly inclusive space - providing dignity, freedom, and fun to over 30,000 residents living with disability, 21,000+ seniors, and 15,000 unpaid carers. For many, it will be their first ever opportunity to enjoy a day at the beach with loved ones.
Building on previous accessibility projects at Seaford Life Saving Club and Frankston Yacht Club, this initiative takes inclusion to the next level. The pilot, developed with advice from Council’s advisory groups including the Australia’s Most Accessible Beach Advisory Committee will include beach matting, shaded sunlounges, beach wheelchairs and walkers, support staff and a booking system to help you plan your visit with confidence.
SIAG has two representatives on the Australia’s Most Accessible Beach Advisory Committee, ensuring community voices shape a pilot that delivers real impact for Frankston!
For more information on this project, please visit Accessible Beaches - Frankston City Council
SIAG Community Workshops
The Social Inclusion Action Group (SIAG) Frankston brought together local organisations for two action-focused workshops to explore funding, support, and collaboration opportunities in the Frankston LGA.
We had a fantastic turnout from community organisations, groups, clubs, and members. It was an incredible opportunity to learn about what’s happening in our community and identify areas where we can get involved. The valuable insights we received have already led to the start of several community collaborations and grant proposals. Exciting times ahead.
The photos below capture the excitement and engagement of those who attended, showcasing the strong connection and enthusiasm within our community.
Walking Football 4 Health
Supported by the Social Inclusion Action Group (SIAG), this new initiative launched at Jubilee Park Stadium in June. Walking Football offers a fun, low-impact version of soccer that's inclusive and accessible to all ages and abilities.
The first four free “come & try” sessions, including two grandparents-and-grandkids specials, drew a warm, diverse crowd—men, women, children and seniors—keen to enjoy gentle exercise and boost social connections.
Interest has now spread statewide, with other centres planning to replicate the program—Walking Football 4 Health truly shows how sport + social connection = community impact.
Orwil Street Community House Peer Action Group - Supporting Community Leadership and Inclusion
SIAG is proud to support Orwil St Community House with funding over a two-year period towards a powerful project aimed at empowering emerging leaders with disability and building a sustainable model for inclusive community engagement.
The initiative includes the development of a Peer Action Group program designed to be sustainable through ACE Vic funding and replicable in other community settings. It also focuses on growing the skills, knowledge, and networks of local emerging leaders with disability, offering real-world experience in advocacy, event management, and leadership.
A major highlight of the project will be two International Day of People with Disability events; co-designed and led by people with disability that aim to grow community support and showcase the impact of inclusive leadership. By bringing together a range of community members and disability organisations, this project is laying the groundwork for long-term, collaborative community-driven change.
Loneliness Awareness Week
Loneliness Awareness Week
During Loneliness Awareness Week (4–10 August 2025), Positive Ageing teamed up with Frankston Library for Moments Matter, a relaxed, cozy gathering for community designed to show how tiny everyday moments can spark real connection. Photo prompts of Frankston scenes sparked warm conversations that were captured on a memory wall. SIAG members supported the event by attending and chatting with community, helping old friends reconnect and new one’s form. Everyone received a Frankston postcard with the message: Moments matter—a simple reminder that shared local moments can spark belonging and lasting friendships.”
Neighbours Every Day is about encouraging local communities to take simple steps to create social connection and foster respectful relationships.
A socially connected community strengthens mental wellbeing and resilience. Emotional support, companionship, and meaningful engagement can reduce isolation, boost self-esteem, and protect against stress and declining wellbeing.
This coming Neighbours Every Day – Sunday 29 March is the perfect opportunity to create lasting connections. You might host a BBQ, street party, morning tea, or picnic in the park — whatever helps bring your neighbours together!
Why is Neighbours Every Day important?
Because connection matters. When we know the people around us, we create safer, kinder, and more resilient neighbourhoods. Feeling connected builds trust, belonging, and a sense of community — the foundations of a happier and healthier Frankston City.
The Neighbours Every Day initiative is run nationally by Relationships Australia and championed locally by the Social Inclusion Action Group (SIAG), with support from Frankston City Council.
And remember — “neighbour” can mean lots of things. Connection comes in many forms: joining a local sporting club, visiting your neighbourhood house or library, volunteering, or taking part in a community activity that brings people together.
There are a million ways to connect to your Neighbours Every Day!
Need help getting started? You could try to:
- Introduce yourself: take the initiative to say hello when you see a neighbour.
- Offer a small gift: bring over some cupcakes, a small plant, or a card to introduce yourself without pressure.
- Do a good deed: offer to help with something small, like bringing rubbish bins or carrying a heavy load of shopping
- Ask for a favour: borrowing a cup of sugar or a tool can be a great way to start a conversation.
- Say something nice: a simple compliment on their garden or home can be a nice icebreaker.
- Throw a street party or host something in your front yard and make sure everyone gets an invite
- Host a morning tea
- Start a game of cricket
- Encourage everyone in the street to join a group chat
- Notice if there’s someone in your street who may be isolated and pop over with the offer of a cup of tea, drop a meal over or offer to help them with their garden
- Leave a note introducing yourself: pop a friendly message in your neighbour’s letterbox to say hello and let them know who you are.
Whether you host a street party or just use Neighbours Every Day as a reason to reach out, you will enjoy the benefit of all these activities long after the March event is over. Every small act of kindness or simple conversation can spark lasting connections — helping to build a stronger sense of belonging in your community for years to come.
Why is it important to know your neighbours?
- Community and social benefits
- Fosters a sense of belonging: strong neighbourhood relationships create a more welcoming and supportive environment, which can lead to greater life satisfaction.
- Reduces loneliness: knowing your neighbours, even just a few, can combat feelings of isolation and improve mental health.
- lending an ingredient, which build meaningful local connections and make community life easier. Encourages mutual support. Simple gestures — like lending an ingredient, collecting mail, or sharing local tips — build trust and make daily life easier.
- Safety and emergency preparedness
- Increases security: neighbours can keep an eye on each other's homes when someone is away, which can help deter crime.
- Improves disaster response: a community of neighbours who know each other is better equipped to prepare for and recover from emergencies and natural disasters.
- Provides assistance: neighbours can help vulnerable individuals in times of need, including older adults, people with disabilities, or single parents.
- Health and wellbeing
- Promotes mental health: research shows a positive link between strong social connections with neighbours and reduced rates of depression and anxiety.
- Boosts physical health: social connections are associated with better mental and physical health, with some studies indicating that good neighbourly relationships can even lower the risk of a heart attack.