Common Questions

Useful Information

What does isolation mean?

Those who lack reasonable and reliable access to other people, services and resources and have no regular contact with other families and children. They may be faced with the challenge of isolation through a range of factors such as social, emotional, cultural, economic, or geographical circumstances or live in a disadvantaged locality. (Contact 1979)

Isolation can be caused by many factors such as:

Lack of awareness about available services and programs.
Limited financial resources or no access to a telephone.
Scarcity of services in a community or region.
Geographical barriers, such as long distances and poor road conditions.
Living far away from service centres.
Impacts of natural disasters like droughts, floods, bushfires, or pandemics.
Not having a car or lack of other transport options.
Low self-esteem or confidence.
No friends or family nearby.
Feelings of loneliness.
A child or parent having poor health or a child with additional needs.

How is Contact funded?

Contact was originally funded by the Department of Social Security through the Office of Child Care, Canberra.

Throughout its 46 years of operation, Contact relied on government funding, philanthropic support and donations to sustain its services and operations and deliver programs focused on improving early childhood, education, health and wellbeing outcomes for isolated children and families.

Is Contact a Charity?

Contact was a Public Benevolent Institution (PBI) and a registered charity with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC).