Council candidate Elvis Martin calls for “a holistic approach to wellbeing”

Southbank resident and councillor candidate in this year’s City of Melbourne elections Elvis Martin has announced his plans for a city-wide initiative aimed at reducing loneliness and supporting community cohesion.

Mr Martin, who is running a councillor-only ticket with seven other candidates under his “Team Elvis Martin”, said that as Melbourne continued to focus on infrastructure and economic development, “the social and emotional well being of its citizens must not be overlooked”.

If elected, Mr Martin would push to establish an initiative to reduce loneliness, which he believes is severely affecting all age groups, and has far-reaching consequences for mental health and community cohesion.

“Lack of meaningful community connections is having a severe impact on the mental wellbeing of Melburnians,” Mr Martin said.

“Loneliness is skyrocketing, and yet, it’s an issue that has been largely ignored in this election. We can’t talk about making Melbourne the most liveable city again without addressing the isolation many of our residents feel daily. This affects everyone – young and old.”

With one in four Australians reporting being affected by loneliness, Mr Martin said this was exacerbated in Melbourne by the rapid rise of urban development, the transient nature of the city’s population, and the ever-growing demands on small businesses.

He is proposing that the council funds neighbourhood programs specifically designed to bring people together and foster deeper community connections, which would be co-designed with local residents.

He’d also like to see the City of Melbourne allocate a specific allocation in its annual budgets to fund initiatives addressing loneliness and support small business owners who “often face significant stress”.

“Melbourne is known for its vibrancy and diversity, but beneath the surface, many people feel disconnected from the very community they live in,” Mr Martin said. “This is not just a social issue, it’s a public health crisis.”

A long-time Southbank resident, Mr Martin has dedicated his life to social justice, equality, and sustainability. As a board member for Melbourne City Mission Housing and the National Youth Commission, he has tackled issues like homelessness, mental health, and community safety.

Running in the second position on his councillor ticket is fellow Southbank resident and former Manningham councillor Sophy Galbally, who is the driving force behind the new Festival at Boyd in Southbank. •