Nabo builds good neighbours

But how many of us really know the people in our neighbourhood?

Nabo founder Adam Rigby remembers growing up in a neighbourhood where all the kids hung out together and the families often gathered together for barbecues.

“Talking to people now, it is happening less and less,” Mr Rigby said. “It’s such a shame as there are so many benefits from having a tightknit community.”

The founder of Nabo, a new social media tool that connects people in real terms, said he was aiming for the venture to become the third social network in Australia.

“You have Facebook for your friends and family, LinkedIn for your career, and Nabo for your local community,” he said.

Nabo has been purpose-built to be specific to your local area, giving you a directory of your neighbours and local businesses, and a diary of local events.

A verification system ensures Nabo is a private and secure network.

The free site also works to create a safer suburb. Members can send urgent alerts via SMS, and authorised local organisations (such as police and emergency services) can send alerts for emergencies.

With more than 6000 suburbs across Australia already registered on Nabo, now is the time to sign up. Just go to www.nabo.com.au and fill in your details to discover more about your neighbourhood.

Nabo is a joint venture with Fairfax Media, publisher of this newspaper.

WHILE there are many social benefits to becoming more connected to your community, there are proven health benefits as well.

Relationships Australia reports that social participation has been linked to the success and wellbeing of individuals, families and communities, with high levels of participation linked to better physical and mental wellbeing.

Social isolation is a known contributor to mental health issues. Taking time to chat to your neighbour may help more people than you realise.