Kindness, connection, and community with Hugh Mackay

Get That Good Life! Conference Replay

Because we are social creatures, we are ‘hardwired’ for kindness and cooperation. It’s our natural state. The sense of ‘belonging’ is therefore essential to our mental and emotional health.

But the social changes of the past 30-40 years have been pushing us in the opposite direction. We’ve become more socially fragmented, less cohesive, and more isolated. The consequences are obvious: epidemics of loneliness, anxiety and depression.

In his presentation, Hugh will help us reconnect with the magic of kindness. He’ll explain how building connections can start with small acts of kindness in your neighbourhood. We hope participants will be motivated to use these techniques in their own lives.

Introduction

This session was introduced by Jessie Ward.

Hello My name is Jessie Ward. I am a year 12 student, and I’m in a choir called Octave.

I am here to introduce a highly celebrated Author, Hugh Mackay

Hugh is a social psychologist. He has spent the past 60 years in social research. He is an honorary professor at ANU. He has written 22 books and 8 novels. His most recent book is called The Kindness Revolution. Today Hugh will talk to us about Kindness, Connection and Community.

Please welcome Hugh Mackay

Meet Hugh Mackay

Hugh Mackay is a Canberra-based social psychologist and researcher, and the bestselling author of 22 books, including eight novels. His latest book, The Kindness Revolution, was published in 2021.

He has had a 60-year career in social research and was also a weekly newspaper columnist for over 25 years. He is currently an honorary professor in the Research School of Psychology at ANU and a patron of the Asylum Seekers Centre. Among other honorary appointments, he has been deputy chairman of the Australia Council for the Arts, the inaugural chairman of the ACT government’s Community Inclusion Board and an honorary professor at Macquarie, Wollongong and Charles Sturt universities.

Hugh is a Fellow of the Australian Psychological Society and the Royal Society of NSW. In recognition of his pioneering work in social research, he has been awarded honorary doctorates by Charles Sturt, Macquarie, NSW, Western Sydney and Wollongong universities. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2015.

Resources related to this presentation

• Australian Bureau of Statistics
• Lim, M., & Australian Psychological Society. (2018). (rep.). Australian loneliness report: a survey exploring the loneliness levels of Australians and the impact on their health and wellbeing. Australian Psychological Society and Swinburne University.

Contact details

• Website: https://sites.google.com/view/hughmackay