Families in Australia Survey - life during COVID-19. Report no. 2, Staying connected when we're apart

Abstract

Overview<br/ >May 2020: the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic was upon us, and we surveyed 7,306 people about how they had been affected. Every state and territory was in some form of lockdown. The restrictions differed, but what everyone had in common was a degree of forced isolation.<br/ ><br/ >We have a special interest in families and what helps them thrive, so a number our questions focussed on how people stayed connected, particularly when physically separated. In reply, they gave us information, ideas, advice and inspiration. This is what they shared.<br/ ><br/ >Key messages<br/ >Many people (37%) found it difficult to connect with family members living elsewhere, though almost everyone (93%) made the effort.<br/ ><br/ >The families who kept up the best connection often lived close by or made creative use of technology (see 'Creative connections').<br/ ><br/ >Many older people struggled with video calls and the like, and many still depended on face-to-face visits for contact and support. (See 'Tech tips' below for ideas on how to help.)<br/ ><br/ >Zooming all four families together once a week instead of our Shabbat dinner… It's chaotic but fun! <br/ >Female, 66, lives in a major city, couple-only household