Neighbour Day

Decide how you want to celebrate Neighbour Day. It might be a meet and greet BBQ or a children’s fun day at the local park or at your group’s usual meeting place. Neighbour Day is not about large scale events, but rather smaller localised events.

Whichever way you decide to celebrate think about how much free time you have to plan and keep it manageable.

Pick a location that is communal and accessible (such as a local park or front lawn) rather than inside a home to be COVIDSafe. This will also encourage more people to join in and it'll be less intimidating for neighbours that don’t know many people. 

We encourage you to think creatively and innovatively about how to connect with your neighbours, but in case you’re stuck, here are some ideas from previous Neighbour Day activities to get started!

• International potluck meal with neighbours - invite people to bring a dish of food from their home country and to share something about their culture.
• Invite your neighbours for a cup of tea/coffee and some sweet treats
• Meet and greet BBQ /picnic at your local park using onsite BBQs only.
• Form a Neighbourhood Watch group
• Picnic and games afternoon at a nearby park or reserve. Egg and spoon, sack or relay races are popular with families with young children
• Clean-up, gardening, working bee, or giant garage sale to fundraise for a neighbourhood initiative
• Start a neighbourhood library for things you are happy to lend or share with others in your street. For example: books, movies, soft toys, music, art and craft supplies etc.
• Start a neighbourhood newsletter or create a neighbourhood Facebook page for your street
• Organise a vegetable swap at your local neighbourhood/community centre, park or school
• Invite neighbours to join or form a walking group.

Register your event on the Neighbour Day website and help to inspire neighbours all over the country. 

You need to apply for a reserve booking or an event permit if you’re planning:

• A public gathering of more than 60 people on a Council reserve, footpath or road
• A private (by invitation) gathering of more than 100 people on a Council reserve, footpath or road
• Road closures or changed traffic and parking conditions
• Any event that will impact on the local community through significant noise levels
• Carnival rides and temporary infrastructure such as portable toilets, marquees and stages on Council property
• Fireworks including firecrackers
• Any activity/event that clearly goes beyond intended use of the public space.

Conditions apply for functions/activities/events on Council reserves. Visit  Events, Private Function or Activities in a Council Park or Reserve for information.

It’s important you call Council to discuss your idea. We will support you in applying for a reserve booking or event permit.

Involve your neighbours in the planning of your activity or event and work out what needs to be done, such as:

• invitations
• publicity
• food
• name tags 
• activities for kids. 

Get children involved too, they love a party!  

Visit the Neighbour Day website to download posters and invitations or contact Council for hard copies.  Then add the date, time, place and your contact details.

Let people know if you would like them to bring any food or drink. Activities with alcohol will not be supported by Council.

Decide on how you would like to invite your neighbours. Knocking on the door and giving them an invitation is a nice personal touch or you could pop it in the letter box or come back later if they are not at home. If you are organising an event for your neighbourhood you might want to consider promoting your event at your local shops and schools.    

Make sure your neighbours feel included. You might want to nominate one person to have the role of introducing people and handing out name tags or you could consider some ice breaker games. Taking photos and videos is a great way to capture your events, but have peoples’ written permission before taking any photos.

We would love to hear how your event went. Send an email telling us “What is special about your Neighbourhood?” You can include:

• photos
• videos 
• a short story.

Your photos and videos won’t be used publicly.

Neighbour Day Grant recipients will be provided a feedback form.