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Australian Owned & Operated · Our Mission

Built with care,
for those who matter most.

Nearness exists because connection is medicine — and too many older Australians are going without it. We're here to change that, one warm conversation at a time.

"To provide meaningful, consistent, and personalised companion calls that reduce loneliness, support mental wellness, and give older Australians something to look forward to — delivered by phone, on their schedule, from an Australian team that genuinely cares." — Nearness Mission Statement
The Story

Why we built Nearness.

Loneliness among older Australians is one of the most significant and least talked-about health crises of our time. 1 in 5 older adults report feeling lonely on a regular basis — and in aged care, that figure climbs to over 60%. Not occasionally lonely. Persistently, quietly, invisibly lonely.

And here's the thing about older parents: they often don't tell their kids. They don't want to worry anyone. They don't want to be a burden. So families carry that worry silently too — 8 in 10 adult children worry about their ageing parents every single week.

Nearness was built by Australians, for Australians, to bridge that gap. A warm, friendly voice that calls regularly — remembers their stories, asks about their week, and genuinely looks forward to catching up. No tech for them to figure out. No guilt for families about not calling enough. Just connection, on their terms.

1 in 5

older Australians experience regular loneliness

$2.7B

annual cost of loneliness to the Australian economy

+50%

increased dementia risk from social isolation (National Academies, 2020)

8 in 10

adult children worry about their ageing parents every week

What We Stand For

Our values.

Everything we build is guided by these principles — because the people we serve deserve nothing less.

Warmth First

Every call, every feature, every decision starts with one question: does this feel warm and human? Technology is the vehicle, not the destination.

Radical Transparency

We always disclose that Nearness is AI. We never deceive clients, obscure our data practices, or hide behind vague terms. Honesty builds trust.

Safety & Dignity

Our clients are vulnerable. We take that responsibility seriously. Every safeguard — from distress detection to data encryption — exists to protect them.

Inclusivity

Australia is wonderfully diverse. Nearness is designed to be inclusive and respectful of cultural backgrounds — because belonging has no barrier.

Evidence-Based

We're not guessing. Nearness is grounded in decades of research on loneliness, ageing, and social connection. We follow the science.

Aussie Through & Through

We're Australian owned and operated — built here, for here. We understand the culture, the communities, and the families we serve. That local connection matters.

Backed by Science

This isn't just
a nice idea. It works.

The health impacts of loneliness are well-documented in peer-reviewed research spanning decades. Nearness's approach is grounded in the same evidence that guides public health policy worldwide — and the results of voice-based companionship programs are genuinely compelling.

Regular social interaction — even by phone — reduces depressive symptoms, slows cognitive decline, and meaningfully extends healthy life expectancy. This isn't feel-good thinking. It's evidence.

Holt-Lunstad et al. (2015): Social isolation increases mortality risk by 26–32% — comparable to smoking and obesity. The US Surgeon General declared loneliness a public health epidemic in 2023.

Livingston et al. (2020, The Lancet): Social isolation is linked to a 31% increased risk of dementia, a 32% increase in stroke risk, and a 29% higher risk of coronary heart disease.

ElliQ Companion Study (2023): 95.9% of users reported reduced loneliness after 30+ days of regular companion calls. 56% reported feeling more connected to family — not less.

CareCall RCT (2024): Regular check-in calls were associated with a 44.2% decrease in solitary deaths among older adults in the study group.

Australian-specific research: Local language and culturally appropriate voice is the single largest driver of adoption among older Australians — which is why Nearness is built here, for here.

Social connections are the single most powerful predictor of healthy ageing — more than exercise, diet, or genetics combined.
— Dr. Robert Waldinger, Harvard Study of Adult Development
The brain thrives on connection. Engaging with others stimulates neural pathways, keeping cognition vibrant and alive well into old age.
— Dr. Lisa Genova, Neuroscientist & Author
Loneliness is not just an emotional problem — it is a biological one. Chronic isolation triggers the same stress response as physical pain.
— Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, Brigham Young University
Regular conversation — even brief — is one of the lowest-cost, highest-impact interventions for older adult wellbeing.
— Ageing Research Review, The Lancet
Older Australian holding a phone in a warm living room
Our Promise

What we commit
to every client.

Always There

Calls happen when scheduled, every time. No missed visits, no cancellations, no public holidays off.

Always Remembers

Nearness grows with every conversation — building a richer, warmer picture of the person it speaks with.

Always Private

Your family's data is encrypted, protected, and never shared or sold. Full stop. No exceptions.

Always Australian

Australian owned, Australian operated, and built with Australian families front of mind. When you contact us, you're talking to our team — not an overseas call centre.

Ready to Begin?

Start a conversation
that matters.

Give someone you love a friendly voice that calls them regularly. Backed by research, built in Australia, and simple enough that all they have to do is answer the phone.

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