Social capital is a sociological concept used in business, economics, organizational behaviour, political science, public health and the social sciences in general to refer to connections within and between social networks. Social capital is built through hundreds of little and big actions we take every day. Here’s a list of actions for Australians, part of a list of “151 things I can do to build social capital”, inspired by the Better Together Report.

1. Organise a street dinner to welcome a new neighbour
2. Attend the ratepayers annual meeting
3. Vote in local government elections
4. Actively support local businesses
5. Volunteer your special skills to a local organisation
6. Start a community garden
7. Surprise a new neighbour by making a favourite dish – and include the recipe
8. Don’t gossip
9. Stop and help fix someone’s flat tyre
10. Vote in local council elections
11. Get to know your children’s teachers
12. Attend P & C meetings
13. Volunteer in your child’s classroom or offer being a volunteer on a field trip
14. Answer surveys when asked
15. Help coach a local sports group – even if you don’t have a child playing
16. Join a carpool
17. Employers: Give employees time (e.g. 3 days per year) to work on a community project
18. Plan a ‘Walking Tour’ of a local historic area
19. Have family dinners and read to your children
20. Join a local Emergency Services group
21. Gather a group to clean up a local park or nature reserve
22. Turn off the TV and talk with friends or family

See the other 129 ideas at the BANK of I.D.E.A.S. (pdf handout)