Australia Post launches new mailboxes to tackle growing Aussie issue

Australia Post has installed talking post boxes at a few select locations. Source: Australia Post

Australia Post has installed the country’s first-ever talking post boxes in a bid to bring people closer together. The three interactive mailboxes, located in Canberra, Sydney and in Traralgon, in Victoria’s Gippsland region, use smart sensors to grab the attention of those walking past, and encourage them to write to a loved one the old fashioned way — by sending a postcard.

The installations, which were set up as part of a nationwide campaign with Beyond Blue to deliver five million prepaid Connection Postcards this month, utter phrases like:

  • “You can make a difference with a connection.”

  • “A little hello goes a long way.”

  • “Send a note to someone special.”

  • “Give them a laugh — send a free postcard from your local Post Office.”

Anyone wandering by who decides to take the talking post box up on its offer can simply pop into the nearby post office and ask staff for one of specially designed postcards, a spokesperson for Australia Post told Yahoo News. 

The cards, which are illustrated by regional Aussie artist Jocelyn Proust and feature the words “sharing this postcard because I care”, are available from all post offices around the country.

Since launching the initiative five years ago, over 21 million postcards have been distributed, however efforts were ramped up this year after an Australia Post survey revealed people were “more likely to send a postcard if they were prompted”, Nicky Tracey, the company’s general manager of community and stakeholder engagement, said.

“For the very first time, we’re bringing talking Post Boxes to three locations. What we know is that people still feel a much deeper emotional connection when they receive a letter or postcard. And that’s why we want to encourage people to write to one another, to improve connection.”

Prepaid Connection Postcards are available at post offices around the country. Source: Australia Post

In a study conducted by Beyond Blue last year, one in three Aussies reported to feeling lonely, with some admitting it caused them similar distress to cost of living and housing pressures.

Small acts of kindness can help bridge this gap, especially in isolated areas, Beyond Blue CEO, Georgie Harman AO, said.

“Research shows that everyday micro interactions like saying hello to people in our local neighbourhood as we’re walking the dog or popping into the shops can help us feel less lonely and more connected,” she explained.

“Our partnership with Australia Post and the Connection Postcards embodies those small but mighty moments by encouraging Australians to let someone know they’re thinking about them.”

“Australia Post’s large network helps us reach regional and rural communities, where people are more likely to experience loneliness, which can affect their mental health, and where access to support is often limited.”

The talking post boxes can be found at the below locations until mid-July, when the campaign ends.

  • Canberra — 53 Alinga St

  • Sydney — 44 Market St

  • Traralgon — 161-169 Franklin Street

Readers seeking support and information about suicide prevention can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636, Lifeline on 13 11 14 or Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467.

This article originally appeared on Yahoo News Australia at https://au.news.yahoo.com/australia-post-launches-new-mailboxes-to-tackle-growing-aussie-issue-233512125.html

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