The Albany Connected Communities Project (ACCP) is a three-year social prescribing pilot led by Amity Health in Albany, WA, funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care. Supported by $1.5M from the Innovative Models of Care Program, ACCP aims to: • Integrate health and social care through a patient-centred model • Strengthen local collaboration across multidisciplinary teams • Build evidence for coordinated care improving wellbeing The project supports individuals in managing their health through social connection and strengthens community capacity to promote wellbeing. Long-term goals include addressing social determinants of health, reducing demand on primary care, and lowering health costs. Serving Albany’s 33,000 residents, ACCP initially accepted referrals only from health professionals; GPs, allied health, community mental health, and Albany Health Campus. However, this clinical model posed barriers, particularly for those reluctant to seek help through formal channels. In response, a self-referral pathway was introduced in February 2025. It now accounts for 63% of all referrals. We hypothesise that self-referral has enhanced self-determination by removing gatekeeping, reducing stigma, especially around loneliness and empowering individuals to engage on their own terms. With nearly one in three Australians experiencing loneliness, and many hesitant to disclose it, community-led models like ACCP offer a more accessible, stigma-free alternative. This presentation shares ACCP’s insights into self-referral, self-determination, local connection, and the potential of social prescribing to address loneliness and improve wellbeing.