Introduction: Loneliness is a billion-dollar blind spot in Australian health and wellbeing. Social isolation contributes to poor physical and mental health outcomes, yet social connection is still often framed as a “nice to have” rather than a preventative health necessity. Inclusee, a national charity, set out to challenge this narrative by creating a community-led digital platform - The Inclusee Virtual Community Centre (VCC). The aim was to co-design connection pathways that are deeply human, scalable, and accessible regardless of postcode, mobility, or background. Method: Inclusee adopted a co-design model, partnering with older Australians, volunteers, and community services to build inclusive programs that reflected the experience of a physical Community Centre in a virtual setting. Our objective was to facilitate connections for people who experience challenges in physically accessing their local community, due to mobility restrictions, psychological factors, remote locations, or caregiving duties. Strategies included personalised onboarding, training staff and volunteers in empathy-driven engagement, and tailoring programs to diverse demographic groups. Results: Inclusee has facilitated over 100,000 hours of virtual connection, reaching participants in metro, rural, and remote areas. Anecdotal feedback from participants, family members, and medical referrers reported increased feelings of belonging, purpose, and confidence in using digital tools. Volunteers also experienced improved wellbeing, highlighting reciprocal benefits. Our virtual model proved especially impactful for those restricted in accessing face-to-face community, demonstrating that digital connection can be a lifeline, not a second-best option. Discussion: The findings reinforce connection and belonging as critical protective factors for health and wellbeing. Inclusee’s model demonstrates that community-centred, digitally enabled approaches can scale without losing the intimacy of human connection. This presentation will explore how co-design, community partnerships, and innovative strategies can shift social connection from the margins of “nice” to the centre of preventative health practice.