Working remotely means Canberra-based computer scientist Beau Johnston, 36, needs to work hard at friendship and community.

"It varies from day to day, but usually [I feel] pretty connected," he said.

"If I was just relying on work, I'd feel ... quite lonely.

"If you foster a sense of community, that certainly helps with loneliness."

A third of Canberra men aged 35 to 50 meet the criteria for loneliness, according to an online survey of 400 men conducted by Censuswide in early 2025 on behalf of the charity Mentoring Men.

Nearly two-thirds of Canberra respondents said they lack companionship, feel left out, or felt isolated from others some or most of the time.

This survey did not compare rates of loneliness in middle-aged men to other demographics, but other research suggests this

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