RHOSE 31 | Navigating Home and Belonging: Public Discourse on COVID-19 Restrictions in NSW, Australia, and New Zealand

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged public health systems and the notion of “home” as a place of belonging and safety. This presentation explores how public discourse in New South Wales, Australia, and New Zealand reflected issues of identity, community, and dislocation during the crisis. By analysing the prosocial and individualistic values expressed by political leaders and everyday citizens, this study examines the ways in which the concept of “home” was redefined during a time of restrictions, isolation, and uncertainty.

Through a comparative analysis of interviews with key figures and personal diaries from citizens, the research highlights the tension between official narratives and individual experiences of home. The study emphasizes the role of societal values in shaping compliance and resistance to COVID-19 measures, revealing how the crisis prompted a rethinking of belonging, place, and community.

Keywords: COVID-19, public discourse, New South Wales, New Zealand, prosocial values, liberty, political communication, home, dislocation, belonging.

Bionote

Rasha Neddar is a PhD student in the Modern Literatures, Arts and Cultures program based in the Department of English Studies at the School of Arts & Humanities, University of Lisbon and a member of the University of Lisbon Centre for English Studies (ULICES). In April-May 2024 she was a visiting graduate student at Otago University New Zealand, and Sydney University Australia. Currently she is investigating the influence of cultural dynamics on public responses to government restrictions and regulations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additionally, Rasha contributes to the Representations of Home research project (RHOME) at ULICES, where she explores the multifaceted concept of ‘home’.