I was fortunate enough to attend COTA Australia’s National Policy Forum 2015 and listen to what the amazing list of speakers and fellow delegates had to say. My mission as always – to listen for clues around current dominant stories and learn whose stories need to be heard. Below you will find a few of my take home messages (there were PAGES). Below that you will find something I am really, genuinely passionate and excited about – The Gender & Ageing in Australia Digital Storytelling Projects Challenge!

COTA Australia’s National Policy Forum 2015:
Gender & ageing – equity & diversity in later life.

My notes:

• The aged population is as diverse as population as a whole
• We need to improve public attitudes towards older workers
• Women live longer, retire earlier and with less super
• Current expectation/story ‘Because you care you will put up with less money and worse conditions’
• We need to empower women in their financial literacy and planning
• We need to educate and engage people on financial literacy, from a young age
• Decreased home ownership = increased risk of homelessness. Need to get the story across that it’s about conventional lives and day-to-day experiences
• Older CALD widowers experience increased isolation as a result of stereotypical belief that migrant families will care for older family members
• Family members caring for someone with dementia are experiencing increased isolation ‘The moment someone finds out I am caring for someone with dementia they stop inviting me out’
• We keep thinking of older people as needing care when they are actually giving care
• Research – it’s not just about numbers, it’s about what people say
• Older men have less friendships but value them as much
• Grandfather roles changing – we don’t know much about it as most studies focus on women or younger men
• Multi populations of gender – policy makers don’t know they exist. People are afraid of health providers therefore not accessing services. Unless you intentionally include someone you will inevitably exclude them. Need 101 sessions about these populations as we can only get to solutions when policy makers have an understanding of the basics

Gender & Ageing in Australia
Digital Storytelling Projects Challenge
Proposal by Engaging Solutions

In EVERY session of the forum the need for authentic stories to be collected and shared was mentioned (both explicitly AND implied). So here’s what I propose: A Digital Storytelling Projects Challenge for the Gender & Ageing Sector to get serious about collecting an authentic, empowering and engaging collection of stories that will serve the individual storyteller, their community, the broader Australian community and inform gender and ageing policy.

This challenge is about more than sticking a video camera in front of people and asking them questions then wacking it up on youtube.  I specialise in Safe & Purposeful Story Seeking and through my 5 week face to face workshops and 2hr screenings, I offer an opportunity for storytelling to potentially successfully traverse the entire Continuum of Change. Being a service provider who works independently I offer my clients (including NFP’s, Government Dept’s, private companies and community organisations) transparency and flexibility.

I am looking for clients willing to invest in these projects by commissioning one or more tailored digital storytelling workshop packages so I can invest my time and resources on giving the best quality process and outcome possible for storytellers and your organisation. $POA.

Proposed Digital Storytelling Workshop Topics (1 x 5 week workshop/screening per topic. 6 stories per topic):

• Older Australians = Diversity
• Older women’s relationship with financial literacy and planning
  (and the advice they would give younger women!)
• Older workers – success stories
  (including transitions from manufacturing to community sector)
• Homelessness – conventional stories through day-to-day experiences
• CALD widowers experiencing isolation
• CALD experiences with a one size fits all care industry
• Carers (of loved ones with dementia) experiencing isolation
• Older Australians as care givers
• Grandfather roles in modern Australia
• Gender populations – we exist!
• Gender populations & health services

So, share this idea with anyone you know in the industry who may be interested (or who you think may need a nudge!) and let’s get these stories out there so we can learn from the experiences and insights of older Australians.   To discuss these topics and opportunities for your organisation/community contact Jennifer Thompson direct on mobile 0422 690 827 or email jennifer@engagingsolutions.com.au