Building Community and Connection across Generations

Australia’s population is ageing rapidly.

The proportion of older people in Australia – those aged 65 years and over – has been steadily increasing over the past century and according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics is set to continue. Where in 2020 we had 4.2 million older Australians who comprised 16% of the population, by 2066 we’re looking at older Australians making up 23% of the population (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare).

One major social impact of this demographic shift is that we are going to see more interaction between older and younger generations, simply because there will be more older people. And as the Australian Human Rights Commission points out, this is a good thing because different generations mixing benefits everyone.

Meaningful connections across generations enriches the lives of people of all ages. For older people it can be a way to combat social isolation and loneliness and increase their sense of purpose and belonging. For younger people it has been shown to improve social and emotional skills. Overall, it cultivates greater empathy, promotes respect, builds understanding and fosters knowledge sharing between people with different skills and experiences.

Creating meaningful connections across generations can be achieved in many ways, including:

-       Collaborative learning opportunities like workshops and classes where people learn from each other.

-       Volunteering for initiatives and projects where people of all ages work side by side.

-       Engaging in shared hobbies such as gardening, reading, music, cooking or art.

-       Technology training that allows young people to help older adults get more comfortable with digital devices and platforms.

-       Storytelling and oral history projects and events that give older people the opportunity to share their life experiences and stories.

-       Intergenerational sports and recreation activities – from walking to team sports or fitness instruction where people come together to move their bodies.

Social connectivity is a powerful tool to improve mental and emotional wellbeing, which connects to physical health outcomes as well. As our population ages and there are more older people in our communities, it is essential that we bring the generations together and foster meaningful connections.