Migration, Diversity and Care

Life Stories and Digital Learning: A Social Care Approach to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Ageing

The Life Stories and Digital Learning: A Social Care Approach to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Ageing Project was a project led by Professor Baldassar and Dr Sala in collaboration with MYVISTA aged care facility in the City of Stirling, Perth WA. The program aimed to support the City of Stirling’s age-friendly strategy by increasing social interaction, inclusion and respect and by delivering a project model that can be adapted in other settings.

The project took a social care approach to ageing, including working with migrant communities. It brought together Italian-speaking residents at MYVISTA aged care facility and volunteers of all ages to share their life stories and learn new skills. There were two components to this project. The first was for residents to share their life story, while the volunteers recorded and created a life story booklet with them. The second was for the volunteers to share new technology skills with the residents (for example: increasing their confidence using computers and smart phones, learning about and using Google maps, YouTube, Facebook, email, Skype, and information searches on the internet).

The project aimed to break down the barriers that many older people face in using new technologies. In addition, many older migrants in residential care experience isolation, social exclusion and a lack of opportunities to engage with community members. This project was developed with the aim of addressing these issues.

This was the first time the research team conducted this project with a bicultural and bilingual sample – most residents were Italian migrants and Italian speaking, and the volunteers were either students of Italian or recent Italian migrants themselves. Residents chose to speak in the language they preferred, and the sessions were conducted in both languages.

The booklets included a snapshot of the life of each resident, their migration story, including special memories and photos. The final booklets were created and printed in English to be shared with family and friends. In addition, nursing care staff can access the booklets to learn more about the residents to inform person-centred care. Please contact the SAGE Lab at sagelab@ecu.edu.au if you would like a copy of the booklets.

Funding agency

The program was funded (2019) by the Office of Multicultural Interests and Lotterywest and was a collaboration between MYVISTA and the ARC funded project, Ageing and New Media led by Professor Loretta Baldassar together with Project Manager Dr Emanuela Sala.

The evaluation report below was produced by Baldassar & Sala, Edith Cowan University, Social Ageing (SAGE) Futures Lab (2025).

Project duration

March 2019 – May 2019

Publications

• Baldassar, L., & Sala, E. (2025). Life stories and digital learning – A social care approach to culturally and linguistically diverse ageing: Evaluation report. Edith Cowan University, Social Ageing (SAGE) Futures Lab. https://doi.org/10.25958/7jtt-xd05

Researchers

• Professor Loretta Baldassar
• Dr Emanuela Sala

Links

The report below, is an evaluation of the project as described by program participants and facilitators. It contains the program methodology and may assist other organisations and community groups wishing to implement a similar project. It ends with brief recommendations, and summary of the learnings from the program.

‘The Life Story Booklets’ contains the 10 booklets that were created. Please contact the SAGE Lab at sagelab@ecu.edu.au to review the booklets.

A short video was also produced in which project facilitators, residents and volunteers share their experience of the project. The evaluation report and the video can be accessed via the links below.

• Life Stories and Digital Learning: A Social Care Approach to Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Ageing Evaluation Report
• Life Stories and Digital Learning Video