How digital storytelling is helping older Australian’s feel seen, heard and less alone 

Loneliness has been linked to premature death, poor physical and mental health, and greater psychological distress. Professor Jennifer Waycott and her team are exploring how digital technologies can help older Australians share their life stories and reconnect with their communities.

For over a decade, Professor Jennifer Waycott has explored how technology can support social wellbeing in later life. Her latest ARC Discovery Project, Co-designing Innovations in Digital Storytelling with Older Adults, brings together human-computer interaction, games research, and aged care to explore how digital storytelling can support memory, identity and connection.

She says digital storytelling can do more than just connect us – they can help people remember who they are. 

‘Older people have lived rich, complex lives,’ says Professor Waycott. ‘But too often, they’re reduced to their age or their care needs. Storytelling helps restore that sense of self.’ 

The need for research is pressing. The frequency of social contact – both in-person and online –has declined across all age groups in Australia over the past two decades. Data from the HILDA survey shows a 13% overall drop between 2001 and 2021. And while not all older Australians feel lonely, many experience shrinking social networks due to retirement, bereavement or mobility issues.  

The project’s team includes Dr Melissa Rogerson, Professor Martin Gibbs, and Dr Lucy Sparrow – experts in human-computer interaction and digital games at the University of Melbourne. Together, they bring a multidisciplinary lens to the research, combining technical innovation with deep social insights. 

This project explores three main types of technology: 

• Hybrid games that combine physical board games with digital elements to encourage playful, intergenerational storytelling.
• Mixed reality tools, including virtual and augmented reality, which allow older adults to revisit meaningful places or share 3D versions of objects from their lives.
• Generative AI, which offers new ways to capture and share stories, but also raises important ethical questions around privacy, creativity and autonomy.

The team are currently in the early stages of co-designing prototypes with older adults, to ensure they are meaningful, respectful and genuinely useful.  

‘We’re not just building technology for older people, we’re building it with them,’ says Professor Waycott.

This participatory approach ensures that the tools reflect the lived experiences and preferences of older adults, rather than imposing assumptions about what they need. Early workshops have revealed both enthusiasm and hesitation – highlighting the importance of transparency and user control.

The benefits of storytelling go beyond nostalgia. Research shows that sharing life stories can enhance memory, foster intergenerational connection and improve wellbeing.  

In one example from a previous ARC-funded project, a man with dementia used VR to revisit his childhood town in Italy. The experience sparked memories and stories his daughter had never heard, creating a powerful moment of connection. 

‘It’s not just about remembering the past, it’s about being seen and valued in the present,’ says Professor Waycott. 

Professor Waycott’s path to this research was far from linear. With a background in psychology and a PhD in educational technology, she was drawn to the social impact of digital tools. A pivotal moment came in 2012, when she joined an ARC Linkage Project exploring how mobile apps could reduce social isolation among older adults.  

‘That project opened my eyes to the richness of older people’s lives – and the challenges they face,’ she says.

Since then, ARC funding has played a transformative role in her career. A 2017 ARC Future Fellowship gave her the stability and scope to lead her own research agenda.  

‘It allowed me to move from working on other people’s projects to building my own team and vision,’ she says. And her current Discovery Project continues that trajectory, enabling her to mentor early-career researchers and collaborate across disciplines. 

Professor Waycott’s long-term vision is a more connected, age-inclusive society. One where older people are recognised not just for their needs, but for their stories, wisdom and contributions. She also hopes to shift how technology is viewed in ageing: not as a tool to manage decline, but as a medium for expression, legacy and social connection.

With ARC support, she’s not only advancing research but mentoring the next generation of scholars. ‘This funding allows us to think creatively, build new collaborations, and explore ideas that can make a real difference in people’s lives.’