Shaping Connections
Co-designing a more connected digital future for older adults.
Shaping Connections is a collaborative research initiative exploring how technology can strengthen social connection, participation and wellbeing for older adults.
By partnering with older people throughout the research process, we co-design practical solutions that help organisations create more inclusive services, communication and digital experiences.
HOW WE CREATE IMPACT
Impact
Help organisations improve services, communication and digital inclusion.
Research
Generate evidence around ageing, technology and social connection.
Co-design
Work with older adults rather than researching about them.
Translate
Turn research into practical resources, workshops and frameworks.
INTERACTIVE TOOLS
LATEST NEWS
RESEARCH SHOWS THAT
44% of people aged over 65 years’ experience social exclusion, which is twice the rate of exclusion for other age groups.
At least 10% of senior Australians suffer from loneliness or social isolation, a number that has failed to drop over the last two decades.
So we realised something had to be done about it. Explore tools, resources and collaborative opportunities to effect change.
Older people are keen to learn technology, but their experiences and needs are diverse. Understanding this complexity is essential to supporting meaningful and inclusive digital engagement.
Prof Bernardo Figueiredo
ABOUT US
Shaping Connections is a research program bringing together academics from RMIT and stakeholders from the University of Third Age (U3A) Network Victoria seeking to understand how technology use supports seniors’ connectedness and enhances social inclusion and participation. Connectedness enhances an older adult’s wellbeing and has a positive effect on physical and mental health.
Our team consists of passionate researchers and industry partners with expertise in areas such as consumer behaviour, social marketing, consumer culture theory, emerging technology, educating seniors and design innovation management. Our team regularly publish their research and ensure strategies they develop are specifically tailored for seniors.
The Shaping Connections program focuses on working with ways we can alleviate social inclusion that is found in almost half of our aging population.
Dr Torgeir Aleti