Digital stories promote community projects

18 Jun 2008 | Kate McIlwain

UOW’s Faculty of Creative Arts and the Australasian Occupational Science Centre (AOSC) have formed a unique collaboration to promote health benefits for older people participating in community activity programs.

AOSC commissioned third year graphic design students from the School of Art and Design to develop digital stories featuring older people from the Illawarra region.

Students developed digital stories on six community programs: Berry Men’s Shed, Bomaderry Bowling Club, Shellharbour Dolphins, the Ulysses Club, Migration Heritage Project and the Macedonian Aged Group.

The stories will be used by AOSC in presentations to promote an occupational perspective of health and in funding submissions for new activity programs for older people.

Dr Alison Wicks, AOSC Director, said she is extremely pleased with the project outcomes.

“The students have designed some really interesting and stimulating pieces. They have demonstrated their skills in the use of animation, video and audio,” she said.

“I look forward to presenting their work at conferences in Taiwan and Kentucky later this year.”

The AOSC project allowed the graphic design students to develop their professional skills by working to a real client brief. The project also provided a way for young and older people to collaborate, which allowed the students to see the benefits of making sure older people stay active and involved in the community.

“I now appreciate there is much more to a game of bingo than winning,” one student said.

The people in the community programs enjoyed their interaction with students and were pleased to contribute to the promotion of community activity programs.

A member of the Berry Men’s Shed, which is a group for men who have retired in Berry that allows them to work on community projects, believes spreading the word about the Shed is important.

“It is good to spread the message about these programs,” he said.

Media please note

The designs will be presented to program participants and guests today (Wednesday June 18) at 12.30 – 1.30pm in Building 25, room 163.

For more information about the digital storytelling project contact Dr Alison Wicks, AOSC on (02) 44480841 or 0424731158 (m). For more information about the student designs contact Graphic Design Coordinator Gregor Cullen on (02) 4221 4185.