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AAG Vic presents: Technology to Support Social and Emotional Wellbeing in Later Life
Event now online via Zoom
Understanding how technologies might provide social and emotional enrichment in later life is especially important today, with in-person interactions limited due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many older adults and aged care providers are embracing the opportunities that technologies such as virtual reality, online gaming, social networking, and artificial intelligence (among others) can provide. But there are concerns that technology-based social activities are a poor substitute for in-person interactions, and that there are challenges to overcome before new technologies can be used effectively to support social and emotional wellbeing in later life.
- Learn about current research examining older Australian’s experiences of loneliness during COVID-19 lockdowns and understand the role digital technology can play in addressing this loneliness
- Learn about best practices when implementing technology for social and emotional wellbeing in aged care settings
- Understand how co-design can be applied to designing technology for enriching the lives of people with dementia.
- Hear from a consumer, industry representative, and academic discussing the benefits and challenges of using different technologies, including gaming, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence, for social and emotional wellbeing in later life
Keynote speakers:
Dr Barbara Barbosa Neves
School of Social Sciences, Monash University
Dr Barbara Barbosa Neves is a Senior Lecturer in Sociology at Monash University in the School of Social Sciences. Barbara is a sociologist of technology, focusing on ageing and social inclusion. Her research explores the role of emerging technologies (AI, VR, robots) in later life, including technology-based interventions to help address loneliness and social isolation among older people. Barbara’s mission is to ensure digital technology works for diverse groups of older people, rather than excluding them.
Associate Professor Jenny Waycott
School of Computing and Information Systems
The University of Melbourne
Jenny Waycott is an Associate Professor in the School of Computing and Information Systems, at the University of Melbourne, working in the interdisciplinary field of human-computer interaction. Her research examines how emerging technologies, such as virtual reality and social robots, are being used to provide social and emotional enrichment in later life, especially in aged care and aims to inform the future ethical design and use of emerging technologies in aged care.
Dr Mandy Salomon
Co-founder and CEO of Mentia
Mandy Salomon is co-founder and CEO at MENTIA, which has developed DevaWorld, a virtual world for people with dementia and their caregivers. Mandy builds creative digital therapies that support the well-being of people impacted by dementia and those that support them across the care continuum. She has a PhD in media and gerontology, a rich history in creative production, and is passionate that ageing populations have the tools to create and share stories.
Panel discussion with:
(the panel guest details are still being finalised and will appear here when available/confirmed)
Libby Callaway, Associate Professor in the Rehabilitation, Ageing, and Independent Living (RAIL) Research Centre, at Monash University, and current President of the Australian Rehabilitation & Assistive Technology Association. Libby is a senior occupational therapist with over 25 years’ experience working with people with neurological disability, across both inpatient and community settings in Victoria and the United States.
Tiffany Ford has been playing computer and console games since they were first around. Gaming is so flexible it can be a meditation, a brain training exercise, an adrenalin invoker and even a way to meet people (it's how I met my husband). Gaming is an integral part of her life.
Andrew Jamieson, Head of Talent & Capability, Benetas. Andrew has over 20 years’ experience across various industries, including the past 7 years at Benetas. His current role encompasses employee experience, learning, diversity and inclusion, and the Pastoral Care function.
| Welcome and introductions; Acknowledgement of country | Ilsa Hampton (AAG-Vic) | 10:00-10:10 |
| Lockdown diaries: loneliness & digital connection/disconnection among older Australians living alone | Dr Barbara Barbosa Neves | 10:10-10:40 |
| Staff perspectives on the use of emerging technologies for social and emotional enrichment in aged care | A/Prof Jenny Waycott | 10:40-11:10 |
| Designing technology to enrich the lives of people with dementia | Mandy Salomon | 11:10-11:40 |
| Short break | 11:40-11:50 | |
| Panel discussion | Chair: Ilsa Hampton Panellists: Libby Callaway, Tiffany Ford & Andrew Jamieson |
11:50-12:20 |
| Wrap up | A/Prof Danny Hills (AAG-Vic) | 12:20-12:30 |
Important notice
The organisers had originally planned for this to be a face-face event but have been forced to make the decision to go online because of the ongoing Covid-19 situation
If you have already registered and paid you will be receiving a full refund shortly
Please scroll down for details on how register for the online event which will now be via Zoom
We apologise for any inconvenience
7th September
We will be recording this event and hope to make that recording available subsequently
In collaboration with:
Please note that this event is free and is open
to AAG members and non-members alike
This event will be delivered via Zoom
Please note that the above link should take you straight to Zoom so that you
can register.
It has come to our attention that some Government and private institution
system administrators have made a decision not to support the Zoom platform.
If you are unable to follow the link to register then your employer has that
restriction in place.
To register and attend, you will need to use a personal device which is not
subject to those restrictions. You may also have to use an alternative WiFi
network if your employer has placed restrictions on theirs as well.
Once you have registered successfully you will receive an email from
Zoom with a link.
We recommend you test your connectivity before the day of the event by
following that link to check that you have permission to connect.
We apologise for this inconvenience.
Event Date & Time: Tuesday 5th October 10.00am - 12.30pm AEDT
Event Location: Online, VIC
Registrations Open: 31st Aug 21 12:00 PM
Registrations Close: 3rd Oct 21 12:00 PM
Your Investment
AAG Members: Free
Non-Members: Free
Non-Member Student/Concession: Free
Code of Conduct
AAG Events, (including online) is dedicated in providing a harassment-free conference experience for everyone, regardless of gender, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, disability, physical appearance, body size, ethnicity, culture, race, age or religion. AAG does not tolerate harassment in any form, including at its events. Unless relevant to the particular talk, sexual language, imagery or derogatory language or behaviour will not be accepted and will be acted upon.
Event participants (this includes employees, volunteers, visitors, guests, sponsors etc) or anyone interacting with the event that do not act appropriately may be sanctioned or expelled from the event without a refund (if applicable) at the discretion of AAG and/or AAG committee member organisers.
Refunds and Cancellation Policy as per T&Cs on AAG website
