Partner: Northern Grampians Shire Council, Gariwerd – Victoria
What makes this project special
What happens when you bring together 20 teenagers and a group of respected senior residents from across Northern Grampians to create films together?
In Talking About Your Generation, the answer was joy-filled workshops, unlikely friendships, and deeply moving films that captured the heart of the community. Designed as an intergenerational storytelling and filmmaking program, the project brought together young people and seniors to share stories, learn new skills, and see one another beyond stereotypes.
From the very first workshop, it was clear this would be something special. After some initial awkwardness and hesitation, connections began to form through shared interests, curiosity, and growing mutual respect. While the young people often took the lead with technology, it was the older participants who arrived with a wealth of lived experience, insight, and stories shaped by decades in the community.
The program culminated in a community screening night filled with laughter, tears, and celebration. Storytellers of all ages saw their voices valued, their stories honoured, and their connections strengthened.
The background – for those who want to dive a little deeper
Talking About Your Generation was developed to support Council’s commitment to building healthy, connected communities for people of all ages. For many older residents, ageing can bring reduced mobility, fewer social opportunities, and withdrawal from hobbies and community life, factors that contribute to social isolation and poorer health outcomes. At the same time, young people in the region were still navigating the social impacts of COVID-19, with face-to-face connection becoming less common and confidence taking time to rebuild.
This program intentionally brought these two groups together to create space for connection, skill-sharing, and collaboration while also building digital literacy and shining a light on powerful local stories.
The journey
Digital Storytellers delivered a series of five workshops across Stawell and St Arnaud, guiding participants through the full storytelling process, from idea generation to filming and editing.
Older and younger participants formed small teams to co-create short films about the people, places and issues that shape life in Northern Grampians. Young storytellers often led the technical aspects of filming and editing, while working closely with older participants as collaborators, interviewees and creative partners. The stories spanned personal histories, community issues, local landmarks and environmental themes, focusing on topics where both generations found common ground and shared purpose.
Along the way, participants forged unexpected connections, exchanged skills and perspectives, and created films that reflect the resilience, character and pride of Northern Grampians Shire.
Why this matters for councils and community organisations
Talking About Your Generation demonstrates what’s possible when councils invest in programs that centre connection, creativity and lived experience.
Intergenerational storytelling programs like this deliver multiple community outcomes at once. They reduce social isolation, build digital confidence, strengthen local pride, and create meaningful opportunities for people of different ages to connect as equals. Rather than positioning one generation as the “learner” and the other as the “teacher”, these programs see skills, stories and perspectives flow both ways.
For councils and community organisations, this approach offers a scalable and adaptable way to:
- Strengthen social cohesion and belonging across generations
- Activate community members as storytellers and cultural contributors
- Surface local stories that can inform planning, engagement and advocacy
- Build digital capability using accessible, low-barrier tools
- Create tangible creative outputs alongside lasting social impact
