An opportunity to build the literature on Intergenerational practice has arisen with a special issue in Social Sciences “Rethinking social isolation, intergenerational practice in the community and aged care”.
The approaches to intergenerational programs and practices are varied, with initiatives extending to younger groups from childcare centres, primary and high school students, and youth groups, and for older groups from community centres, aged care centres, retirement centres, and individuals in the community. The amount of empirical evidence from these programs is increasing, with findings making significant contributions to practice in both older-person and younger-person communities.
A number of theoretical frameworks are emerging in support of the efficacy of intergenerational practice and the benefits of the programs, such as shared stories and knowledge, improving mental and physical health, building relationships, and minimising loneliness and isolation for older persons. Intergenerational practice has gained momentum, with many programs highlighting the mutual benefit of bringing older and younger persons together.
The recently launched Australian Institute for Intergenerational Practice (AIIP) is a not-for-profit organisation established to advance evidence-based intergenerational activities across aged care and childcare facilities to foster meaningful, mutually beneficial engagement between young and old to learn with and from each other. As a peak body for intergenerational practice, AIIP ensures sustainability of programs through education and further research.
The purpose of this Special Issue is to invite papers that build on the growing evidence base for intergenerational programs in different contexts and from varied perspectives.
The 2022 AIIP symposium planned for 27 April to be held at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA) Sydney will provide an opportunity to discuss working papers in progress and receive live feedback. In addition, all papers will receive double-blind peer review with an estimated publication date of 24 December 2022.
Professor Emeritus Anneke Fitzgerald, Interim Chair of the AIIP Board and one of the guest editors for the special issue said the upcoming symposium will be a great opportunity to meet, share knowledge and network with others in the intergenerational practice community as well as giving people a chance to get feedback on their papers.”
“The workshops to be held at the symposium will be designed specifically to help prepare articles for the special issue.”
We welcome contributions from all areas of social science, including social work, social policy, sociology, anthropology, pedagogy, andragogy, psychology, law, health, and management, together with interdisciplinary articles. It would be wonderful to include others’ journeys to establishing the programs.
Papers might have theoretically and methodologically diverse approaches and can explore intergenerational programs in terms of relationships, curriculum design, pilot projects, and case studies, including, large-scale and small-scale design examples. We aim to create a tone to fit our purpose and speak to the need for all generational programs.
We’re looking forward to embracing new ideas as we continue to build an evidence base and raise awareness for mutually beneficial intergenerational programs in Australia.
If you would like to express interest in submitting a paper, please email Jennifer Kosiol at j.kosiol@griffith.edu.au (cc anneke.fitzgerald@griffith.edu.au) with a working title for your paper by 15 February 2022.
Please click here for more information about the Special Issue “Rethinking Social Isolation, Intergenerational Practice in the Community and Aged Care“.
Key dates
15 February Expression of Interest with working title
1 April Draft manuscript / working paper due
27 April Discussion of working papers at the AIIP Symposium
1 August Deadline for paper submission to the Social Sciences Journal
24 December Estimated publication date