Bridging Generations Through Culture, Play, and Community

How might we facilitate intergenerational connections between high school students and older CALD citizens through cross-sector collaboration in the City of Yarra?

The City of Yarra has recognised social isolation as a pressing issue, and Gen.Connect is being explored as a potential solution. Women’s Health in the East has also expressed interest in implementing the program through a co-design process in the City of Monash.

The Dropback

In the City of Yarra, where multiculturalism is prominent, older CALD individuals (65+) experience social isolation compounded by intersectional challenges, including language barriers, disability, gender identity, and age-related stigma. These overlapping issues limit community participation, restricting access to services, social spaces, and support networks, thereby reinforcing their isolation.

Preliminary Exploration

Using Tromp and Vial’s Social Design Components framework, we positioned our design within care, social capital, and political progress. Care fosters intergenerational connections, social capital strengthens community bonds, and political progress empowers marginalised groups. This framework informed our design decisions and impact.

Research & Interview

Findings emphasised the importance of stakeholder collaboration, accessibility, and organic interactions. Gamification and low-effort engagement proved essential for older CALD participants, while early high school students, as the most adaptable group, demonstrated the greatest potential for meaningful intergenerational connections.

Interviews provided valuable insights, some of which challenged our assumptions:

1. Women’s Health in the East indicated that many older CALD individuals have sufficient digital literacy, enabling their participation.

2. City of Yarra Council validated community needs and offered guidance on funding and program feasibility.

3. High school teachers stressed the importance of structured play, balance, and reflection in school programs, which influenced the program’s design.

Conceptualising

We explored ideas such as card games, language clubs, and community markets, refining them into a cooking and lunch club to foster organic connections through shared meals. Through desktop walkthroughs, storyboards, and roleplays, we ensured the program remains engaging, accessible, and easy to implement.

The Solution

Gen.Connect aims to highlight the foundation of this social innovation. As the first program in Yarra to connect high school students with older CALD individuals, it fosters intergenerational connections through community-centred design and cross-sector collaboration. Unlike traditional council programs, it leverages existing community resources to create enjoyable, organic, and accessible experiences.

Our program is desirable and viable due to minimal costs and funding, and feasible through cross-sector collaboration. Unlike leisure-focused initiatives, it enhances accessibility and engagement with straightforward application, candidate assessment, and multimodal feedback for long-term impact.

The Outcome

Results

• Validated Service Model – Stakeholder research confirmed the need for an intergenerational service that fosters social connection and reduces stigma.

• Stakeholder Engagement & Buy-In – The City of Yarra recognised social isolation among older CALD individuals, while Women’s Health in the East expressed interest in co-developing Gen.Connect for the City of Monash.

• Iterative Service Blueprinting – Testing through roleplay and stakeholder feedback refined the program’s structure, accessibility, and participant engagement strategies.

• Sustainable & Scalable Design – The program leverages existing community resources and a cross-sector collaboration model, increasing feasibility and long-term adoption potential.

Lessons Learned

• Human-Centred Design is Key – Understanding user needs, behaviours, and pain points through empathy and journey mapping led to a more impactful service.

• Stakeholder Collaboration Strengthens Innovation – Engaging schools, councils, and community organisations ensured cross-sector alignment and sustainable implementation.

• Gamification & Low-Barrier Activities Improve Engagement – Play-based experiences and shared meals provided inclusive, organic interactions, essential for reducing participation resistance.

• Flexible, Contextual Design Drives Accessibility – The program required culturally relevant, low-effort interactions to accommodate language, mobility, and digital literacy barriers.

• Prototyping & Testing Are Essential in Service Design – Roleplay simulations and desktop walkthroughs helped refine user experience, facilitation methods, and program scalability.

• Social Innovation Requires Systems Thinking – Service design for social change goes beyond a single intervention—it must integrate with existing policies, funding models, and community infrastructures for long-term impact.

And many more… :)"