RESEARCH TO HELP DISPEL AGEING MYTHS: MINISTER

An interactive “booth” has been appearing in locations around Brisbane this week in scenes reminiscent of Dr Who.

Seniors Minister Lindy Nelson-Carr said the booth was part of a social research project funded by the Department of Communities in the lead up to the International Day of the Older Person on October 1.

Ms Nelson-Carr said the project, which has received just over $11,000 in Queensland Government funding, was capturing community attitudes to ageing.

“Everyone has different perceptions of ageing or what it means to grow older and this project is a creative way of capturing those attitudes,” Ms Nelson-Carr said.

“Older people are living longer and healthier lives, and they make such an incredible contribution to our communities that the project is also about identifying some of the myths about ageing are still out there, stuck in a time warp,” she said.

“As part of this project, a researcher is sitting inside the perspex booth which is very similar to an old telephone booth, and recording what Queenslanders’ write on the structure.

“The researcher interacts with passers by and writes questions or statements backwards on the inside of the booth, encouraging people to respond.

“Responses will be photographed and documented, helping to gather contemporary attitudes in a very contemporary way.”

The booth has been at the Fortitude Valley Mall, and will be in Queen Street Mall from today until October 1.

Ms Nelson-Carr said research findings would help inform social marketing campaigns led by the department.

“The Department of Communities is committed to promoting positive attitudes to ageing and challenging negative stereotypes of older people,” she said.

Media Contact: Minister Nelson-Carr’s office 3235 4280