Research and Reports
The ageing population in Australia and many other countries has become the subject of interest and research in many disciplines. Successful ageing depends not only on understanding the physical effects of ageing but also the mental well being of older people.
The papers here represent a small sample of current research and reports about older people, focussing particularly on the relationship between lifelong learning, volunteering, isolation, aged care and other factors, and physical and mental health particularly amongst isolated older people.
They will be of interest not only to older people themselves but to professionals and policy advisers in the fields of gerontology, adult learning, mental health and volunteering.
The following are draft versions. Please see the relevant publications directly before quoting.
Some new directions in adult education programs for older Australians
Rick Swindell
2005 paper published in the New Zealand Journal of Adult Learning 33(2) 26-46 discusses the importance of continuing to keep the mind active in later life and recent programs which attract older learners.
Nine 'mini biographies' outlining some characteristics of U3A Online participants
Rick Swindell & Peter Grimbeek - GriffithUniversity, Cate Russell - U3A Online
2003 findings from extensive email 'interviews' with nine participants of U3A Online courses
Antecedents to Internet learning: Illuminating the characteristics of older online learners.
Rick Swindell and Peter Grimbeek - Griffith University
Proceedings of the 10th Annual International Conference on Post-compulsory Education and Training. Gold Coast, Queensland, Australia 3-5 December 2002. 168-175. ISBN 1-875378-41-8.
Inquiry into the progress and future direction of life-long learning
Jack McDonell; Rick Swindell
2004 submission to the Australian Senate Employment, Workplace Relations and Education Reference Committee
U3A Online: enriching the lives of older members of a multicultural society
Rick Swindell - Griffith University; Leslie Dale U3A Online
Ageing Well: Addressing the Multicultural Challenge. International Symposium, Melbourne, Australia 9-10 October 2003. [Proceedings published September 2004, Faculty of Human Development, Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia ISBN: 1 86272 648 5]
The Internet as a medium for increasing social inclusion.
Grimbeek, P. & Swindell, R. (2003).
Proceedings of the 1st Annual International Conference on Cognition, Language and Special Education Research. Surfers Paradise, Australia, 5-7 December 2003. Volume Two, 11-19. ISBN: 0 909291 86 1.
Text Analysis: U3A Online focus group
Rick Swindell and Peter Grimbeek - Griffith University, Jan Heffernan- QUT 2004
Text Analysis of full transcripts of answers provided by nine U3AOnline participants.
U3A Online: a virtual university of the third age for isolated older people.
Rick Swindell - Griffith University
International Journal of Lifelong Education 21(5), 414-429. 2002.
Technology and the over 65s? Get a life.
Rick Swindell - Griffith University
Social Alternatives, Vol 20, 17-23. 2001.
Half a million dollars a year: voluntarism within New Zealand Universities of the Third Age.
Rick Swindell - Griffith University
New Zealand Journal of Adult Learning 28(1) 23-31. 2000.
