The Irish Support Agency launched a brand new initiative ''A Lifetime of Stories'' in early 2023.

A Lifetime of Stories is a series of storytelling workshops aimed at the senior members of the Irish Australian community in the Greater Sydney Area.

Participants are invited to document their own personal life story, history and legacy.

This project aims to provide meaningful and lasting social connection opportunities for older people who are socially isolated or at risk of isolation. Storytelling allows us to form deeper social connections, by evoking empathy, which naturally brings people together, through shared life experiences.

We have held 2 groups of 5 participants, and we have found this to be a thoroughly enriching experience to date, for both participants and volunteers.

We would like to extend our gratitude to the Department of Foreign Affairs' Emigrant Support Programme for kindly supporting this project with a grant.

We would also like to thank our cohort of Salesforce volunteers who work side by side with our seniors, to ensure that they feel heard and seen.