We are very proud to announce the launch of Mepacs’ new website last month.

Mepacs stands for Mt Eliza Personal Assistance Call Service and is an emergency response personal alarm service, providing piece of mind for older Australians and their families.

Since 1989, Mepacs has been providing their high quality personal alarm service to thousands of clients. A division of Peninsula Health, Mepacs is the sole provider of the Victorian Government funded, Personal Alert Victoria (PAV) program. The service has access to Peninsula Health’s clinical support team and aged care and disability services, ensuring the provision of highest quality amenity.

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Gamification sounds like a made-up word that you’d be hard pressed to convince an opponent was worthy of a triple word score in a game of Scrabble. However, it is a word that is gaining increasing traction within the corporate lexicon as progressive businesses seek new ways to engage their audiences.

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‘Tis the season of proposal writing.

It is a time where I am more aware of my terrible typing posture (as my arms seize from the required 211 wpm needed to respond to everyone) and I reflect on the work I am doing.  Over the last few weeks the agency has worked on a number of fully integrated proposals for clients, as well as those focused on either our online or ‘offline/traditional’ work.  While the conduits between online and offline work may vary, its beginning and end are always the same.

We begin a project with the following type of question;

How do we encourage ‘insert activity’ from ‘insert target audience’?

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If we’re honest, the common perception of older people and the internet can be summarised with ‘where’s the power button’. The common perception is wrong. Grannies from 60 to 90 years of age are hitting the net in much greater numbers than you think.

Last month, we released a report entitled ‘Older Victorians Online’ which detailed our survey findings on a collaborative project we conducted with COTA Victoria. We undertook research to debunk the common perception that older people are not interested or ‘afraid’ to use the internet and/or computers.

The results of this survey reinforces how quickly people are embracing new technologies. While conducting focus groups with a client recently, it became apparent to us that there’s a fascination with technology among those aged 65 and beyond; surprisingly more so than  Baby Boomers or even Generation X or Y.

We see great a potential for learning and remaining abreast of technological developments and trends in the 65+ demographic.

A glowing example of this adoption of new technologies, is my partner’s grandmother – 85 year old Joan (Joey) Wishart. Joey’s all over it. We’re friends on Facebook and, when I learned of our upcoming research, I messaged her asking if she would mind being asked a few questions on the topic.

Here’s how it went. Via email.

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It’s funny how quickly the corporate lexicon changes. Remember the fascination and devotion to designing ‘corporate culture’; the zealous conversion of staff to corporate values, mission and vision?

It seems the evangelists have moved on, leaving those of level head and social awareness with the task of generating open and productive communication between employees.

So, what happened?

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Great story telling, in any context, is the most effective means of gripping many people and moving them to do something or behave in a certain way.

• Telling a story to my two year old is often about getting her to f$*&ing sleep (thanks Noni) but mostly about seeing her rapture and joy in make-believe.
• Telling a story at work is more about motivating staff, energising collaborators, beating a path to a known destination.
• I MC’d a wedding not so long ago. That piece of story-telling was designed to get 120 people laughing but a little teary too at well chosen moments. Mostly laughing. At the groom’s expense.

Thanks to YouTube and Vimeo, the short web video has become a dominant medium for story telling.

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