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In the second half of 2024, a group of Chinese and Sri Lankan international students in Melbourne, VIC, joined forces with older adults from their communities in a series of digital resilience workshops. These workshops became spaces not only for learning but also for connection. As they explored new digital skills together, the students and older adults shared laughs, stories, and diverse perspectives on life in an increasingly digitised world. By the end, they had co-created a set of community resources designed to empower older migrants from both communities, equipping them with the skills and confidence to thrive online and feel more connected in a rapidly changing digital landscape.

This project innovated an intergenerational Digital Resilience Ambassador program aimed at improving digital resilience among older migrants (65+). The term ‘digital resilience’ goes beyond digital access and literacy; it also encompasses the confidence and ability to safely navigate the internet and utilise digital media to support both personal and community wellbeing.

By connecting the “digital natives” (students) with the “digital migrants” (older migrants), the project drew on the students’ digital knowledge and creativity, alongside the older generations’ life experiences and wisdom. This collaboration fostered intergenerational synergy, care, and empathy, co-creating a digitally inclusive environment for older members of culturally and linguistically diverse communities.