Cultural research work
As an established researcher from an academic background I have produced research about cultural and social issues for education, government, communities and business. My broad range of communications expertise has provided insight to local, national and international audiences.
Digital technologies and older people
Instances of Productive Ageing: Finding Regional Australia's Digital Futures is research I led between 2013 and 2016. I explored how older people who live in regional areas use digital technologies in their daily lives.
The research outcomes offer a foundation for organisations, government and communities to re-imagine ageing when people live outside of Australia’s major cities. It provides a model to achieve lasting connections between older people and their local and broader communities.
Local government and social research
The Social Research Toolkit represents recent work in the digital space which was produced through collaborative university and local government funding. It introduces local government to social research and guides them in making decisions about delivering local government community engagement programs.
Contact me for information about cultural research work before 2013.
Digital production
The Social Research Toolkit, 2016. Available at: http://socialresearchtoolkit.net
Designed, written and produced by Andrew Hickey, Paul Reynolds and Lisa McDonald
Website design and production by Sauced Out: http://www.saucedout.com.au
Research fellowship
McDonald, L. Chief Investigator with Mid-Career Research Fellowship (Rural and Regional Communities)
Funding period: 2013-2016
Source of funding: Australian Government, Department of Education and Training, Collaborative Research Networks Program
Main project title: Instances of Productive Ageing: Finding Regional Australia’s Digital Futures
Conference presentations
McDonald, L. ‘20/25 Vision: Approaching Life in the Asian Century.’ Neolife, The Inaugural (Rest of the World) SLSA Conference 2015, SymbioticA, University of Western Australia, Perth, 1-3 October 2015.
McDonald, L. ‘Considering Chaos: A Second Life™ and the Poetics of Topology.’ Unnatural Futures Conference, University of Tasmania, Hobart, 3 – 4 July 2014.
McDonald, L. ‘Circuitous Literacies in the Cultures of Regional Ageing.’ Digital Rural Futures Conference, University of Southern Queensland, Toowoomba, Queensland, 25 – 27 June 2014.
McDonald, L. ‘With Reference to Succession: The Interest in Age, Vitality and Proximity in Dispersed Regional Communities.’ Twelfth International Conference on New Directions in the Humanities, Universidad CEU San Pablo, Madrid (Spain), 11 – 13 June 2014.
Lectures and talks
Hickey, A., Reynolds, P. and McDonald, L, ‘Understanding Community to Engage Community: Using Qualitative Research Techniques in Local Government Community Engagement.’ Local Government Research Forum, Australian Centre of Excellence for Local Government, Melbourne, 30 April 2014.
McDonald, L., University of the Third Age (U3A) Dynamic Futures Lecture Series, Public Lecture & Workshop, Cedar Centre Toowoomba, 16 Nov 2015. Paper: ‘The Care of Ages: (Universal) Design in Regional Futures.’
Hickey, A., Reynolds, P. and McDonald, L.Newcastle City Council, Newcastle, NSW, 7 October 2015. A One-Day Workshop for Community Engagement Professionals, ‘Social Research in Local Government Community Engagement.’
Hickey, A., Reynolds, P. and McDonald, L. Local Government Association Queensland (LGAQ), Brisbane, 23 September 2015. A One-Day Workshop for Community Engagement Professionals, ‘Social Research in Local Government Community Engagement.’
McDonald, L., University of Southern Queensland (USQ) and the USQ Multicultural Network, Language, Culture and Technology in a Connected World Symposium, 1 June 2015. Paper: ‘Un/characterising the local: later life and learning in rural Queensland’ (with Dr Catherine Arden).
McDonald, L., Open & Distance Learning Association of Australia (ODLAA), Webinar, 18 July 2014: ‘Multiliteracies as Inclusive Communicative Practices.’ Available at: Social Inclusion Webinar, Whittington, McDonald, Johns - ODLAA
McDonald, L., University of the Third Age (U3A) Dynamic Futures Lecture Series, Public Lecture & Workshop, Cedar Centre Toowoomba, 19 May 2014. Paper: ‘Memory and Life Writing.’
McDonald, L., The View Clubs, Toowoomba Branch, Queensland, 13 May 2014: ‘Modern Technologies for Older Australians.’
McDonald, L., University of the Third Age (U3A), Philharmonic Performance Complex, 9 May 2014. Workshop: ‘Writing/Memory.’
McDonald, L., University of the Third Age (U3A) Dynamic Futures Lecture Series, Public Lecture, Cedar Centre Toowoomba, 17 February 2014. Paper: ‘In Search of the Everyday: Memory and Life Writing.’
McDonald, L., National Seniors Australia, Toowoomba Branch, Queensland, 6 February 2014: ‘Innovation through Ageing with Digital Technologies: What’s Happening with Tablets?’
McDonald, L., SeniorNet, Ipswich, Queensland, 3 February 2014: ‘Innovation through Ageing with Digital Technologies: What’s Happening with Tablets?’