Generated by All in One SEO v4.9.9, this is an llms.txt file, used by LLMs to index the site.

# Beyond Words

Beyond Words

## Sitemaps

- [XML Sitemap](https://beyondwords.org.au/sitemap.xml): Contains all public & indexable URLs for this website.

## Posts

- [Blog](https://beyondwords.org.au/blog/)
- [What is it like being a volunteer biographer?](https://beyondwords.org.au/what-is-it-like-being-a-volunteer-biographer/) - Experienced biographer Catherine shares what is it like to be a volunteer biographer. Each new biography comes with day one nerves Entering the aged care residence for the first time I had a mixture of excitement and nerves. Would the storyteller like me? Would I be able to build the rapport that was the cornerstone
- [Beyond Words article in 'The Senior' (Feb 2025)](https://beyondwords.org.au/beyond-words-article-in-the-senior-feb-2025/) - One of our storytellers was interviewed by Eileen of 'The Senior'. At 91, Pauline has seen a lot of change and was thrilled to have her story documented by her volunteer biographer, Gillian. See the full article by clicking on the image or downloading the PDF. A PDF version can be downloaded here. Permission granted
- [Launch of new logo](https://beyondwords.org.au/launch-of-new-logo/) - We have launched a fresh new look for our brand, with a new logo and colours.
- [One of our team is in the Parkville News](https://beyondwords.org.au/one-of-our-team-is-in-the-parkville-news/) - Daniel Kavanagh, our Volunteer Coordinator and Aged Care Residence Liaison was recently featured in the Parkville News newsletter. Please find the article from October 2022 in the attached PDF.
- [Celebrating Stories from Aged Care](https://beyondwords.org.au/celebrating-stories-from-aged-care/) - My name is Sophie and I’m a volunteer with Beyond Words. Every week for the last two months, I’ve had the privilege of sitting down with 72-year-old Joan* at the aged care facility she lives in and helping her to write her biography. For one hour every Friday, Joan gradually revealed more and more of
- [What inspired you to write biographies? An interview with Nigel, a volunteer biographer, editor and board member.](https://beyondwords.org.au/what-inspired-you-to-write-biographies-an-interview-with-nigel-volunteer-biographer/) - Find out what led one of our volunteer biographers, Nigel, to Beyond Words.
- [Seeking Operations & Volunteer Coordinator](https://beyondwords.org.au/seeking-volunteer-coordinator/) - A unique opportunity to support and develop a growing community of exceptional volunteers who are passionate about the work of Beyond Words in celebrating the stories of people in aged care. To become our coordinator, you will combine organising skills with the ability to relate to a broad range of stakeholders. You will understand and
- [Beyond Words expands to the Macedon Ranges & Hepburn Shire](https://beyondwords.org.au/beyond-words-expands-to-the-macedon-ranges/) - We were recently featured in the Midland Express newspaper due to our expansion of our biography program into Kyneton, Trentham and Daylesford. Andrea, one of our biographers, kindly agreed to be photographed for the article shown below. A PDF version can be downloaded here. Permission granted to reproduce the article.

## Pages

- [Home](https://beyondwords.org.au/) - Long Story Short showcases the incredible lives of two Beyond Words clients who share insights into life, love and loss. Beyond Words is an initiative of The Biography Program (ABN 12 153 358 313). Based in Melbourne, Victoria.
- [Our Team](https://beyondwords.org.au/our-team/) - Beyond Words runs by the generosity of our volunteers and has no employees. Since 2023, we have two part-time contractors supporting our operations. Our Biographers Our growing number of biographers, currently around sixty, devote time and effort to capture and celebrate the stories of people in aged care and see it as a privilege to
- [Publications](https://beyondwords.org.au/publications/) - Annual reports Beyond Words 2025-2026 Annual Report Beyond Words 2024-2025 Annual Report Beyond Words 2023-2024 Annual Report Beyond Words 2022-2023 Annual Report Beyond Words 2021-2022 Annual Report Beyond Words 2020-2021 Annual Report Brochure Beyond Word trifold brochure 2025 Strategic Plan 2024-2027
- [FAQs](https://beyondwords.org.au/faq/) - Q/ Where does Beyond Words operate? We currently provide services in aged care residences in metropolitan Melbourne and some parts of regional Victoria (Geelong and Kyneton area). We continue to expand our regional reach. If you do not fall within our current scope, we have a list of some alternative options to create a biography.
- [Other options to create a life story / biography](https://beyondwords.org.au/alternatives-to-create-a-life-story/) - Unfortunately we are not able to assist everyone who enquires to use our service – either due to being outside our scope of service or we do not have volunteer biographers available in the area. These alternative services may be worth considering. Note: Most of these services are fee for service. We are not endorsing
- [Meet the team - Nigel McQuitty](https://beyondwords.org.au/meet-the-team-nigel-mcquitty/) - How did you come to be involved with Beyond Words? I stumbled into Beyond Words. I wanted to volunteer and use my experience in English language teaching and editing to support people who needed help. I previously volunteered and taught English as a second language for the Adult Migrant Education Service (AMES), but I was
- [Feedback](https://beyondwords.org.au/feedback/) - Beyond Words aims to deliver a service at the highest standard possible. By providing your feedback we can be sure that we are doing well and we can identify areas for improvement. All surveys can be anonymous if you prefer. Responses may be used in reports for our project partners/sponsors, conferences, aged care journals or
- [Refer a client](https://beyondwords.org.au/client-referral/) - We rely on staff at aged care residences – Lifestyle Coordinators, Care Managers or other relevant aged care staff – to formally refer residents who are interested in documenting their life stories utilising our free biography service. It is important to read through a summary of the process before completing the referral form. For more
- [Volunteer](https://beyondwords.org.au/be-a-volunteer-biographer/) - Become a volunteer biographer (Note: we operate in Victoria only) Are you: Interested in life stories? Able to visit aged care and enjoy the company of the elderly? If so, you may be interested in becoming a Volunteer Biographer. The application form is at the end of this page - please read through the
- [Contact](https://beyondwords.org.au/contact-us/) - There are a few ways that you can contact us! We are a small volunteer led organisation and due to our limited personnel resources please review the FAQ before making contact. If you do not live in aged care in Victoria, we have compiled a list of alternative options for arranging a biography.
- [Donate](https://beyondwords.org.au/donate/) - Beyond Words celebrates, honours and affirms the unique and rich lives of older people in our community. We are a not-for-profit community of volunteer biographers who enable people in aged care to tell, write and publish their life stories. You can read some testimonials of our work here. Although we are volunteer-based there are many costs
- [Family referral](https://beyondwords.org.au/family-referral/) - In providing our free biography service, we work closely with Aged Care Residences and staff. All requests for a resident's biography must be referred to us by the staff at the residence. If you are interested in our program, please talk to the Lifestyle Coordinator (or equivalent, such as Community Engagement Coordinator, Social and Wellbeing
- [Families' Experience](https://beyondwords.org.au/families/) - For families the biography can be a permanent legacy of their loved one and can often lead to a deeper understanding of their life. "It makes him feel proud. Proud of his life and what he's achieved." -Gwendoline, daughter of the late Harry M, 98 yrs "It's a very valuable thing to do for people who don't
- [The Process](https://beyondwords.org.au/about-2-2/the-biography-process/) - Volunteer recruitment, training, supervision and referral Beyond Words recruits volunteers from the community and trains and supervises them as volunteer biographers under the program. We link volunteer biographers with residents in the aged care residence and together they undertake the process of biography. The process Usually a client is initially referred by the aged care residence
- [The Need](https://beyondwords.org.au/about-2-2/who-is-it-for/) - Whilst our ageing population grows, admission to an aged care residence is typically a time of great loss*: loss of independence, inability to fulfill important roles and loss of identity and meaning. Time spent in an aged care residence can often be experienced as a period of neglect, loneliness, disconnection, grief and depression. While many
- [Aged Care Residences](https://beyondwords.org.au/aged-care-nursing-homes/) - Our Aged Care Partners Beyond Words helps to create a real sense of community within the home, with residents feeling more valued and aged care staff may be given the opportunity with the client's consent to develop greater insight into their lives. I have found it to be a truly empowering experience for our residents, and
- [About](https://beyondwords.org.au/about-2-2/) - Beyond Words is a not-for-profit initiative based in Melbourne. Our goal is to celebrate and value the rich lives of older people in our community. Beyond Words enables older people to share their life story and to be known, affirmed, valued and celebrated. Ultimately this can help sustain identity, create a sense of community belonging, cultivate critical relationships
- [Request a biography](https://beyondwords.org.au/request-a-biography-individuals-and-families/) - Beyond Words is located in Victoria and supplies its free biography service exclusively to people who live permanently in Aged Care Residences in suburbs and towns where our volunteer biographers are available. Currently, we do not provide our service to people living outside of Aged Care Residences, either with family or living independently. However, we
- [The biographer experience](https://beyondwords.org.au/biographers/) - For the biographer, opportunities are created to have fun, to use and develop skills in a meaningful way and to hear interesting stories of the older persons in their community. Biographers attend regular in service meetings to share and discuss experiences with other team members. What Biographers Say It's been a privilege to work with
- [Client Experience](https://beyondwords.org.au/our-clients/) - For our clients, telling their story is a fun and productive activity that helps them to reflect on life's meanings. It lets them record memories, reflections, tributes, pass on information and perhaps even heal past hurts. What our clients say The most valuable thing was … "it will remain after I am gone." "Having the
- [Get involved](https://beyondwords.org.au/biographers/get-involved/) - There are many ways you can be involved. Beyond Words is about building stronger communities through collaboration and would welcome partnership with you around sharing your skills, knowledge, contacts, resources, influence or your voice. Become a volunteer biographer Aged care residence Local business Family members of residents Donate
- [Diary dates (internal)](https://beyondwords.org.au/diary-dates-internal/) - Biographer dates Committee dates Training dates
- [Our Supporters](https://beyondwords.org.au/about-2-2/our-supporters/) - Beyond Words does not receive any government funding and relies on sponsors, supporters and donations to provide this valuable service. Funding and in kind support Supporters Our proud supporters confirm the great need and value of this initiative: "We support initiatives such as The Biography Program that align with our overall goal of improving mental
- [The Product](https://beyondwords.org.au/about-2-2/the-biography-product/) - Through the biography process, a plastic bound book is produced - the client's story told in their own words, assembled by the Volunteer Biographer and 'published' through the Biography Program. However, the service is more than just what can be held in the hand. It’s real value is in creating a space for personal reflection for
- [Media & Publications](https://beyondwords.org.au/news/) - Long Story Short Long Story Short is an 8 minute film showcasing the incredible lives of two Beyond Words clients who share insights into life, love and loss in a nursing home. https://vimeo.com/82987352 In 1942, as young soldier Bill Hollis was heading off to serve in Papau New Guinea he threw a note out the train
- [Donate to Beyond Words](https://beyondwords.org.au/donate-to-beyond-words/)
- [Testimonials](https://beyondwords.org.au/testimonials/) - To find out more about our program, please see our About page. See more testimonials from clients, aged care providers and biographers.
- [History](https://beyondwords.org.au/about-2-2/history/) - The Beyond Words approach was created in the palliative care setting, where Jenny Kearney OAM (one of our patrons), developed the Client Biography Service for Eastern Palliative Care. It succeeded and received a United Nations award for innovation in volunteering. More detailed information about our history is available here. Related information What we do Our
- [Meet the team - Austin Paterson](https://beyondwords.org.au/meet-the-team-austin-paterson/) - How did you come to be involved with Beyond Words? I was invited by our chairman, Richard Hill, to be a part of the current Board that was formed in 2020. Richard explained that it was his aim to reinvigorate Beyond Words after the previous Board had decided to wind up the organisation. What other
- [Meet the team - Richard Hill](https://beyondwords.org.au/meet-the-team-richard-hill/) - How did you come to be involved with Beyond Words? I signed up with Beyond Words because I was looking for more mental stimulation in retirement and loved the idea of writing biographies. I trained as a biographer in 2016 and by 2019 had completed my fifth biography. I was enjoying doing two a year
- [Benefits](https://beyondwords.org.au/the-benefits/) - The value and impact of our work extends beyond words, and all who participate benefit. We understand that creating these biographies promotes community connectedness, reduces isolation and loneliness, and leads to better health outcomes and quality of life for some of the most vulnerable members of our community. Ultimately, this can help sustain identity, create
- [Our Values](https://beyondwords.org.au/about-2-2/vision-mission-values/) - Our Vision & Mission At Beyond Words, our vision is to develop communities where the life stories of older persons are known, affirmed, valued and celebrated. We do this by supporting volunteer biographers who enable older persons in aged care to tell, write and publish their life story or personal tributes. Our Values Our openness to diversity
- [Local Business](https://beyondwords.org.au/local-business/) - Would your local business like to give something back to the community that you serve? Is your business interested in creating shared value? Beyond Words would be interested in talking to you about opportunities around: Business sponsorship and corporate giving (eg. donations of cash, equipment or overstock, in-kind use of services or facilities) Donations to
- [Communities](https://beyondwords.org.au/communities/) - Our Aged Care Partners Beyond Words helps to create a real sense of community within the nursing home, with residents feeling more valued and aged care staff developing greater insight into the lives of residents and enhancing holistic person-centred care. It’s been a win-win situation for our residents, relatives and staff members. The benefits to
- [Contributor Logos-Construct Only](https://beyondwords.org.au/contributor-logos-construct-only/) - [ezcol_1half] [/ezcol_1half] [ezcol_1half_end][/ezcol_1half_end]
- [Contact Form](https://beyondwords.org.au/contact-form/) - This is a simple contact form page template. To add it, simply add a new page and select the “Contact Form” page template in the “Attributes” panel. You can add your contact e-mail in the options panel under “General Settings”.
- [Sitemap](https://beyondwords.org.au/sitemap/)

## Categories

- [News](https://beyondwords.org.au/category/news/)

## Tags

- [logo](https://beyondwords.org.au/tag/logo/)
- [branding](https://beyondwords.org.au/tag/branding/)
- [volunteer](https://beyondwords.org.au/tag/volunteer/)
- [biography](https://beyondwords.org.au/tag/biography/)
- [life stories](https://beyondwords.org.au/tag/life-stories/)
- [Melbourne](https://beyondwords.org.au/tag/melbourne/)
- [Macedon Ranges](https://beyondwords.org.au/tag/macedon-ranges/)
- [Trentham](https://beyondwords.org.au/tag/trentham/)
- [Daylesford](https://beyondwords.org.au/tag/daylesford/)