👋 Good Tuesday morning!

By the time you receive this newsletter, I'm on a speedtrain (or possibly queuing for hotpot in Shanghai). Yes, this is a scheduled newsletter, so if AI robots have finally taken over, I'm blissfully unaware and completely unable to comment. It’ll have to wait until I'm back online.

One of the reasons for this trip to China is to see firsthand how they're integrating AI and technology into aged care services. After taking a few weeks' leave to recharge (so expect newsletters on the Tuesdays I can manage them), I'll be staying on for a few months to dig deeper into what's happening on the ground. I'm looking forward to sharing those insights in future editions.

But in the meantime, something decidedly non-AI caught my attention this week: archaeologists in Israel believe they've unearthed what could be the oldest residential aged care home ever found, dating back 1,600 years to the Byzantine era. The discovery was prompted by three simple Greek words inscribed on a mosaic floor: "peace be with the elders." It's a fascinating glimpse into how organised aged care might have emerged much earlier than we thought, and a reminder that caring for our elderly isn't just a modern challenge, but something humans have been grappling with for millennia.

What we cover this week:

• When staff are using AI in secret (and why) 

• Two proven ways to stay socially connected as we age

• The truth behind AI job losses and what’s really changing

• A non-AI webinar for a change 

• How to create diagrams using ChatGPT

^{LATEST DEVELOPMENTS}

AI x AGED CARE

The elephant in the room: when staff are using AI in secret (and why)

A veteran aged care worker reached out recently with a story that should concern every board and executive team in the sector. They asked to remain anonymous—and you'll soon understand why.

They've been using AI tools like ChatGPT for years. When their organisation started preparing for Support at Home, they spotted a gap: the client assessment tool wasn't fit for purpose. So they asked ChatGPT to help design something better. What came back was an excellent framework for a more comprehensive, relevant assessment instrument.

They circulated it to management and colleagues for input. Management showed indifference. Their colleagues' reactions ranged from "it will threaten my job" to "don't tell management—they'll just load more work onto us."

Here's the uncomfortable truth: they continue using AI quietly to free themselves up for direct client work. But they can't share this openly within their organisation.

And I can tell you this is certainly not an isolated incident—up to 90% of employees are already using personal accounts for work.

[Read the full article] to discover why this is happening in our organisations right now—and what we can do about it.

AGEING RESEARCH

Two keys to staying socially connected as we age

A new study of over 5,000 Americans aged 65 and older reveals that both continued employment and information and communication technology use independently predict higher levels of social engagement in later life. Importantly, these two factors work in complementary ways—suggesting that workforce participation and digital access offer distinct pathways to maintaining social connection as we age.

The findings support efforts to expand both digital literacy programmes and age-friendly employment opportunities for older adults. By addressing barriers in these two areas, we may be able to help more people maintain social engagement and wellbeing in later life. For us here in Australia, where we face critical workforce shortages in aged care, keeping older workers engaged may offer a win-win solution for both individual wellbeing and sector needs.

AI x AGED CARE

The job apocalypse: when is it happening?

If you've been reading the headlines, you'd think we're all out of work tomorrow. Earlier this year, Anthropic's CEO warned that AI could affect one in two white-collar jobs in the next five years. Last week, a US Senate report suggested massive disruption across fast-food, accounting, and trucking. This week, researchers identified 40 jobs where AI shows strong completion rates for core work functions.

Then you read this new research from Yale, claiming that ChatGPT has had essentially zero impact on jobs.

So which is it?

The truth is messier

The writers at Quartz who lost their jobs this year would tell you the impact is real. But the picture is uneven. Some roles are disappearing. Others are evolving. Many remain unchanged—at least for now.

Work is changing unevenly, and the timeline varies wildly depending on your industry, organisation, and role.

What actually helps

Get familiar with the tools. Understanding what AI can and can't do removes the mystery—and the fear.

Train your teams. Your staff are likely already using AI. The question is whether they're doing it with proper support or in secret.

Build on what's uniquely human. AI handles pattern recognition well. It struggles with complex human relationships, nuanced judgement, and contextual understanding.

We're not facing a job apocalypse—we're facing a transition with an unclear timeline. The tools are here. The question is whether we'll engage thoughtfully or wait until we have no choice.

^TRAINING

🎓 This week's promoted session isn't about AI (don't worry, one of those is coming soon), but it's an important one.

My good friend Mary Ellen Doyle is presenting at a webinar on Best Practice for CALD Workforce Engagement, and she's an excellent professional. As a mediator, HR manager, and workplace conflict resolution specialist, Mary Ellen will bring her practical insights to complex workforce challenges.

Wednesday 12 November | 11.30am–1.00pm ACDT | Free online session

The session explores how providers can strengthen inclusion and support for multicultural workers. Mary Ellen is joining Grant Clonan, General Manager at Diversicare, and Anita Bonanno, Head of Community Services at Co. As. It. Sydney.

Register Here

^{WORKING WITH AI}

🧩 Creating a Figma Design Using ChatGPT

What is Figma?

Figma is a collaborative design platform used for creating user interfaces, presentations, diagrams, and other visual content, and allows teams to work on the same project at the same time. 

ChatGPT's Figma Integration

ChatGPT now offers Figma integration, allowing you to create professional designs directly from your notes or even transform hand-drawn diagrams into polished, professional designs.

Steps to create your design:

1. Start a new conversation in ChatGPT

2. Connect Figma by typing @figma into the chat

3. Complete the connection process by following the prompts to link your Figma account successfully

4. Upload your content - in the example above, a hand-drawn diagram 

5. Generate your design by entering a prompt such as, turn this into a diagram 

6. Edit - you can edit further your design on Figma, or download it and use it straight away.

I’m not here to hype trends. I’m here to explore the changes shaping ageing—technology included—and to share ideas you can apply in practice. Whether you’re exploring new tools, rethinking services, or looking ahead to what’s coming, I hope you found something here worth your time.

Feel free to forward this to your network or share it with your team.

See you next Tuesday,
George