Hit ABC show highlighting value of intergenerational learning wins International Emmy

The ABC series Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds has won an International Emmy Award, with the show having the distinction of being one of only two Australian winners at the annual awards, which recognise outstanding screen content and storytellers from across 20 countries.

Produced by Endemol Shine Australia for the ABC, Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds took home the Emmy for best Non-Scripted Entertainment for demonstrating the physical and mental benefits of bringing together the very young and very old.

Representing the ABC, Head of Factual and Culture, Jennifer Collins, said the ABC was proud to lead the way for Australian content on the international stage. 

“Old People’s Home For 4 Year Olds combines the magical spontaneity and innocence of young kids with the wisdom and heart of older generations, in a way that has touched audiences here and overseas,” she said. 

“There are very few programs that give a voice to our elders and this is a perfect vehicle for bridging the divide between generations, with humour and joy.”

The award win follows previous success for the production, which also won gold at the 2020 New York Festivals TV and Film Awards for Best Social Issues Documentary and the 2019 AACTA Award for Best Documentary or Factual Program. 

The unique social experiment about the positive impacts of intergenerational contact also received a Silver Award from the United Nations Department of Global Communications in 2020, for exemplifying the aims and ideas of the UN.

The series is available to watch on ABC iview.