Behind the 'Mobile Museum': how our aged care outreach initiative came to life

Hellenic Museum
Aug 4
3 min read

Five presenters stand in a row, holding various artefacts and activity items. In front of them is a low table covered with more museum items. — Hellenic Museum presenters at Fronditha Care Mulgrave, showcasing some of the activities and handling artefacts used in outreach experiences. L–R: Jamie, Aikaterini, Natasha, Tom & Mary. Photos courtesy of Fronditha Care.

In case you missed it in the news: in early July 2025, the Hellenic Museum shared its exciting partnership with Fronditha Care, bringing ‘mobile museum’ experiences to aged care facilities and support groups across Melbourne — and the response from our community has been extraordinary! Today, we're taking a look behind the scenes of how this aged care outreach initiative came to life, and why it means so much to us.

This initiative was conceived by Hellenic Museum Visitor & Programs Officer, Natasha Marinopoulos, during her Masters internship in 2023.

An elderly man with glasses holds a replica of an ancient Greek instrument which looks like a hybrid between a guitar and lyre. — Natasha's passion for the program has partly been fuelled by the fact that her own pappou Vasilis, pictured here, is a Fronditha Care resident.

“I’ve always been passionate about finding creative ways to engage people of all ages with the arts,” Natasha explains. “After working with young children for several years, I wanted to give back to the elderly members of our Greek community. Many Greek-Australians missed out on completing their education due to the Second World War, and I wanted to offer a way to reconnect with their culture and heritage in a hands-on, meaningful way.”

Through her research, Natasha discovered the significant mental and physical health benefits of arts engagement for older audiences, particularly those in aged care settings. A 2019 World Health Organisation review of over 3,000 clinical studies confirms what we’ve seen first-hand: arts-based activities such as storytelling, music, and tactile exploration can tangibly improve emotional and cognitive wellbeing.

A woman wearing a presenter badge holds an illuminated magnifying glass in one hand and a cloth in the other. On the cloth rests an ancient coin which she is showing to two elderly women. — Mary, presenter, showcases an ancient coin to two residents.

For Natasha, this research reinforced the vital role museums can play in enriching the lives of older Australians: “Knowing this gave me a real sense of purpose. I wanted this program to be more than just educational; it needed to be tactile, joyful, and inclusive. Regardless of background or ability, I wanted to ensure everyone could find something to connect with.

A young male presenter kneels beside an older woman sitting on a chair at a table. They are engaging in lively conversation over an activity. — Tom, presenter and Hellenic Museum Learning & Programs Officer, speaks with program participants.

With this research as a foundation, Natasha developed a pilot program with support from the Hellenic Museum education team and, later, consultation with our partners at Fronditha Care. The resulting program combines passive listening with active participation, using storytelling, object-based learning, and hands-on activities to create a physical connection between past and present.

Each session was presented by a dedicated group of passionate Greek speakers, and offered several themes for residents to explore:

Warfare & Games, including the ancient Greek board game petteia
Weaving & Mythology, using simple looms to explore crafts and stories of the past
Music in Ancient Greece, complete with replica instruments to play and sing

Three women of various ages and a young girl – including two museum presenters – are in a row at an activity table, taking part in a weaving activity with orange and red yarn, large tapestry needles, and cardboard looms. — Presenters Natasha (second from left) and Mary (right) lead a weaving activity.

“Seeing the program brought to life at Fronditha Care facilities has been one of the most rewarding moments of my career,” Natasha reflects. “Watching residents light up as they hold a piece of history or share their own stories reminds me why this work matters. These moments of connection stay with you.”

This program is a heartfelt extension of the Hellenic Museum’s mission — to share the stories of ancient Greece in ways that resonate with people of all ages and abilities. Launching it with Fronditha Care has been invaluable, and their residents and staff have welcomed us with warmth and curiosity, making each visit a true celebration of community and culture.

A young male presenter stands by a table of elderly residents, with an ancient board game which looks similar to checkers sitting on the table. He is laughing and smiling as he leads the group through playing the game. — Jamie, presenter, engages with residents as they learn the ancient game of petteia.

Three elderly men sit around a table with looks of concentration. In front of them is an ancient board game which looks similar to checkers. One man is in the process of moving his piece. — Residents taking part in a game of petteia.

“It’s been an absolute pleasure to have the Hellenic Museum bring their treasures to our elders,” says Fronditha Care CEO, Faye Spiteri OAM. “This partnership celebrates and preserves the rich cultural heritage of the Greek diaspora, creating meaningful opportunities for elders to reconnect with their roots through art, history and storytelling in a tangible and deeply personal way.”

“It’s more than a partnership — it’s a celebration of legacy, identity and community, and we are very excited by the opportunity to collaborate further.”

An elderly woman sits at a table holding an accurate scale replica of a bronze ancient Greek helmet. Another elderly woman sits beside her. — Residents experienced a piece of the ancient world up close with items from the Hellenic Museum's dedicated handling collection, including this accurate replica of a bronze helmet.

This is just the beginning. The Hellenic Museum is excited to continue growing this program so that history, storytelling, and creativity can reach even further beyond our walls. If you’re part of a community group or organisation interested in an outreach experience, we invite you to contact us and explore how the Hellenic Museum can come to you:

Hellenic Museum Education Programs

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