Joining the generations

14 Apr 2018

Following the success of a similar program in the US, a community centre in Queensland has achieved great success with combining aged care and early childhood learning.

The US program was the brainchild of teachers at Enid Public School in Oklahoma. The school ran a kindergarten within an aged care facility.

After hearing about the success of the program, Red Cross volunteer, Sarah, suggested that a similar program might benefit the community in central Queensland.

Sarah works with both local aged care facility Leinster Place and North Rockhampton's Elfin House community child care centre and suggested that a collaboration between the two organisations could be mutually beneficial.

Jodie Riek, a lecturer in early childhood education at Central Queensland University explained that the seniors involved with the project benefitted from a renewed sense of purpose. Speaking to the ABC she said: “They get a real sense of the value that they provide back to the community.” Children also benefitted from the program, particularly those who did not have grandparents living nearby.