Vocational Major

Our Intergenerational Community Project

Swinburne Senior Secondary College and Baptcare Karana

Inspired by the ABC TV show ‘Old People’s Home for Teenagers’, the Year 12 Vocational Major Personal Development Skills students planned and hosted six different workshops for the residents of Baptcare Karana, a residential aged care community in Kew. Here are their reflections on the experiences:

Portrait Sketch and Share

It was a huge joy, and most certainly a surprise, creating artistic portraits of each other. This activity was the first we Year 12 students hosted, and we took turns sketching each other in our own artistic interpretation while having the most interesting conversations reminiscing about the past and talking about the future. This activity gave us insights into the residents' backgrounds and the full lives they have lived. Having this experience has been very rewarding and we’re grateful to have had the opportunity.

Ava and Lee

Clay Pot Making

Don’t glaze over the details, they’re crucial! We chose to make clay pots with the residents. Working with clay helps to maintain motor skills and provides a creative outlet. It was lovely to watch the residents enjoy themselves and learn a new skill and walk away with a pot that they made themselves. Some of the residents didn't understand the process and made their own creations, but despite this, they were using their imaginations, and we could tell they found it fun and creative. We found the experience a big eye opener on how we view our lives now and in the future.

Ella and Charli

Seed Planting

With spring just around the corner, it was a perfect time to plant some seasonal flower seeds. We decided to plant the seeds in the pots we made in the previous week out of air dry clay, which went really well. It was super easy to set and pack up the activity. The hardest part was sealing the pots with mod podge beforehand so they didn’t disintegrate! Planting a seed is something everyone has done at some point in time, so everyone knew exactly what to do and how to do it, which helped everything flow smoothly.

Lachie and Christian

Musical Art Interpretation

We chose an abstract creative exercise that focuses on getting the interpretive and creative parts of the brain to work. The exercise entails listening to music and trying to draw how the music makes you feel. It’s a very abstract concept and takes a lot of thought so it was a challenge at first for everyone, even the students. After the music was changed to 1940s hits that the residents recognised, that’s when they really started to get into it. They were able to do something active and fun while reminiscing about the music. Many residents created very interesting and beautiful artworks, and the artistic variety reflected the variety of life experiences in the room.

Connor, Lucy, and Blake

Poker Night

Aged care residents gambling with teenagers!? Playing card games can be extremely beneficial for aged care residents as it improves cognitive function and overall brain health. Unfortunately, none of the residents knew how to play Texas Hold’em poker, so we were faced with the challenge of teaching them how to play while playing. The event was activating and engaging as the residents had to pay attention and focus on what they were doing.  Everyone was laughing and having fun!

Sam and Dan

Potato Print Wrapping Paper

Who doesn't love homemade wrapping paper? For our community project, we used stamps made from potatoes, and some butcher's paper, to create lovely homemade wrapping paper. Living in an aged care home can get lonely, but Christmas presents an opportunity for sharing and showing love. Through our community project we aimed to have some fun with our new, older friends while we experimented with different patterns and design possibilities. In the end, the residents were left with some homemade wrapping paper that can give any gift a nice personal touch, and some new memories with new friends.

Fin and Jack