For the past 18 months, residents from Regis Port Stephens and students from nearby Tomaree Public School in New South Wales have been regularly coming together, creating meaningful connections that enrich life for both residents and students.
The partnership began when students visited the Home to see newly hatched chickens and they have since become regular visitors, stopping in often to catch up with their new friends.
The students even gave residents a nickname: the Local Legends.
This week, roles were reversed with residents visiting the school, where students welcomed them with a special performance they had spent weeks preparing. Students sang, danced and acted their way through the program, and the kindergarten class delivered a memorable Welcome to Country.
After the performance, residents and students gathered for morning tea, sharing congratulations and catching up with familiar faces.
“Today has been so wonderful. The children are a breath of fresh air. School has certainly changed since my day,” said resident Janice.
For residents, the program creates opportunities to contribute to the lives of younger people through sharing experiences and perspectives. For students, it provides regular contact with older people outside their own families, helping them build confidence and relationships that might not otherwise exist.
This partnership shows the important role community plays in wellbeing. By creating opportunities for residents to remain involved in the lives of others, the program reinforces a sense of purpose, while giving students access to perspectives that can’t be taught in a classroom.
