Residents from Regis Sunraysia in Victoria recently had the opportunity to reconnect with skills they had used throughout their working lives during a DIY workshop at Bunnings Warehouse Mildura.
Building their own timber toolboxes from scratch, residents spent the morning working alongside Bunnings team members, drawing on years of experience and sparking conversations about past jobs, projects and hobbies.
The workshop gave residents the chance to pick up a hammer again and work through each step of the build. From the first few nails, there was a sense of familiarity around the table as residents settled into the task, helping one another along the way.
Shoppers passing by stopped to watch and chat as the group worked through the build, creating opportunities for connection with the wider community.
Conversations soon turned to people’s former careers and projects undertaken throughout their lives, with many residents enjoying using skills they hadn’t used for years.
“I really enjoyed being able to use a hammer and nails to build something. I did a lot of carpentry work during my time working at the Mildura Airport,” said resident Les.
After the workshop, the group stayed on for morning tea at the Bunnings café, continuing conversations over coffee.
Each resident returned to the Home with a finished toolbox, now displayed in their rooms.
“I loved the outing. I haven’t picked up a hammer in many years and I didn’t even hit my thumb,” shared resident Ron.
Experiences like this support residents to continue using the skills they’ve built over a lifetime, maintaining confidence, independence and a sense of identity, while staying connected to the local community.
