Wesley Uniting Employment brings old and young together

05 September 2008

School children in Tuncurry and Wesley Mission’s Work for the Dole program in Taree have partnered to deliver computers and computer skills to residents at an aged care facility, opening up new horizons for the old folk.

On Wednesday 3 September, television stations and newspapers were invited to view the project in action with Careers Connect’s Pam Fischer, Wesley Uniting Employment’s (WUE) Taree’s Senior Employment Consultant Robyn Boye and WUE Branch Manager June Bulmer on hand, to answer questions.

With the support of Heather Clark from Great Lakes College and Pam Fischer from Career Connect, students from Year 9 Tuncurry Campus are training residents, many who had never touched a computer previously, in a variety of computing skills.

Operating off a residents’ wish-list, the students are instructing the aged how to create documents, write Christmas letters, master game skills, discover email, and help some record their personal history.

As an initiative funded through the Federal Government’s Department of Employment, Education and Workplace Relations, Wesley Mission’s Work for the Dole Computer Recycling Project provided six computers to the Glacia Gardens Retirement Home in Tuncurry, creating a community partnership project that has benefited many.

Many stories are shared between students and residents, opening new worlds and insights to all participants. Originally set to run for four weeks, the project has been so enthusiastically embraced by both students and residents that it will be extended, with Internet usage next on the agenda.

“This is a wonderful example of community partnerships that benefit everyone and builds relationships amongst otherwise unconnected sections of the community,” Careers Connect’s Pam Fischer said.

“Everyone leaves laughing.”

- Dinoo Kelleghan, Public Affairs Officer

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