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on Tuesday, October 20, 2015
An innovative, intergenerational partnership between a Craigie-based primary school and a local residential home has not only proven that age is no barrier to strong friendships, it has also resulted in a prestigious excellence award.
Whitford Catholic Primary School has been bestowed a Lead Award for Excellence by Catholic Education as a result of its partnership with Mercy Health’s Mercyville aged care home, which aims to encourage companionship and connections between the young and the old
Mercyville Service Manager, Janelle McFarlane, explains a dozen students visit seniors every week as part of the Kids of Mercy program which was started in 2011, during which children participate in a ‘show and tell’ session with residents.
“The weekly visits have resulted in some firm friendships between the children and residents, and the partnership has been a way for young people to learn from and respect the elderly in the wider community,” Ms McFarlane said.
“They’ve certainly loved spending times with residents, whether that’s been by flying model helicopters together or making balloon animals, and we’re thrilled to have received this award for the partnership which everyone here at Mercyville is committed to.”
Founder of the program and the Librarian at Whitford Catholic Primary School, Annette Lynch, said the program was particularly important to the children because many had family members living in different regions and states, and often didn’t have grandparents living close by.
“Our school has been very pleased to participate in this program and it has been wonderful to see how the relationships between the children and seniors at Mercyville have flourished,” she said.
“There is a very special bond that exists between children and seniors of their grandparent’s generation, and that really does shine through as a result of this partnership; the fact that it has won this excellence award is something we are very proud of.”
Mercy Health is a Catholic community not for profit provider of care, founded by the Sisters of Mercy and grounded in a 2000 year history of caring for those in need. The organisation is a national service provider of health and aged care throughout Victoria, Southern New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland.
In Western Australia, the organisation cares for over 300 people across six residential homes, with 78 independent living units.
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