Connecting over tea at Findon Tech College

Residents of The Pines Lodge Residential Care have been writing to pen pals who are students at Findon Technical College.

The students are studying a specialist health and social support program.

As part of their study, the students planned and prepared an afternoon tea that their pen pals from The Pines Lodge were invited to attend.

It was a lovely afternoon of sharing food, conversation and connection.

The specialist program at Findon Technical College gives students a Certificate III in Individual Support and a Certificate III in Allied Health, so they are already qualified to work in the care sector when they finish school.

The course includes a term’s worth of work experience in aged care with a Lifestyle Team, practising communication with residents and gaining confidence working in aged care. 

Some of the students have been completing this work experience with Southern Cross Care, in addition to attending meet and greet events with their pen pals, and the afternoon tea was another facet to the program which gave students an appreciation of menu planning as well as another opportunity to connect with residents.

Student Ruby, who has aspirations of becoming a nurse, explained, “I think it’s important to make good connections because if you’ve got connections with people you can feel more comfortable, you'll be able to come out of your bubble.

“Especially for aged care residents not being able to talk to their family as often, not being able to see their family as often, it can be really important to them to come out into a space like this and communicate with people our age.”

The group has been surprised at how the majority of the students and residents, who were randomly partnered together, have many things in common.

Resident Violet was paired with student Parneet and they found they both love poems. 

Violet even gifted Parneet a poem book during one of the meet and greet events and was so happy to have the chance to chat with her again at the afternoon tea. 

For more information about the partnership between the Findon Tech Collage and Southern Cross Care, click here.