Intergenerational Program

The Intergenerational Program is designed as a reciprocal exchange where children have the opportunity to work with an older generation and learn from them, while the older generation have an opportunity to mix with younger children, learn from them and add purpose to their daily life.

The intergenerational volunteers work with children to demonstrate skills such as gardening, music and movement, story-telling and dress up, hammering – sawing and nailing. They will hold a Working With Children Check (WWCC) supported by the Centre and a copy will be kept on file.

Volunteers will receive an orientation from the Curtin University Early Learning Centre prior to working with children, which will include:

• Communication and confidentiality
• Treating children with respect
• Manual handling and Risk Assessment.

Volunteer names, address and emergency numbers are also kept on file.

At all times the staff at Curtin University Early Learning Centre will work with the volunteers to ensure that interactions with children:

• Promote a safe, secure and nurturing environment
• Ensure that volunteers are authentic and responsive in their interactions with children
• Act in a manner as dictated by fairness, acceptance and empathy with respect for culture, rights, community and the individual.
• Children will not be picked up or held by the older generation person.

The volunteers who enter the centre will work with a small group of no more than four children. They will always be accompanied by an educator and at no time will be left alone with the children. The Centre is respectful of culture and of respectful interaction with all.

The intergenerational person is welcome to discuss ideas and make suggestions to the Educators or Director on the projects they would like to do with the children.