Students at Mount Rowan Secondary College are working to help elderly people in the community improve their technology skills to boost community connections and reduce isolation.
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Year 8 students Ella Evans and Violet Hearnshaw came up with the idea to support elderly people who may struggle with technology through the Crazy Ideas College program.
The program encourages students to develop big ideas to address pressing community issues and bring them to life, building the capacity of young people to lead change.
Violet and Ella said they had seen the importance of elderly people developing technology skills increase during COVID-19 lockdown periods, when feelings of isolation and disconnection worsened.
We have first hand experience with elderly people not being able to use tech.
- Violet Hearnshaw, Mount Rowan Secondary College student
COVID-19 restrictions in place in Victoria continue to prevent visitors to homes.
"We have first hand experience with elderly people not being able to use tech. We wanted to make sure they can still communicate with the younger generations and each other," Violet said.
"It has been a big issue during the pandemic. Everything is online now. My nanna struggles with uploading a photo and simple things like that.
"One of our other team members' grandpa couldn't figure out how to type a simple text message. He kept yelling at the phone. We wanted to fix that."
Ella and Violet are working to progress their idea and are hoping to connect with a supporting agency.
The hope is to develop a program that involves volunteer students from their school running hour-long, one-on-one sessions with elderly people who live independently.
The team can imagine the benefits for mental health, fostering intergenerational connections and preventing isolation.
"It helps them stay connected with their family that may be overseas for example or in another state that is in hard lockdown," Ella said.
"It is a way for students to also connect with elderly people and find new ways of doing things."
"It is hard when you can't go places so we want to make sure they can still socialise with people," Violet said.
"We hope they get some fun out of it and learn something new."
School teachers and Crazy Ideas College staff will continue working with Ella and Violet to help bring their idea to life. They are also part of Mount Rowan Secondary College's Innovate Program.
Freya Fajgman from Crazy Ideas College said the students had shown insight into helping elderly members in the community.
Two student groups brought their ideas to life through the Crazy Ideas College program at Mount Rowan Secondary College last year.
Students worked with a health service to deliver a drug and alcohol education program to students and ran a rubbish clean up program around the school and the Wendouree community.
Other student groups will continue working to bring their ideas to life this year.
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Rochelle Kirkham
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
Rochelle covers court and has a particular interest in social issues including homelessness, food security and family violence.
