Joining Generations
Intergenerational Program
The Joining Generations Intergenerational Program is an inspiring initiative designed to foster meaningful connections between young people and older adults in the Campbelltown community. Through collaboration, creativity, and shared experiences, this program aims to reduce social isolation, challenge age-related stereotypes, and strengthen community ties.
About the program
Joining Generations is a partnership-driven project that brings together secondary students from Charles Campbell College and adults living in Campbelltown, SA. Over two years (2025 and 2026), participants will engage in activities that promote mutual learning, personal growth, and community engagement. The program is built on values of mutual respect, trust, and cooperation, ensuring a positive and enriching experience for everyone involved.
The volunteer recruitment process spanned over a year and involved outreach through ACH Group Retirement Villages, Campbelltown Council older resident lunches, and Campbelltown Rotary Club events.
Additional enquiries were generated through extensive advertising coordinated by Bianca Connelly from the Campbelltown City Council.
Prospective volunteers were engaged individually or in small groups and provided with information on ageism.
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was established to define working relationships among Steering Committee organisations.
The program structure, based on the original UniSA research paper, comprised eight 90-minute sessions plus a celebration event.
Twelve students and twelve older participants initially enrolled; however, two older participants did not complete paperwork, and one student transferred schools, resulting in 11 students and 10 older participants.
Social Work students played a key role by:
- Capturing session photographs and providing presenter feedback for continuous improvement.
- Designing and administering pre-, mid-, and post-programme questionnaires for both age groups.
- Collecting and analysing data through interviews and surveys.
- Summarising findings in a video report and preparing a final written report.
- Reducing social isolation among older adults
- Challenging ageism and stereotypes
- Developing confidence and resilience in young people
- Creating a stronger, more connected community
This initiative is possible thanks to the dedication and collaboration of several key partners:
- Brian Harris – Lead Partner and Volunteer, Charles Campbell College
- Charles Campbell College – Co-lead Partner
- University of South Australia (UniSA) – Research and student involvement
- Campbelltown City Council – Funding and administrative support
- ACH Group – Community engagement and participant support
- Community Housing Inc. – Recruitment and logistics
Each partner plays a vital role, from designing and delivering the program to providing resources, research, and support for participants.
The program runs during Term 3 in 2025 and 2026, with preparation phases in Terms 1 and 2. Activities include collaborative projects, mentoring, and shared experiences that encourage learning and connection. UniSA students conduct research to measure outcomes and provide recommendations for future improvements.
Joining Generations – Celebration 2025
The culmination of the Joining Generations Intergenerational Program deserves a special moment of recognition. The celebration event brought together students, volunteers, families, and community partners to reflect on achievements and share stories that highlight the power of connection across generations.
A heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this programme possible:
- Charles Campbell College – Kevin O’Neil, Principal; Katie Rogers, Pastoral Care Worker
- UniSA Social Work Programme – Patricia Muncey, Field Education Team; Catherine Janine Rosales, Social Work Student; Mia (Meng) Zhao, Social Work Student
- Campbelltown City Council – Bianca Connelly, Development Officer, Ageing Well
- ACH Group – Lili Ganaye, Village Manager; Nat Johncock, Retirement Living – Operations Manager
- Community Housing Inc – Tyson Brown, Manager, Community Development, Aaliyah Sirengo, Social Work Student at Flinders University
To the amazing Charles Campbell College students – Jonathan, Ruby, Ebony, Beau, Nicole, Emma, Maddy, Bonnie, Marcus, Joshua, and Elizabeth – and your families, thank you for your energy, creativity, and open hearts.
And to the Campbelltown City Council residents and volunteers – Robyn, John, Rosemary, Louis, Wendy, Josephine, Susan, Patricia, Suzanne, and Helen – your stories and wisdom made every connection richer.
Finally, a very special acknowledgment to Brian Harris, whose vision started it all. A Charles Campbell College volunteer and passionate advocate against bullying and ageism, Brian brought everyone together and turned an idea into a truly meaningful community partnership – one that will continue to grow and expand across other schools and councils.
Watch the recordings from the celebration on YouTube (full playlist).
Voices that connect us
Hear heartfelt reflections from Brian and Katie – program facilitators, students Bonnie, Ruby and Elizabeth, and volunteers Suzanne and Susan as they share how the Joining Generations program built confidence, connection, and meaningful relationships across communities.
Chapters
- 0:00 Acknowledgement of Country by Aaliyah, Social Worker from Flinders University, associated with Community Housing
- 0:39 Brian reflects on the program and the importance of ‘Joining Generations’.
- 04:07 Katie, Pastoral Care Worker at Charles Campbell College, talks about the ways Charles Campbell College got involved and the partnerships the program enabled.
- 07:20 Volunteer Suzanne highlights the role of program activities in building authentic relationships.
- 10:54 Bonnie shares that participating in the program was emotional but invaluable because students felt seen and heard.
- 14:36 Ruby explains that, although the activities were hard at first, the participants helped her feel comfortable with sharing what mattered to her.
- 19:15 Elizabeth shares that how the program helped her make new friends, feel more confident.
- 20:25 Volunteer Susan says that she has respect for all the young people who got involved and were curious and brave to participate.
Stories and shared moments
Further reflections by students Marcus, Jonathan, Beau, and Emma; and volunteers Patricia and Rosemary centered on meaningful conversations, creative projects, and the sense of community that developed over time. Many noted how the program helped them better understand and appreciate people of different ages.
Chapters
- 0:21 Patricia shares that it was the TV program that inspired her to participate and made really valuable connection with the students.
- 01:42 Marcus reflects that it would be very simple to launch this program across other schools and communitites as it helps people understand about the different generations. Marcus also says that what he enjoyed was how kind everyone was to each other.
- 02:28 Jonathan says that he enjoyes being around older people because of their wisdom and values. He shares how he made a great connection with John, who reminded him of his grandfather.
- 03:34 Rosemary highlights how everyone participated – including the university students and care givers – and how the activities created a sense of belonging and mutual respect. She also hopes that the program will be introduced in other schools.
- 05:19 Katie invites other students and participants to share their highlights from the program.
- 06:02 Beau volunteered to share after Katie’s call out and shares that the activities were amazing – including the flower pots decoration and cooking – and how amazing the whole program was.
- 07:13 Emma was inspired by other participants sharing their experience and also volunteered to talk about the program, highlighting how it helped her to open up to people and create new friendships. Emma also mentions that her grandmother came to today’s celebration to support her.
- 08:32 Katie invites everyone to give all participants a big round of applause.
- 08:56 Aaliyah makes introduction for Helen’s video (we’ll share that too).
Results of the survey and final reflections
Hear from Social Work students Aaliyah, Catherine and Mia, while Bianca from Campbelltown City Council, Nat from ACH Group, Kevin and Katie from Charles Campbell College emphasise the community partnerships that sustain it, and the collective commitment to ensuring its future.
Chapters
- 0:00 Aaliyah, Social Work student at Flinders University reflects on this project as it was an opportunity for her student placement to connect with participants and especially volunteer Helen.
- 03:01 Catherine and Mia, two Social Work students from UniSA, share the results of the program survey.
- 16:02 Bianca from Campbelltown City Council reflects on how two years ago, the council started conversations with the community, and Charles Campbell Collage were the first around the table, while Brian came up with the idea for ‘Joining Generations’.
- 20:45 Nat from ACH Group expresses how inspired she feels about the program, acknowledgeing Brian’s contribution.
- 23:26 Kevin, Principal of Charles Campbell College, reflects on the importance of the program and how he supports it continuing any way possible.
- 28:55 Katie thanks everyone in the community for the opportunity and concludes the celebration.
What’s next?
Joining Generations has demonstrated the power of bringing people together across generations to share experiences, challenge stereotypes, and build meaningful relationships.
Through carefully designed activities, robust evaluation methods, and strong community partnerships, the programme not only met its objectives but created lasting impact – reducing social isolation, fostering mutual respect, and developing valuable personal skills.
The success of this initiative highlights the importance of collaboration and creativity in addressing social challenges.
With digital stories, focus groups, and surveys capturing both data and human stories, we now have a strong foundation for future programs.
By continuing to refine our approach and engage stakeholders, Joining Generations is well-positioned to grow, inspire, and replicate its model in other communities – ensuring that the connections made today lead to a more inclusive and connected tomorrow.
