Generations Connected at Bolton Clarke Talbarra Retirement Village

The feeling of helping others to something they thought impossible is a feeling unlike anything else. Students from Pimpama State Secondary College recently got to experience this firsthand when they delivered a fully repaired mobility scooter to residents at Bolton Clarke Talbarra Retirement Village.

The students spent much of 2017 taking part in the ‘Fix-ed’ social enterprise program, designed to encourage students to engage with their local community and practice invaluable human-centered design and repair skills.

Pimpama State Secondary College principal John Thornberry said Fix-ed was born out of a passion amongst College staff and students to tackle the issues impacting their community.

“There’s a strong desire to prepare students for the challenges that lie ahead,” he said.

“Future leaders with the skills to tackle problems head on, adapt quickly and create innovative, viable opportunities for the greater community.”

Before taking part in the project, the participating students undertook research and realised that for some residents living in the retirement village, limited mobility was a barrier to maintaining community connections.

This is where their unique project began.

Students received a visit from Bolton Clarke’s leaders in innovation to help students gather research and understand the challenges faced by the ageing community.

Bolton Clarke’s Design Integration lead Lauren Frost provided students with an insight into how Bolton Clarke utilises innovation.

“Bolton Clarke are constantly looking for new and innovative ways to enhance the lives of their customers across the care continuum,” she said.

“Our Design and Innovation team enjoyed connecting and supporting the students as they gained valuable insights into the challenges facing older people.”

Fix-ed collaborator Active Scooters donates the broken mobility scooters to the school to ensure they remain out of landfill and can be donated to those most in need.

Director of Active Scooters John Messenger provided tips to the students on how to best repair mobility scooters and further insights into our ageing community.

“By collaborating with Fix-ed, we believe there is strong potential to provide help to community members who are experiencing hardship, whilst supporting an innovative school program,” he said.

Find out more about Bolton Clarke. 

Pictured: Retirement Village Manager Karina Baker, Student Hunter Ashworth, Innovator Tom Allen, Resident June Thompson, Teacher Stephen Robertson and Student Nyah Kennedy