St Mary’s students Sarah Dickson, Phoebe Robson and Deneale Sanders with resident Carmel.
Camera IconSt Mary’s students Sarah Dickson, Phoebe Robson and Deneale Sanders with resident Carmel. Credit: Supplied/Supplied

Karrinyup: St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School students help seniors get tech savvy

Kate LeaverStirling Times

KARRINYUP students have been teaching retirement village residents how to use technology, from using Google Maps to sending text messages.

A group of St Mary’s Anglican Girls’ School students participated in the ‘technology connect’ program with residents Moline Village and Lady McCusker Village.

Dora, the oldest resident involved in the program, has learned how to read and send text messages as well as how to search information about her favourite musicians and guides on how to prune roses on the internet.

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Another resident and one of the program’s biggest fans, Iris, now uses her iPad to search online scrapbook Pinterest for the latest fashion trends.

“The girls have taught me to appreciate the computer,” Iris said.

“I thought I would have been old enough to ‘escape’ needing to learn about technology, but it appears I’m not.

“They’ve showed me how to use Google Maps, even though I have a printed copy of the 2017 UBD in my car.”

Allied Health Services Health Care enrichment manager Emily Lees said the connect program had increased social connections with family, other residents and the wider community.

“This wonderful program with St Mary’s not only closes the digital divide, but offers such wonderful opportunities for older and younger people to learn from one another and to see the world from a new perspective,” she said.

“Using technology is second nature for the St Mary’s students, but for many of our residents and clients, it is a whole new world that can be very intimidating.

“The St Mary’s students have approached their training role with maturity and enthusiasm and have made the sessions fun.”

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