The Intergen Project, of which Knox was a partner, was announced as a finalist for the Australian Institute for Intergenerational Practice Award under the category Outstanding Intergenerational Innovation & Contribution.
Intergenerational programs bring together older and younger people to learn, connect, and share experiences in the same setting. These programs aim to strengthen relationships across generations, promoting understanding, respect, and social connection through shared activities.
The award recognises the work Knox did alongside five other Eastern Metro Councils as part of a research project - The Intergen Project, in collaboration with Swinburne University and RMIT, funded by VicHealth. The project aim was to assess the efficacy of a community-based approach for implementing a sustainable and scalable model for social connection, underpinned by the Healthy Social Connections Framework. The research focused on three elements identified in the healthy social connection model: people, places, and activities.
The research project concluded in mid 2024 and has been one of the first successful trials of a community-based model to develop and foster intergenerational social connection between older adults and teenagers in the eastern metropolitan region.
The Knox program comprised of 13 students from Boronia K12 College and 8 older participants from the community coming together, fostering friendships and connections over games at the Knox Library. This program has successfully continued beyond the research project and evolved into a regular program. Students and older members from the Knox community are connecting over cooking, art, music and other topics continuing once again throughout 2025.
This program is one of many intergenerational programs we support in Knox, others include partnerships with aged care facilities, schools, libraries, and community groups.
If you are interested in starting an intergenerational program in Knox, come along to our information session on Tuesday 25 March, visit the link below for more information.
