A UniMinistry Foundation program · ACNC registered charity · Australia-wide
Generations Connect
An intergenerational volunteering program that pairs trained student volunteers with aged care residents for weekly life-story visits — reducing loneliness and social isolation, one friendship at a time.
What is Generations Connect?
Generations Connect is an intergenerational aged care program created by UniMinistry Foundation, a registered Australian charity. We recruit, train and screen university, TAFE and college student volunteers across Australia, then match them with older people living in residential aged care for regular one-on-one companionship visits.
Over a series of guided life-story conversations, each resident’s memories, milestones and hard-won wisdom are gathered and crafted into a personalised keepsake booklet — a lasting gift for residents and their families. In between, there is room for games, gardens, music and simple friendship: the everyday moments that ease loneliness and connect generations.
How the program works
Recruit & train
Student volunteers complete orientation, training and screening — including a police check — before their first aged care visit.
Match
We work with partner aged care homes to match each student with a resident, guided by shared interests and personality.
Visit & connect
Weekly visits built around guided life-story conversations, activities and genuine companionship.
Celebrate & measure
Each resident receives a keepsake life-story booklet, and outcomes are measured using the validated UCLA-3 Loneliness Scale.
Why intergenerational connection matters
Loneliness and social isolation are among the most serious wellbeing challenges facing older Australians in residential aged care — and intergenerational programs are one of the warmest, most human ways to respond. Every visit benefits both generations: residents gain friendship and the dignity of being truly heard, while students gain perspective, empathy and community.
Get involved
Student volunteers
Studying at university, TAFE or college? An hour a week with Generations Connect gives you:
- Practical training in communication, empathy and active listening
- Meaningful volunteer hours and a certificate of recognition for your résumé
- Friendship, perspective and community — especially valuable for international students far from family
- Flexible visit times that fit around study
Aged care providers
We partner with residential aged care homes, retirement villages and home care providers to bring the program to your residents:
- Screened, trained and supported volunteers, coordinated end-to-end by UniMinistry Foundation
- A structured, evidence-informed program with outcomes measured on the UCLA-3 Loneliness Scale
- Keepsake life-story booklets that residents and families treasure
- Strengthens your lifestyle and wellbeing programming and complements schemes such as the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme (ACVVS)
- Flexible pilot options — from one household to a whole home
A registered charity you can trust
ACNC registeredDGR Item 1Tax deductible
UniMinistry Foundation Ltd (ACN 670 161 430) is a non-denominational Christian charity registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) and endorsed by the Australian Taxation Office as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR Item 1). Donations of $2 or more are tax deductible in Australia.
Our dominant purpose is advancing mental health and preventing or relieving social isolation — Generations Connect exists to serve that purpose, and every dollar donated goes to frontline programs like this one. We operate as a community shed, collaborating with people of all faiths and none. Everyone is welcome.
Frequently asked questions
What is Generations Connect?
Generations Connect is an intergenerational aged care volunteering program run by UniMinistry Foundation, a registered Australian charity. Trained student volunteers visit aged care residents for guided life-story conversations, and each resident receives a personalised keepsake booklet.
Who can become a student volunteer?
University, TAFE and college students — local and international — are all welcome. No experience is needed; every volunteer completes training and screening, including a police check, before visiting.
Which aged care providers can take part?
Residential aged care homes, retirement villages and home care providers anywhere in Australia. Contact us to discuss a pilot for your residents.
How do you measure the program’s impact?
We use the validated UCLA-3 Loneliness Scale at the start and end of each program cycle, alongside participation records and feedback from residents, families and staff.
Is my donation tax deductible?
Yes. UniMinistry Foundation is endorsed as a Deductible Gift Recipient (DGR Item 1), so donations of $2 or more are tax deductible in Australia. You can give securely at uniministry.com/give.
Is Generations Connect a religious program?
UniMinistry Foundation is a non-denominational Christian charity, and Generations Connect is open to everyone. Residents and volunteers of all faiths and none are welcome — participation never depends on belief.
Ready to connect generations?
Whether you are a student with an hour a week, an aged care provider looking to enrich residents’ lives, or a donor who wants to help end loneliness in aged care — we would love to hear from you at ask@uniministry.com.
UniMinistry Foundation Ltd · ACN 670 161 430 · ACNC Registered Charity · DGR Item 1 endorsed · uniministry.com · ask@uniministry.com