Learning Together:
Building Community Across Generations
Stephanie Buckland, Chief Executive Officer, Amana Living
Celebrating lifelong learning and the meaningful connections bringing generations together through shared experiences, curiosity, and community.
When we think of learning, we often picture classrooms, teachers, and young people at the beginning of their education journey, yet learning is not confined to childhood, it continues throughout life, shaped by relationships, shared experiences, and the willingness to remain curious and connected.
At Amana Living, we see this every day in our aged care and retirement communities, where learning, growth, and connection continue well beyond the classroom. Through meaningful engagement between generations, older and younger people alike are given the opportunity to learn from one another in ways that enrich their lives and strengthen community.
One example of this can be seen at Amana Living James Brown Care Centre, where students from Hale School visit regularly as part of an intergenerational program. During these visits, residents and students come together for activities such as arts and crafts, and what begins as a shared task often grows into conversations, laughter, and a genuine exchange of ideas. For residents, these visits bring energy and connection, and for the students, they offer insight, perspective, and a deeper understanding of life beyond their own experience.
At Amana Living Club Kinross, one of our Day Clubs supporting people living with dementia who continue to reside in the community, regular interaction and activities with Kinross Primary School fosters this sense of connection between generations. The Club Kinross plays an important role in helping participants remain socially connected, active, and mentally engaged. As familiarity grows, so too does understanding, and these relationships teach younger people empathy and respect, while offering Day Club participants a renewed sense of purpose and engagement.
Lifelong learning is not only about shared experiences, but also about developing new skills, and at Amana Living Frederick Guest Village in Bull Creek, residents have recently taken part in a digital literacy program delivered through a partnership between Amana Living and MatchWorks. Led by a digital trainer and Amana Living’s Customer Engagement Lead, residents participated in hands-on workshops, receiving personalised support to build confidence using their phones, tablets, and laptops to help them stay connected in an increasingly digital world.
Alongside practical skills, participants are learning how to recognise and avoid online scams, supporting both independence and safety. The program is now being rolled out across our other villages, reflecting the strong interest and importance of ongoing learning at every stage of life.
These examples remind us that learning is not defined by age, but by opportunity and connection. In each setting, whether through shared activities, community events, or new skills, older people are both teachers and learners.
There is also a deeper sense of purpose in this work, creating spaces where older people feel connected, valued, and supported reflects a commitment to community and belonging, recognising that every stage of life holds value, and that we all have something to contribute.
When generations come together, learning becomes something shared and strengthens understanding, builds relationships, and creates communities where people continue to grow. At Amana Living, we are proud to support these opportunities, and in doing so, we are reminded that learning is not something we outgrow, but something we carry with us, shaped by the people we meet and the connections we make along the way.