Stories From My Life
A project that supports students to achieve outcomes in personal, professional and enterprising skills aligned to VCE or VCE Vocational Major.
About The Project
Stories From My life (SFML) is an intergenerational program that captures career and life stories from our ageing local communities.
The project brings together local secondary schools and older residents from Aged Care facilities or Service Club Volunteers (such as Rotary or Lions Clubs) with a focus for students to learn about the life and career journey of a local senior resident or service club volunteer. This learning is documented and prepared for presentation and/or print material by the students to present at the conclusion of the project.
Activities related to this project are aligned to the school curriculum (VCE or VCE VM). Some of these activities include: an induction, planning and preparing for the interview, collating and developing the information into a presentation or document and sharing the learnings with fellow students and citizens.
Aim & Objectives
The aim of this project is to:
- Increase the opportunity for students to engage with local senior and aged persons to develop personal and professional related skills
- Help reduce social isolation for our local aging population
- Provide an opportunity for a two-way learning process through the sharing of life stories
- Document and celebrate the lives of our aging community and;
- To achieve student education outcomes in literacy, personal development and work-related skills.
SFML in 2025
We are excited to announce that Stories From My Life is back for 2025. We are currently liaising with schools to finalise this year’s program.
Stay tuned for more details about how you can get involved in the Stories From My Life program.
Any SFML volunteer enquires can be directed to Project Support Officer, Beti Zarkadoulas at beti@bnllen.org.au
6
Schools Participated
108
Students Involved in the Project
27
Local Community Volunteers Participated
3
Aged Care Facilities Participated
Charles La Trobe College
- Term 3 2024 - 6 weeks
- Year 10 students
- 44 students in total
- Dual program at Charles La Trobe Campus with 7 Community Volunteers and Benetas The Views at Heidelberg Aged Care Facility
Concord School
- Term 3 - 7 weeks
- Year 12 students
- 33 Students in total
- 10 Community Volunteers
Bundoora Secondary College
- Term 3 - 6 weeks
- Year 11 VCE VM Students
- 12 Students in total
- 4 Community Volunteers
Our Lady of Mercy College
- Term 3 - 8 weeks
- Year 12 VCE VM Students
- 12 Students in total
- Hosted at Bluecross Ivanhoe Aged Care Facility
Diamond Valley College
- Term 3 - 7 weeks
- Year 11 VCE VM Students
- 19 Students in total
- 5 Community Volunteers
- Hosted at Diamond Creek Bowling Club
Melbourne Polytechnic
- Term 3 - 6 weeks
- Year 11 and 12 Students
- 13 Students in total
- Hosted at Estia Health Heidelberg Aged Care Facility
