Practice · Full program
Lively Intergenerational Care Program
- Aged Care, Disability
- Mental Health, Wellbeing
- Economic Security, Jobs
- Community Development
A tested model for employing young people aged 18 to 25, no experience required, to build genuine relationships with isolated older people through everyday practical support like tech help, gardening and transport.
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- Free to licenseCreative Commons
- Field Guideand Practice Journey
- 23 resourcestemplates and tools
About this practice
What Lively Does
Lively employs young people aged 18 to 25, with no aged care experience required, and matches them with older community members for regular, relationship-based, practical support: tech help, light gardening, transport, social outings, decluttering and life story recording.
Why License This Practice
- A fully tested hiring, training and matching model built over ten years of direct delivery in Melbourne
- Deliberately avoids "aged care" framing to attract a completely new pool of young applicants
- A values-first, low-cost workforce model that partner organisations (councils, aged care providers, libraries) can stand up quickly
- Positions older and younger people as equals, doing things together, rather than one-directional caring
"It's like having her daughter back." - Maree, 82, a Lively program participant
What You Get
The Field Guide walks you through Lively's hiring criteria and process, its practical (not policy-heavy) training approach, its matching methodology, its tailored service menu, and its partnership-building playbook, so you can stand up your own values-led intergenerational program.
See it in action
Who it’s for
Councils, libraries, aged care providers, retirement villages and community organisations wanting an affordable, values-led way to reduce social isolation among older people while creating meaningful entry-level employment for young people.
Target population
Two groups at once: older people experiencing social isolation, referred through partner councils, aged care providers, libraries, retirement villages and housing providers; and young people aged 18 to 25, most with no aged care experience or qualifications, seeking flexible, values-aligned, entry-level employment. Typical older Members live alone, have a shrinking social network, and need everyday practical support (tech help, transport, gardening, decluttering) rather than clinical care. Typical young Helpers are studying or between opportunities, and are drawn to the role by its values and community impact, rarely by an existing interest in aged care.
How it’s delivered
- One-to-one sessions
- Group work
- Outreach visit
- Digital technology
- Online
- Self-paced resources
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