2024 Meals on Wheels NSW Innovation Awards
Blacktown Meals on Wheels Services Inc. Introducing Diversity
Blacktown MOW has partnered with int College, a registered training organisation that hosts international students who are studying in the areas of nursing, disability, community services, hospitality and aged care. For a 12-week block, we have three students working with us to gain valuable, real-world skills in this sector. At the end of the 12 weeks, we hold a “Thank You” morning tea for the students finishing their placement and provide an induction to the new students at the same time. All students are given an induction kit which includes relevant policies and procedures as well as a role description. It has been relatively easy to set up and maintain this project and we are currently on our third intake for the year. All students have police checks and the required vaccinations.
Outcomes of the Project
It is vital for students to be given the opportunity to experience face-to-face work in their chosen sector as, one day, these students will be providing care and support in our community. Our restaurant clients love the interaction with young people as well as with people from different cultures, having worked with students from Fiji, Nepal and Malaysia. Our delivered meal clients have told us how happy the students are when they deliver a meal and one of the students has continued as a volunteer following her 12-week placement. We have developed a good working relationship with the college who have offered to provide Fijian dancers to perform at our clients’ end-of-year Christmas Party.
Hosting students also bolsters our volunteer numbers through the course of their placement, supporting our volunteer base.