The Link is a great hub for community activity and engagement. That’s why once a month, a group of people living with dementia arrive with their support workers from Dementia Australia.

The group helps with practical tasks such as tending the gardens around The Link including the shared community gardens and herb beds, packing Welcome Packs for residents, and labelling honey produced by the bees at Ginninderry. The honey comes from honey bee hives managed by Mark Paterson, a former SPARK participant, located behind The Link.

It sounds simple, but for people living with dementia, meaningful activity and purposeful engagement are important. Their contributions genuinely assist in Ginninderry’s operations and help maintain the community spaces that residents depend on.

Dementia can be isolating. As cognitive changes progress, maintaining social connection, feeling valued, and staying engaged with the broader community becomes increasingly difficult. The monthly visits to The Link create structured opportunities for all three.

The group members come to The Link, receive tasks to complete, and get on with the work. What makes this meaningful isn’t just the tasks themselves – it’s that they’re part of the community centre, sharing in the space and the rhythm of community life rather than being isolated elsewhere. They belong here.

The support workers from Dementia Australia facilitate and provide care, but the focus remains on participation and contribution rather than limitation. The Ginninderry community benefits from their help, while the group members benefit from purpose, connection, and a cup of coffee amongst friends.

Everyone wins!

To find out about ways you can interact with your community at The Link, pop on down and speak to a member of our team, or call us on 1800 316 900.