Bridging the Gap - Casey Baldwin on the Power of Intergenerational Connection
- Jan 29
- 2 min read
I recently had the pleasure of chatting with a good friend and star graduate from my Passion to Profit and business mentoring programs. She is truly at the cutting edge of educational change: Casey Baldwin is the founder of Intergen Connect, and has over 25 years of experience in education. She has stepped out of her comfort zone and is now a forerunner in intergenerational practice in Australia.
From Burnout to Purpose
Casey’s journey to this point wasn’t easy. In 2020, while serving as a deputy principal—a role Casey describes as one of the "hardest positions in the school"—the cumulative stress of the pandemic and navigating competing demands led to a diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome.
But from that challenging transition, a beautiful mission was born. Casey realised that our society is facing a global loneliness crisis, and she saw a unique opportunity to bridge the gap between two often-disconnected groups: teenagers and seniors.
More Than Just a Social Visit
Intergenerational programs are not just social visits. They are purposeful, planned initiatives designed to create measurable outcomes and long-lasting communities. Casey is proving that when you bring these generations together, magic happens.
Why does it work?
Breaking Stereotypes: Casey lives by the theory that "it's hard to hate people up close." By connecting personally, both students and seniors shed their negative biases.
Real-World Skills: Casey is passionate about moving beyond the "industrial model of schooling" to help students develop vital soft skills and real-world experience.
A Sense of Purpose: These programs give both the young and the old a renewed sense of connection and well-being.
The Future of Connection
Casey isn't stopping here. They are currently pursuing a Master’s by research at Griffith University, with an eye toward a PhD, all to influence educational policy from the top down. The goal? To make intergenerational programs an everyday option for the "average Aussie kid," rather than a "special" one-off event.
Get Involved
I am so proud of the work Casey is doing. If you are a parent, a teacher, or involved in a care community, I highly encourage you to look into how Intergen Connect can help foster these vital connections.
Learn more: Visit intergen.com.au to see how you can bring these programs to your community.
Listen to the full episode: Check out the links below to hear our full conversation and learn more about Casey's incredible journey.
Comments