Since the outbreak of COVID-19 in Australia, the government has laid down strict guidelines restricting community social gatherings. To comply with the requirements, all CASS Seniors Activity Groups have ceased regular activities from the end of March 2020. Mindful of the seniors’ social and emotional wellbeing needing care, CASS has explored and resort to the utilisation of online communication software Zoom and various social media platforms to conduct virtual activities to continue the provision of social activities for its activity groups’ members. The endeavour has generated lots of positive feedback and interests.

CASS normally operates a total of 29 Senior Activity Groups across Metropolitan Sydney and Wollongong. Each of them runs with a planned program weekly for the seniors to get together and engage in social and recreational activities at a venue organised and supported by CASS. During the pandemic, CASS staff members have been proactively assisting in arranging the online activities and providing trainings to enable seniors to use the Zoom software on their mobile phones. In the virtual activity sessions, seniors can dance and exercise together, share stories and display their talents, e.g. calligraphy, Chinese painting, poetry appreciation, poetry recital etc. The participation in online activities is not constrained by geographical locations, enabling all group members, either local or currently overseas, to join the sessions and meet with each other.

The majority of the members of CASS activity groups are now able to join and engage in the online activity sessions, with the eldest member aged over 85 years old, and is still enthusiastic in learning new skills and actively pursuing fun to enrich life.

For those who are interested to register for the online activities or to get more information, please call (02) 9718 7305 Ext. 115.