Students from Elizabeth Grove and Elizabeth Vale primary schools have been creating nurture kits to show essential workers how much they value their contribution through the Playford 10 Kindness in Action Project.

Esther and Haider, along with their class at Elizabeth Vale Primary School, have been making stickers, bookmarks, lanyards and Aboriginal dreamtime picture frames to be placed inside the kits.

“My message to the nurses and the team at Calvary is to thank them for everything they’ve done for us, keep up the good work and keep your head up,” Esther said. “I would like to thank the nurses for saving people’s lives,” Haider added.

Elizabeth Grove Primary School students, Jacob and Shaynell, added trinket boxes, coasters, bracelets, and a hit amongst the Calvary Health Care staff - a joke book - to the nurture kits.

“Nurses have done so much during COVID and throughout their whole working experience,” Jacob said. “Thank you for helping us and for delivering babies,” Shaynell added.

The volunteer project, developed in partnership with the City of Playford, Calvary Health Care South Australia and the Rotary Club of Adelaide, aims to highlight the importance of the health industry to children, as well as to give students an insight into potential health careers.

Mission Integration Co-coordinator at Calvary Health Care SA, Belinda Chapman said the project had already achieved many positive outcomes, by drawing together community groups to acknowledge and support our healthcare workers.

“It really does touch the heart of our staff when receiving the nurture kits,” Belinda said. “The nurture kits have allowed the students to be welcomed into our healthcare community and understand how we work. The project has also educated our staff to the special work that’s done to mentor children in the northern suburbs, so it’s very rewarding.”

Playford 10 Manager, Ali Elder, said the annual program has great benefits to children from 10 years of age, in understanding the value of service to the community.

“Playford 10 is about connecting children to ongoing activities, with volunteering being a key component of this,” Ms Elder said. “We know that providing 10-year-olds with these opportunities will have positive outcomes in their future learning and contribution to the community.”