Last month, on a beautiful autumn morning in Canberra, Programmed Facility Management set up for another successful Trade for a Day event.
Our Trade for a Day program is woven into the fabric of our approach to social inclusion and community engagement, providing an enriching experience and essential maintenance works for elderly tenants at Housing ACT Aged Persons Units.
The program involves a visit to a Housing ACT complex by team of tradespersons who perform tasks such as replacing lighting with LED fittings, servicing air conditioners and heaters, and inspecting smoke alarms.
It’s also a great opportunity to educate, raise awareness and empower elderly tenants around topics like fire safety, crime prevention, and aged care in home services.
Set against the backdrop of a delicious complimentary BBQ breakfast and lunch, the event was also attended by representatives from the police, fire brigade, and the Department of Aging to discuss important topics and respond to tenants’ enquiries.
The Trade for a Day program offers a vast array of benefits for both tenants and the broader community. For tenants, the reduction of energy consumption allows them to save money on bills, and smoke alarm testing helps to ensure their safety. For our community, it provides an invaluable opportunity for tenants, tradespersons, Programmed and Housing ACT staff to interact and build rapport by sharing stories, concerns, and providing feedback. In turn, this resource contributes to the reduction of social isolation and loneliness among older tenants, as well as building trust with service providers and authorities to respond with the support they need.
“Trade for a Day is a successful and innovative program that demonstrates Programmed’s commitment to social responsibility and customer satisfaction,” said Gregory Lackey, Social Inclusion Manager. “The program has received positive feedback from the tenants, Housing ACT, and the guests and has been praised for its impact on the quality of life and well-being of the elderly residents. The program is an example of how facility management can go beyond the technical aspects and incorporate the social and environmental dimensions of service delivery.”
A huge shoutout to all the teams involved in the delivery of such an important event!