The Spirituality Centre at Santa Teresa, in conjunction with the Ltyentye Apurte Catholic School, runs a very successful Intergenerational Sewing Workshop, with Order of Malta member, Cons. Nicole Johnson serving as project coordinator.

The workshops aim to assist women in the small Arrernte township about 80 kilometres south-east of Alice Springs, by providing a safe space for older women to mentor younger women; interacting together while engaged in meaningful, purposeful activity. The participants also develop sewing skills that can create products to meet the needs of the community or be sold at the Spirituality Centre to provide an income for either the participants or the project itself.

The project, also supported by the Good Samaritan Sisters Foundation, launched in 2022 following a successful appeal for equipment, which resulted in over 40 sewing machines and sewing accessories being donated. The workshops begin at 9am and finish well after 5pm, with many participants, including school-aged students, working all day.

Cons. Nicole Johnson, says the workshops have had instant positive effects in the community. “Some students who have been absent and inconsistent in their schooling, re-engaged not only in these workshops, but it motivated them to increase their attendance in other areas of their education,” she says. “It was fantastic to have their grandmothers, mothers and aunties engaged in mentoring.”

“Six Secondary students have re-engaged in the Certificate 1 in Retail while participating in the sewing program. Over the summer school break, they continued their retail employment in the local store.

Members in the Northern Territory continue to support the project by purchasing fabric for the workshop, with three workshops planned in 2023.