Robot Wars a Hit at Bolton Clarke Fernhill: Day Therapy Residents Hone Tech Skills

The tech-savvy seniors of Bolton Clarke’s Fernhill Day Therapy Centre at Caboolture have been spending their afternoons playing with iPads and robots as part of a program being run through Moreton Bay Regional Council Library. 

The program is designed to teach members of the community computer literacy skills while improving their hand-eye coordination and problem solving skills in a fun, friendly and social environment.

Day therapy clients said by far their favourite part of the program is playing with robots. Participants are given a robot which they can control via their iPad and are given a range of obstacles and tasks to manipulate and complete.

Participant Brian said he was quickly getting the hang of the “new-fangled” technology.

“I have been practicing with small robots the size of tennis balls and I can manipulate them through the maze - we also have bigger ones that look like part monster trucks, part cranes. I can make them lift objects and move them. It’s terrific fun,” he said.

Fernhill Personal Carer, Alena Antrobus, said the clients enjoyed the opportunity to participate in the program and learn new skills.

“I think there is also some friendly competition that happens out on the floor where the robots might turn on each other and start chasing them – all our clients love to watch and are in fits of laughter by the end,” she said.

“Even if they have no computer skills whatsoever that’s not a barrier for them – they are still encouraged to participate and have a good time.”

The program is part of a six-month pilot under which the Moreton Bay Regional Council Library has been visiting schools, aged care communities and other groups in the Caboolture area with the robots to help enhance computer literacy skills. 

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