Residents at St Vincent’s Care Toowoomba are embarking on extraordinary journeys across the globe, without ever leaving their home. All thanks to the launch of the St Vincent Express, a permanent immersive virtual reality train experience designed especially for aged care residents.
Created to resemble a fine-dining rail carriage, the St Vincent Express, departs from Lourdes Station which transformed an existing library space into a beautifully themed train setting where residents can sit back, relax, and enjoy afternoon tea while travelling the world through immersive virtual reality.
Using VR (Virtual Reality) technology, residents can watch breathtaking scenery unfold outside their “carriage windows,” journeying through landscapes across up to 10 different countries. Upcoming trips require further donations to allow residents to visit South Africa, from Johannesburg to Cape Town and across Tanzania, offering a unique sense of adventure and discovery.
The experience was the vision of Residential Care Services Manager Elzette Lategan, who developed the project to enhance the wellbeing for residents, particularly those living with chronic pain, dementia or cognitive decline. By combining sensory stimulation, storytelling and shared experiences, the St Vincent Express helps spark memory recall, social connection and joy.
Residents will gather for the experience three times a week, where the journey becomes as much about companionship as it is about travel. Conversations often flow as familiar landscapes, cultures and memories are sparked by the virtual journeys.
Importantly, the St Vincent Express was made possible through the generosity of the Toowoomba community and the support of St Vincent’s Foundation Queensland, which assisted during the development stage of the project. Community donations helped bring the concept to life, ensuring residents could enjoy this remarkable experience for years to come.
Described as a world-first immersive train experience within an aged care setting, the initiative shows how creativity and technology can open new worlds for older Australians.
Help keep the St Vincent Express moving. Donate today to bring more journeys, more connection and more joy to residents.
