See a familiar face? You may already have met Anne on one of her Perth information session visits. Almost a year ago, Anne Smith joined us as Community Development Coordinator and her enthusiasm for listening and engaging with older people is a gift to everyone she meets.
“My role is about getting out there, in the community,” she says. “I connect with community groups and organisations to talk about the work we do, raising awareness, sharing information, and most importantly, listening.”
Anne’s enthusiasm for supporting older people is at the heart of everything she does. “I’ve always been drawn to the rights of older people. When I saw this job advertised, it just felt right,” she explains. “Part of the interview was to give a short talk on one of Advocare’s services. I chose elder abuse. I researched, wrote a talk, and went for it. When they told me I’d got the job, they said it felt like I’d been part of the team for years!”
Since joining the team, Anne has greatly boosted Advocare’s ability to connect in person and share information with older West Australians in a wide range of settings. Interestingly, one of the common concerns people talk to her about is their frustration with accessing information and their discomfort in having to use technology to do it.
“People often say, ‘I don’t know what I’m entitled to,’ or ‘It’s too hard to get other services,’” Anne reflects. “Technology is a big barrier. Many older people don’t have a computer or the skills to find information online. It’s frustrating for them, and sad to see.”
But alongside the challenges, Anne is quick to share the lighter, joyful moments and how there’s always opportunities to learn herself from those she meets. “I’ve made felt flowers recently, joined in laughter yoga, shared morning teas and swapped recipes,” she smiles. “I love hearing people’s stories about their lives, their resilience, and the humour that gets them through life’s challenges. I always come away from events feeling lucky.”
When asked about her proudest moments at Advocare, Anne reflects on those personal connections.
“Sometimes it’s not about solving a problem, it’s just giving someone the space to talk. If I’ve helped someone feel heard, that’s a win.”
Anne deeply values the older people she meets. When asked why they deserve to be cherished, she gets a bit emotional. “I think of my dear Dad. He was my ‘man’ and I learned so much from him. Older people have lived through so much… they’ve built lives, families, communities and still have so much to give. We need to slow down and really listen.”
As it is for Anne’s valuable work in the Community Development Team, and the other committed outreach workers across Advocare’s programs, it’s a wonderful reminder that sometimes, simply showing up, listening, and sharing a cup of tea can make all the difference.
