Profile on Kalev Pank - Grandparent Advisor, Sydney's west
Western Australia media release
Thursday, 09 December 2010
Kalev Pank knows first-hand the challenge grandparents face when they take on the primary carer role, raising their grandchildren.
He was only six years old when he and his younger sister went to live with his grandparents, who had already experienced their own challenges – fleeing Estonia during the Second World War, waiting six years in a German refugee camp to then settle in Australia – a foreign country, not speaking English and with little money.
On top of that Kalev’s grandparents helped to support their daughter – his mother – who was dealing with her own health issues at the time. Kalev’s father devoted many hours caring for his mother, so his grandparents were kind enough to step in, to support his parents, to provide their primary care for an entire year.
"Although the love and care was there at the time, it was tough because I didn’t understand why my sister and I had to move away," Kalev said.
"When I reflect back I can only imagine how hard it must have been for my grandparents but we got through it eventually," he said.
That’s why Kalev’s own personal experience, plus the many years he has spent working with the Department of Social Security and Centrelink in various specialist customer support roles, placed him as the ideal candidate for a newly created position, within Centrelink, titled Grandparent Advisor.
Based at Penrith, Kalev said he was honoured to accept his new role, servicing Sydney’s West, providing additional support and assistance to grandparents, so they have one point of contact to better access information about payments and support services.
"The beauty of this role is I’m here specifically for grandparents," Kalev said.
"I can spend the extra time with them, to fully understand their circumstances, so I can explore every part of their eligibility, to ensure they are receiving their correct entitlements.
"It also helps me to link them in with local grandcarer support services – ones that best suit their needs."
Only four weeks into the role and Kalev hasn’t wasted any time informing locals about the service he provides.
"I've contacted local community agencies, neighbourhood centres, preschools, childcare centres and hospitals amongst others to let people know I’m available to help grandparents," Kalev said.
"I’ve also made lots and lots of phone calls and I’ve emailed out my flyers to over 40 different organisations already.
"I’ve also made visits to all the major inter-agencies in the area and attended all the community forums and, as a result, I have made many more contacts."
And it doesn’t stop there, Kalev has also walked the business district in Katoomba, Windsor and Mt Druitt, to inform GP Clinics, pharmacies, welfare centres and other local community groups, about his service, which takes in the Nepean, Blue Mountains and the Hawkesbury local regions and he plans to do more.
"I'm hoping once grandparents get to speak to me and get to know me they’ll think I’m good value," he said with a laugh.
"I'm positive, enthusiastic and very passionate about what I do and hopefully it comes across."
Kalev said as a Grandparent Advisor he really wants people to know he is there to help, no matter what the issue, and grandparents don't need to be on a Centrelink payment to access him.
"I'm available to help all grandparents who are dealing with the challenges surrounding the full-time care of their grandchildren," Kalev said.
"I might not have all the answers on the spot but I'm certainly happy to go the extra mile to find out and the great thing about this role is I'm learning more and more every day."
People wishing to contact Kalev can call 1800 245 965 toll free.
For more information, telephone the relevant Centrelink media contact.