Sydney's community engagement officer in action
New South Wales media release
Monday, 7 June 2010
Elderly, vulnerable and homeless people in inner Sydney and the Northern Beaches are in good hands thanks to Centrelink Community Engagement Officer (CCEO) Ann Parkes.
The CCEO program sees 90 specialist Centrelink staff, located across all capital cities and many regional centres, supporting some of the most vulnerable people in our community.
Ann’s job is to ensure homeless people in and around the inner city, Chatswood and the Northern Beaches - and those at risk of homelessness - have better access to income support and the many other services available through Centrelink.
"Working directly with homeless and marginalised people is challenging and demanding but even after eight years I find reward in what I accomplish every day," Ann said.
"I deal a lot with people who have mental illness or other disorders, people who are depressed, suicidal.
"As soon as I started I realised I had to learn a lot. Over the years I’ve made sure I’ve received training in crisis counselling and how to deal with people with these issues.
"I’ve many stories of people I’ve helped along the way, but I’ll always remember a particularly frail old lady I helped recently.
"She was housebound, deaf and nearly blind and I went to her home and helped her fill in paperwork she needed for an Age Pension review. The first time she wouldn’t let me in, but over a few weeks I visited several times and her living conditions weren’t good.
"Just after Christmas last year she broke her hip, and I visited her in hospital and took her flowers and later I was able to recommend her for supported accommodation, the best outcome for this little, frail, and elderly woman."
Ann has worked with the Mathew Talbot hostel at Woolloomooloo for five years and also works a lot with Edward Eagar Lodge in Surry Hills.
Ann is now working on a Northern Hub Community Engagement plan to bring better awareness of homelessness to Chatswood and the Northern Beaches.
"I love that I get to make a difference to people in doing this job."
For more information, telephone the relevant Centrelink media contact.