Age no barrier to helping Indigenous communities
Queensland Media Release
Thursday, 28 January 2010
Determination to change her life and the lives of others has paid off for Gympie Centrelink worker and grandmother, Anne Whitfield who is about to graduate with a Bachelor of Social Work.
Anne was directly involved in helping local Indigenous residents when she joined Centrelink in 2003 as an Indigenous Customer Services Officer, but felt she wasn’t doing enough.
So 4 years ago she successfully applied for a Centrelink Indigenous Scholarship and at the age of 46 returned to University to study to become a social worker.
"I was the oldest person in the class but I was very motivated and determined to get my degree," Anne said.
"The students confided in me and saw me as a mother figure, but they were all positive and I was focussed on graduating.
"As an Indigenous officer I saw the problems facing Indigenous residents and I wanted to do more, there were just too many in crisis," Anne said.
Anne has been familiar with the issues facing Indigenous communities ever since her childhood.
Her mother was Indigenous and Anne spent much of her childhood droving with her family throughout New South Wales before settling in Queensland and raising a family of 4 children, including twin daughters.
She now has 7 grandchildren keeping her busy, but still finds the time to reach out to the Gympie region's Indigenous families.
"Often they just want someone to talk to that really understands them," Anne said.
Anne will graduate from the University of the Sunshine Coast in April and her family will all attend to celebrate her achievement.
"I joke with my kids that I'm the smartest one in the family but really, anybody can do what I've done, you just need to be determined and motivated," she said.
For more information, telephone the relevant Centrelink Media Contact.