The winner of Ian De La Rue Youth Initiative Award 2019 is Raegan Charlton Smith pictured here with Elizabeth Fox, UYCE Board Member. The Award was presented at the Upper Yarra Community Enterprise Annual General Meeting in November 2019.
Reagan was nominated by Jennifer Storey.
Reagan Charlton Smith is on a mission to break down the barriers between young people and the aged. She recently completed work placement at AdventCare in Warburton, supporting aged people to improved the quality of their lives. Since the age of 12 years old, she has prided herself on building positive relationships with the residents at AdventCare, visiting with the elderly at her mother’s place of work. During this time, the 18 year old, has grown and matured learning important skills in empathy, and about the needs of the aged physically, cognitively, sensory, culturally and spiritually.
Reagan has experienced first hand the way having younger people around can lift an older person’s spirits and has set her life purpose to support the elderly live their best lives, and encourage other young people to consider their options and work in Aged Care as well. Her choices are a great example of how to bring the elderly and young together in the Upper Yarra Valley.