RESPECT

“Kath’s passion and commitment to the highest level of
client care is her driving force and is contagious.”
Julie Tremain, CCS Service Manager, Orana
Passion and Commitment
Kath Readford has been working in
the health and aged care sector
for more years than she chooses
to admit and for many years has
held positions of Day and Respite
Services Coordinator and Dementia
Counsellor for CCS, Orana. As the
only Dementia Counsellor in an area
covering over 38,000 square kms in
Western NSW, Kath is extremely busy
but remains passionate about easing
the burdens of people living with
dementia and their carers.
Not only is Kath constantly in demand
to present at conferences and to sit
on expert panels, Kath is also very
active assisting clients through their
journey with dementia. This includes
assisting with diagnosis, accessing
services, planning for the future,
providing support during times of grief
and enabling those carers who have
walked the journey to assist others on
the same path.
“I think that people with dementia
and their carers are the real heroes
in this situation because they are
caring on a 24/7 basis…..I think the
recognition needs to go to them,”
Kath says.
During her time with CCS, Kath has
been instrumental in securing funding
for a Dementia Day Centre and
Dementia Home Respite for Carers.
Kath has also established Dementia
Support Groups in Dubbo, Mudgee
and Coonabarabran and is working
to duplicate this in other regions.
Kath has been honoured with an
Order of Australia Medal particularly
for her work as a Dementia
Counsellor. Julie Tremain, CCS Service
Manager, said, “Kath’s passion and
commitment to the highest level of
client care is her driving force and
is contagious.”
A quiet achiever, Kath does not focus
on her many honours but remains
committed to the task at hand.
Speaking of the looming dementia
crisis in Australia, Kath says, “There
have been a lot of improvements
but there is still a lot to do.”
Kath Readford, Dementia Counsellor
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