About Charlie’s Gift

A note from our Founder

Welcome to the Charlie’s Gift Community.

When my dad became ill with cancer, I experienced firsthand the benefits of local community support. I was so grateful to those in my father’s community who were on call when needed because his children and family lived out of the area. I continue to be thankful to this beautiful community which now gives my mother confidence that they are there to support her should she need them.

I was proud to be my father’s daughter when told by those in his community “how much he enhanced the lives of many locals dependent on others for their life quality and wellbeing”.

I am also grateful for all the lessons I learned from the older people I worked with in my past community occupational therapy roles. Because of them, I see older people as diverse individuals first and ‘older’  second.

I knew establishing Charlie’s Gift would not be easy. Because creating change never is. It is my passion for us all to see older people as they see themselves…the same person they have always been with a few more life experiences; My innate belief is that the confidence to age well is possible for us all. This  drives me to the challenge of changing community perceptions of what it is to age, and to age with confidence.

In many ways, Charlie’s Gift is my gift to you, the people of Newcastle and Lake Macquarie communities. This is a gift of passion and empowerment to enable you to become part of the change you want to see. It is a change that will enable you, and those you love, the confidence to age well, knowing they are valued, supported and connected in their community.

Best Wishes

Shelly

Charlie’s Gift Fund Incorporation

The Charlie’s Gift Fund Incorporated (affectionately known as Charlie’s Gift ) was founded through Charlie’s legacy.

Charlie’s Gift is an independent not-for-profit charity founded for the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie communities. Founded to enable the residence in our community to age with confidence and wellbeing, knowing they are valued, connected and supported.

The recent Royal Commission into Aged Care (2021) showed clearly the heart-breaking consequences experienced by older people absent of family or local support.

Charlie’s Gift Charity Fund (Charlie’s Gift) strongly believes that it is not one person’s or organisation’s responsibility to ensure our older people remain connected to their community without fear of loneliness or isolation. The way forward to better ageing outcomes depends on our community working together to create the change we want.  After all, from the moment we are born, we are all ageing!

Effecting change takes time, drive, dedication and, inevitably, funding which Charlie’s Gift works tirelessly to provide.

But we can’t do it alone, and we need your help! And the support of our community.