Ann Smith nominated for Pride of Australia in community category
A SERIOUS work accident almost three decades ago left Ann Smith broken both physically and emotionally.
A SERIOUS work accident almost three decades ago left Ann Smith broken both physically and emotionally.
The Morphett Vale resident suffered ongoing chronic pain after injuring her back and spine while working in a library at Flinders University in 1986.
What followed was a downward spiral that eventually led to repeated brushes with the state’s mental health system and psychiatric wards.
“I was lifting up to 40kg worth of newspapers above my head, when I would have weighed about 50kg to 60kg myself,” Mrs Smith said.
“The chronic pain never really went away after that and it impacted on every single area of my life and just led to a downward spiral.
“I saw first-hand how things within the mental health system work and the services weren’t quite working as well as I thought they could, that there was a lot of improvement that could happen.”
In the almost 30 years since her workplace accident, Mrs Smith became a tireless mental health advocate, initially joining, and becoming chairwoman, of committees dedicated to change in the sector.
She worked as a policy officer with the Mental Health Council of Australia and last year helped train 35 health workers in advocacy skills, legal issues and legislation.
For her dedication to the cause, Mrs Smith has been nominated for a Pride of Australia award in the community category.
“I look back and hope I’ve done some good for somebody,” Mrs Smith said.
“I think there has been some improvements in the area of mental health, but that stigma is still there.
“People often think they won’t have to deal with any mental health issues, that it won’t happen to them, but it happened to me and I’ve just tried to make the best out of it.”
In January, Mrs Smith was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for her work and advocacy in mental health.
To nominate someone for a Pride of Australia award, go to advertiser.com.au/prideofaustralia