Who we are
Ann and the team
My name is Ann Turner and I am the heart of Together With You.
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I am supported by Baci and Emmie, my two Miniature Schnauzers, who mistakenly think they are co-Chief Executive Officers. They are not. They can't even make coffee yet. They do, however, provide me with emotional support, regular breaks throughout the day for walks and pats, much hilarity, and unsolicited feedback (usually at volume). Emmie came into Baci's and my life when Emmie's mother, Bisous, crossed the rainbow bridge due to cancer, like so many others in my family. I am eternally grateful to have them as my immediate family, and to be their hoomum.
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My first great love was travel, so it was only natural that my career began in the travel industry helping people plan journeys of a lifetime. My own path took me overseas, interstate and to regional NSW before returning to Sydney, where I continued to work in travel and aviation before expanding into training, administration, healthcare, and disability support.
Inspired by the incredible people I met and shaped by experiences within my own family, I have now come full circle by founding Together With You to support people to prepare for, and plan, their final journey so they can focus on living.
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I am proud to be part of a caring and compassionate community of people committed to providing guidance and support to those who are forward planning for, or who are facing, their end of life. It is an honour to provide this service. ​
Experience and Training
Experience
My experience with end of life comes from my family and friends whose lives have ended in a range of circumstances.
These include cancer, sepsis, stroke, stopping dialysis, motor vehicle accident, heart attack, motor neurone disease, and suicide.
Through this experience, I have gained valuable insights into the diverse needs and challenges faced by people approaching their end of life, and those close to them.
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I have learnt not to fear death. I do fear suffering and I believe it should be minimised as far as possible or avoided. I strongly believe there is nothing to be gained from suffering and I advocate against it.
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My work life has included many years of administration and management, which has provided me with strong problem-solving and communication skills, and the ability to be responsive and adaptable. It has also shown me that, when appropriate, a sense of humour can be invaluable. (Mine can be questionable at times.)
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Working in the health and disability sectors has provided me with a high level of expertise in navigating services and resources. This enables me to effectively guide and support you in making informed decisions in preparation for your end of life.
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In my experience, most people have an aversion to talking about death and many avoid planning for their own end of life. I have long been an advocate for death literacy and hope that by helping people speak openly about their thoughts and feelings surrounding death, and by answering questions and providing information, it will make it easier for families and friends to have these important conversations. If you think it is too hard for you to plan now, I guarantee it will be much harder for those left behind if you don't. They don't deserve the additional burden during their grieving process.​​
Most recently, I have become Enduring Power of Attorney and Enduring Guardian to my elderly friend who has no living relatives. Working closely with her, and with the support of two other friends, we now have her affairs in order and an end-of-life plan in place. It is an honour to be able to support her through a time when she thought she had no-one. It has reinforced how important it is to make these plans well in advance, when our cognitive faculties are in full working order, and when we are not under duress.
It has also confirmed that I am on the right path with Together With You.
Training
Ongoing specialised training with Preparing the Way, which delivers the only nationally-accredited End-of-Life Doula certification course and establishes an industry benchmark for quality of service, provides access to resources and support, and collaboration with other doulas. This ensures that my knowledge and skills are being constantly expanded.
My training in Management, Frontline Management, and New Business set up ensures that our service is carried out with professionalism and an appreciation for each person's unique circumstances. Providing quality service to clients is paramount. I bring all my training and resources whether guiding you in your end-of-life planning, navigating the services you require, or supporting you when your time comes.
Memberships and Clearances
Images of Baci, Ann, Emmie, and Ann with Bisous supplied by Ann