Connie Comber is a qualified Social Worker, with a degree from UNSW and Post Grad qualifications in Urban Studies (Macquarie). She lives on the Central Coast of New South Wales, just north of Sydney.
Connie spent the earlier part of her working life in the social service sector, including family counselling and community service design. She was commissioned by the Federal Government to undertake the first qualitative study in the retirement village industry in Australia.
Connie spent many years gaining experience across different areas of the business world; consulting, senior corporate life, property and real estate; owning and operating her own businesses.
Connie specialises in dispute resolution and is an accredited mediator. She has specialist training in elder mediation, having achieved her EMIN Cert EM. She’s a member of EMIN and the Elder Mediation Australasian Network (EMAN).
At the end of 2018, Connie started her own practice, Positive Steps for Later Life. Later life is a time of significant transition and change, sometimes causing momentous shifts in family and social dynamics. Positive Steps for Later Life supported later life families during those times of transition. While Connie has moved onto other things, Positive Steps for Later Life remains her long-term passion.
As a consultant, Connie has assisted progressive companies and community groups with innovative services in the later life area e.g. cooperative housing, shared community service models, fitness concepts for seniors, assistive technologies for older needs.
Connie has managed over 55’s Residential (land lease) Parks and recognised the value of ‘village’ in providing meaningful connections, purpose and value.
Connie is currently a mediator with NSW (Aust) public service. Mediations can relate to strata scheme apartment buildings, retirement living communities and retirement villages.