Ashleigh Hotham took out the big award at Oberon's Australia Day ceremony on January 26, walking away with Citizen of the Year.

Up against some amazing community members, Ms Hotham said the response from the community has been "overwhelming".

"I didn't expect to win it, I didn't even have a speech and I told my husband not to come, it was lucky my parents came down for the ceremony," she said.

"There were so many incredible nominee's who also deserved it, it's a shame you can't give it to all of us, so I would like to thank them for the work they do for the whole community."

While Ms Hotham works at Live Better, a not-for-profit community service organisation focused on the unique needs of the people within the community, she is also part of the Health Council being a voice for the elderly, the community services committee and is the current president of St Joseph's P&f.

"I also go out and navigate the health care systems for the elderly that aren't able to, so I will call MyAgedCare for them and be that link," she said.

Ms Hotham has only been in the industry for the past three years but she noticed there was a gap between finding out about the services and actually getting them.

"It can be a long wait for people and there is a lot more too it and people don't know where to start and now that the Aged Care Assessments are happening over the phone that doesn't give a true assessment so I am able to help out," she said.

Ms Hotham said she felt lucky to have the support of her employers and colleagues at Live Better, who are appreciative and supportive of the extra work she does outside of hours.

"It all started because my grandmother had to go into a nursing home and was in residential care when Columbia Aged Care opened and I used to go and sit and talk to her and I met other residents who became family and that was when I realised what I wanted to do," she said.

"I don't work in residential as much, but I try and help the elderly stay at home for as long as possible and be independent, and sometimes those people need the extra help, and while many have passed away at least I've been able to follow through to the end of the journey with them."

Ms Hotham said that some elderly aren't managing at home by themselves and they give up, but she wants to be able to help them keep going for as long as they can.

"I joined the Health Council and the Community Services Committee to be a voice for our elderly, because COVID hit really hard on our elderly, some are too scared to go to the shops and that's where I will step in and go and pick stuff up for them but even then they think they're a burden but I say 'no, I want to help you'," she said.

"Some in Oberon don't even have family around here anymore and we just need to help them where we can."

Ms Hotham has noticed there isn't enough help for the elderly with a lot of aged care businesses being short staffed.

"I think the overall problem is COVID, we are already a short staffed industry and then having to take time off if you're a close contact or have COVID, it makes it really challenging," she said.

"There is definitely a lot more we could be doing to help the elderly."

Once COVID has died down, Ms Hotham is hoping to start up an intergenerational program in the future.

"I would love to get school's involved and see both Oberon schools visiting the hospitals, nursing homes, as well as elderly members of the community," she said.

"They all love seeing the children and it really makes them happy and changes their whole day, so that would be incredible."

COVID has caused multiple problems for the older generation of people, with many not leaving their home, which Ms Hotham has found causes it's own set of problems.

"They are deteriorating faster being stuck inside, but if they go out and catch COVID they could end up in hospital and dying due to underlying issues," she said.

"They just want to get out and move but a trip to the shops could be the end of their life for them."

Ms Hotham said her biggest fear would be catching COVID and taking it to the people she works for.

"I would just hate to be responsible, that would be the worst feeling in the world, and with the hospital restrictions, it is just an awful situation for everyone, I recently lost my beautiful Nan and all the restrictions around what we could do to say goodbye was just awful, but you have to learn to live with it."

Ms Hotham would love to see more people get into the Aged Care industry.

"I would tell people if they are thinking of doing it, to just do it. It is the most rewarding job I ever done and I've done some different jobs," she said.

"I have never been so appreciated, something as simple as making them a cup of tea means everything to them and we have such a beautiful elderly community, they are really lovely.

"I think we take for granted just being able to stay home so making their final years lovely and them being able to die the way they want to, is really rewarding."

Ms Hotham said she tries to encourage her clients to do what they can still do, and she doesn't remind them what she has done for them.

"I don't want to reinforce things, I just do it and if they notice they thank me, but I've done my job and that's it, I don't do it for recognition," she said.

"I think I just want to make sure these people are heard, and if anyone is every struggling with absolutely anything I am always happy to help them."

Residents can contact Oberon Mayor Mark Kellam for Ms Hotham's details.