What brought you to study UC?
I knew I wanted to do something in the health space, and I’d only been to the South Island a couple of times previously for sport. Home was in the Mount, so it was nice to go somewhere new and get a foot in the door to the South Island. Being in the South Island was a key part of that decision really.
Did you always know you wanted to go into the health and wellbeing industry?
Yes, I think so. I knew I wanted to do something people focused. I’d heard good things about school counsellors and nurses, so thought I could do something to make an impact in a different way. However, it wasn’t until arriving and beginning my study that I realised health promotion was something I was really passionate about.
You’re now working at UC! Tell us how your COVID-19 Welfare Manager role came about.
Two weeks before students arrived, there was a meeting to discuss the developing COVID situation. I was looped in to provide the young person perspective on how we could be supporting students through this – as it was looking like a big task, with students in both the halls and flats around campus. The Government had announced that universities were to provide their own contact tracing systems, and initially, I was asked to be the Contact Tracing Manager. After setting up the protocols and processes for this, I pivoted back to welfare once COVID had become widespread and contact tracing was made redundant, having already been involved in welfare in my role as a Health and Wellbeing Promotor.
The weekend students arrived I was actually in a campervan on holiday with my partner up in the North Island. I had a zoom call to mark the first covid case, and they kept coming from there – both the calls and confirmed cases! When it broke out in the halls, we collaborated with UC accommodation to organise meal drops directly to students in isolation in the halls and at flats. It was a pretty busy time, often being on call seven days a week responding to students who weren’t doing so well. Katie Mills who had joined our team from February to June, and I, along with other staff on campus delivered around 2000 welfare packs to students during this time, as well as arranging over 400 bags of groceries to be delivered to isolating flats. We also worked with the UCSA to organise a power bill subsidy for flats and support a team of volunteers working to ensure that the majority of students who registered themselves as unwell with COVID received a call to check up on their welfare or answer any questions they had around assignments or their studies.
It's different now to 12 months ago. Most people have had covid and know what to expect. It’s a different landscape and the managing process is less intensive. Looking back now, I’m proud of what we did – both as a team and as a whole university. While it was a stressful time, Katie and I still managed to have a bit of fun driving around doing deliveries, and I got to meet lots of people around the uni who I may not have otherwise interacted with.
It seems like you’ve had some exciting projects since returning to your role as a Health and Wellbeing Promoter on campus. What are some highlights and challenges of your role?
Highlights are I love that I get to work with students and the variety that this role provides. We get to respond to what is important to students, like our most recent project of providing free period products around campus, which is quite rewarding. UC is also open to doing more in the well-being space.
Challenges would be also responding to what is important to our students. We have a very diverse community on campus, which means that wellbeing looks different for everyone. We’d like to respond to everything, but we often have to look at serving our underserved students first and then looking at what might have the biggest impact next.
What hobbies or activities do you enjoy outside of work?
Most weekends I’m either up in Auckland or catching up with my partner Hayden down here. I also try and see my whanau up North as often as I can too.
Outside of that, I’ve been refereeing rugby union and touch rugby up and down the country for years now, as well as internationally pre-COVID. I enjoy the disconnection from work, as well as the mental and physical challenge – something that has only increased as I’ve progressed! A lot of people don’t see refereeing as a team sport, but it definitely ticks the social and fun boxes for me.
What advice do you have for a student coming to study at UC?
I’m excited to be a home-based lead for a group of our Te Kakau a Māui scholarship students. My advice for them, and all new students, is to do things in your own time. Don’t rush. Things will happen. A lot of people tell you when you first start university that you should get involved in everything straight away. I think it is good to be actively involved, but don’t pressure yourself to do things too much or too fast. Allow yourself time to settle in and find your way first.
Any fond memories of your time at UC?
I had some really great teaching staff while studying here – I’m even still in touch with some of my academics today. The practical nature of my study set me up for the job I have and was a good mix of education with study. It meant I had good preparation for learning to adapt to situations on the fly and standing up in front of people to present.
I also love Christchurch. It’s got a small-town vibe in a big city!
