CDHB: Our people

Tena koutou katoa
Ko Tainui te Waka
Ko Waikato te Awa
Ko Taupiri te Maunga
Ko Ngati Maniapoto te Iwi
Ko Ngati Apakura te Hapu
Ko Debbie Rawiri taku ingoa

How long have you been at the CDHB?

I’ve been at the CDHB in a variety of roles for 11 years, including my current position which I’ve been in for seven years. The role was newly established in September 2001 to provide the Maori community with specialist education and access to services in the area of diabetes.

What do you like about the job?

There is nothing not to like. One of the best things is working with people and their families. My role is a little bit different from the other Nurse Specialists as I have the flexibility to see people in a community setting, for example the Marae and at community health days and other events. There is also an emphasis on ensuring the clinical environment is accessible for Maori and developing good relationships with them early on. It’s great seeing such a huge improvement in patients’ health and overall wellbeing. Our whanau show such gratitude and it really is a truly fulfilling job. In addition I also do some work offering cultural support to new graduate nurses at the CDHB and teaching at CPIT around providing culturally safe care for our whanau at the Diabetes Centre.

What are the challenges?

In the early stages, the challenge was developing close community ties as it was a new position. This was made easier due to the support of the first Maori Health Worker, Ariki Hamilton as she had first hand experience with diabetes and was of Ngai Tahu descent. We really had to define the role so consultation with the Maori community and patients was arranged very early on to establish some of the high priority needs and expectations of how the role would develop. The area I cover is within the Canterbury District Health Boards boundaries from Kaikoura in the north to the Rakaia Bridge in the south. We have developed close links with Maori providers outside of Christchurch, which has helped enormously.

What has your experience been like?

It’s been very good on the whole and I’ve had good relationships with people, right through to the CEO. One of the main things for me is to stand up for what you believe in, especially when it comes to ensuring our Whanau receive the commitment and healthcare they rightfully deserve.

Why did you choose the CDHB?

Eleven years ago there was a Registered Nurse position for a new graduate advertised in Ward 20 (Plastic Surgery) at Christchurch Hospital. I was straight out of my training and had only had confirmation of my nursing registration so I never expected to get the job but I did and I’m still here!

How do you find working in New Zealand?

I could have gone overseas, lured by the prospect of earning more money and leaving a student loan behind, but for me it was important to stay and give something back to my own community. That’s something I wouldn’t have been able to do from overseas.

Aotearoa is my Turangawaewae. No reira, tena koutou tena koutou tena koutou katoa.

How long have you been at the CDHB?

Been at the CDHB for 16 months, originally from the United Kingdom

What do you like about the job?

The Bone Shop, where I work, is a clinic led by House Officers, with support from senior doctors, from 8am-11pm. There is a huge scope for learning because we can see new injuries every day and we need to make decisions about people’s treatment and their follow up. We get exposed to a range of injuries which requires lateral thinking and you get to see a range of people from young to old. There is good support from nursing staff and senior medical staff, which ensures you do not feel too overwhelmed.

What are the challenges?

The sheer volume of patients and the seriousness of their injuries. In my current job, we have a lot of responsibility so it’s a real growth process.

What has your experience been like?

It’s been fantastic, both career-wise and personally. I’m able to progress my career and I’ve been able to choose where I want to work, rather than fitting into a predetermined structure like I would have at home. Socially, it’s also been excellent. There’s a great social network inside and out of the hospital, which certainly helps you to relax once work has finished.

Why the CDHB?

I knew I wanted to come back to New Zealand because I came travelling here when I was younger. The RMO (Resident Medical Officer) Unit at Christchurch Hospital was very receptive to my request for information. I emailed them on the Monday and by the Wednesday, I’d heard back from them and they said they’d love to have me. I also wanted to work here because it’s a tertiary hospital with a wealth of potential experience.

How do you find working in New Zealand?

The setting is pretty unique. With the beach and the mountains so close by and the climate, I really can’t imagine a better place to live. I really enjoy working here compared to the United Kingdom and it has many benefits over the UK, for example, at home they encourage doctors to specialise after two years. Here, I’ve got two years under my belt and I’m not intending to specialise for another year. I just want to get as broad an experience as I can. A big selling point for new UK graduates is that the work I’ve done here is recognised as my F2 qualification in the UK.

How long have you worked for the Canterbury District Health Board?

I’ve been at CDHB for 14 months.

What do you like about the job?

I like the challenge, I like the variety, but most of all I like the people. As a clinician you're pretty much ruled by how many referrals you get. Once you step into management, you have a different set of priorities and challenges. No two days are the same, which is great.

What are the challenges?

The job is broad; it can be hard to focus on one thing. You need high-level time management skills. Autonomy can be a blessing and a curse at times!

What has your experience been like?

You can't beat it; there are great, fantastic people. There's always the challenge in any large organisation to understand the complex process of the organisation; there's no manual for that.

People have been very helpful with that though. The quickest way is to find a person in the organisation that can help and building up relationships.

Why CDHB?

I chose the country first. I love the South Island for the sense of remoteness and the environment. I knew that CDHB was right for me, as it is an environment where I can apply my skills and really make a difference.

How do you find working in New Zealand?

Fantastic; work-life balance is quite easy to achieve and there's such a huge variety of things do to in and around Canterbury. It's about the experience and work-life balance, that's the selling point. CDHB has certainly delivered in this regard. It's challenging but I consider myself lucky this opportunity came along.

How long have you been at the CDHB?

Since November 1972.

What do you like about the job?

I wanted to be in health so I could make a difference. I started out in radiation therapy training when I was 18, and I’ve had many different roles. In 2000, I moved into operational management and became a service manager, followed by roles in service improvement within the hospital setting and more recently across the whole health system. While I feel I can make a difference, I will still be here!

What are the challenges?

Health service planning is a whole-of-system approach, bringing the people, including consumers, together to make it work. It’s about changing the way that we work so that we are all working together. That’s a huge challenge in itself.

What has your experience been like?

Probably the best and the most highly emotive experience is the little kids I have worked with in radiation therapy. Some of the people that I got to know really well were those whose disease was progressing and that was hard for me to manage personally at times, and from others the unsolicited gratitude was amazing.

More recently it’s the overall experience I have gained that gives me the confidence to articulate the CDHB’s vision and to influence others with that vision.

Why CDHB?

It’s the professional satisfaction and challenges that I have had through what I have been able to achieve here. At the same time it’s a lot of fun and I have met a lot of amazing people who have become good friends.

How do you find working in New Zealand?

I could have worked or lived anywhere but it’s really about family.