Announcing the recipients of the 2020 Minister of Health Volunteer Awards Contents About the 3 Health Volunteer of the Year 2020
4 Health Care Provider Service Outstanding Team Award Minister 7 Health Care Provider Service of Health Outstanding Achievement by an Individual Volunteer 9 Community or NGO Health Service Outstanding Team Award Awards 12 Community or NGO Health Service Outstanding Achievement by an Individual
15 Māori Health Service Outstanding Achievement The annual Minister of Health Volunteer Awards are an opportunity to recognise the thousands of 16 Pacific Health Service Outstanding unsung heroes who support New Zealand’s health Achievement and disability services. 17 Youth Health Volunteer Outstanding Organisations can choose to nominate an Achievement Team Award individual volunteer or team of volunteers. Nominations could be for long-term commitment 18 Youth Health Volunteer Outstanding and achievement, an outstanding success, or Achievement by an Individual action above and beyond the call of duty. All nominees are recognised for their contribution 19 Long Service Outstanding with a letter from the Minister of Health. A judging Achievement panel, with members drawn from across the health and disability and volunteering sectors, decides collectively each year who will stand out for special recognition. Find out more about the Minister of Health Volunteer Awards, including recipients from past years, at: www.health.govt.nz/volunteerawards This is the seventh year the Minister of Health Volunteer Awards have been held. Over this Thank you from the time, 53 teams of volunteers and 86 individuals have been recognised for their contribution to the health and wellbeing of others. In total, that’s several thousand people demonstrating how Minister of individual commitment and dedication can impact positively on others’ lives. Health This year we are celebrating 9 teams and 14 individual volunteers for the great work they are doing. Over the pages that follow, you’ll read heart-warming stories of people who have been helping out in our health system, sometimes for decades, and young people in our schools and universities who feel compelled to make a difference. Whether their focus is on helping local communities or nationwide initiatives during COVID-19 lockdown, their efforts are truly inspirational. I’d like to thank this year’s judges: Dr Nigel Millar, Chief Medical Officer at Southern District Health Board; Te Puea Winiata, CEO of Turuki Health Centre; Associate Professor Honourable Luamanuvao Dame Winnie Laban; Adri Isbister, Deputy Director-General Disability at the Ministry of Health; and Michelle Kitney, Chief Executive, Volunteering New Zealand. They had a difficult job selecting this year’s recipients from all the It gives me great pleasure to recognise impressive nominations received. the volunteering work that goes on Well done to all those who were nominated every day in our hospitals and across and congratulations to those recognised as our communities. From providing outstanding achievers. practical support and friendship to sharing life skills and experience, as well as through countless other activities, health volunteers make life better for New Zealanders in many ways, often without seeking recognition. Hon Chris Hipkins Minister of Health
1 2 Patu’s diverse volunteering activities include: • helping to establish and run hauora clinics in Health Volunteer Russell, for both the people of Russell and the surrounding communities of Waikare, Rawhiti, of the Year 2020 Ngaiotonga and Okiato, including marae- based eye and podiatry clinics and sessions on health and wellbeing • volunteering for the Kawakawa rural Patricia (Patu) ambulance service for 30 years • assisting people with everyday tasks, such as Whakairi shopping and cleaning up, as well as holding someone’s hand during sad times • assisting kuia and kaumātua into pensioner Sigley housing • helping people transition from prison to community living Nominated by Kororareka • making people aware of COVID-19 testing available and how to access it Marae Society • assisting with the distribution of food parcels to families and whānau during COVID-19 and being available 24/7 to take their calls From 1966 until she retired five years • coordinating and supporting communities and ago, Patu worked as a nurse in small, medical practitioners with flu injections and isolated rural Māori communities COVID-19 testing in Kororareka/Russell. mainly in the Mid North, Bay of Islands. With her immense drive and passion for nursing, While nursing was her day job, she her love for her many communities, and her ability also spent a large part of her non- to work across various agencies, Patu has been able to coordinate the right people at the right work time volunteering, a practice she time to get the right results. It’s what she does has continued in her retirement. Her whether it’s a health matter, whānau experience, colleagues describe her as a person social or educational unmet need. who is ‘always on voluntary duty’, and ‘Patu’s deeply respected for her unconditional an inspiration. willingness and generosity of spirit/wairua, her love/aroha for being able to serve and be of service, focused on serving our whānau/ families, communities in isolated rural areas. She is gifted in always turning any problem into a solution, and negative impacts into positive outcomes to make the lives of whānau/families and takiwai/communities feel more empowered and comforted, by encouragement and respect.’ Gwen Tepania-Palmer, Chairperson, Ngāti Hine Health Trust Board ‘Patu will always put herself forward to tautoko any kaupapa required for all. She is our champion, assisting whānau that need support as well as working with professionals on how to best work and connect with whānau culturally to get good health outcomes.’ Debra Rewiri, Chairperson, Kororareka Marae Society Patu also received the Outstanding Achievement Award for a Māori Health Volunteer.
3 SuperGrans Mentoring Manawatu was founded in 2005 by SuperGrans Health Care Provider Aotearoa. SuperGrans’ vision is to have skills and knowledge flowing between Service Outstanding generations and communities. Team Award In the Manawatu area, around 25 SuperGrans are actively fulfilling this vision by passing on skills for healthy, low-impact budget living. They do this through one-on-one in-home mentoring and SuperGrans hands-on workshops, providing participants with the chance to develop practical skills such as Mentoring cooking, sewing, gardening and budgeting – skills that will assist people in their daily lives and help Manawatu them flourish. Volunteers visit the clients weekly in their homes and help them towards their chosen goals. They also host a variety of events, classes and workshops. Nominated by MidCentral Attendance numbers are kept low so that every District Health Board participant can get the most out of the experience. When the SuperGrans aren’t mentoring, they are busy creating merino wool blankets to keep babies warm. They’ve been doing this for many years and it’s much appreciated within Palmerston North Hospital’s Healthy Women, Youth and Child Cluster.
4 Runner up Runner up Companion Knitters, Sewers Volunteers and Quilters Team
Nominated by Auckland City Hospital Nominated by Wellington Hospitals Foundation
For the past four years, the Companion Volunteers on Auckland City Hospital’s reablement wards have been providing non-clinical care for patients and their whānau, through one-on-one patient interactions as well as group sessions. They help build a connection between the outside world and For 15 years, Wellington Hospitals Foundation’s the hospital and its patients. Knitters, Sewers and Quilters Team has been making garments and other items for babies, Companion Volunteers help with arts and crafts children and their families at Wellington and group sessions, patient feedback rounds, speech Kenepuru Hospitals. therapy practice and mealtimes, or simply play games and provide conversation and general They create warm woollen singlets, cardigans, companionship. They even put on small concerts. blankets, booties and beanies for babies in the Many of the volunteers are migrants, bringing with Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and birthing units. them a multicultural perspective and a desire to Families can select items to take home and contribute to society. midwives are supplied with packs of knitting to distribute in the community. Tiny little articles are ‘The patients’ stay in the hospital becomes also lovingly created for families who lose a baby significantly more vibrant and interactive and the so they can dress them before saying goodbye. constant feedback we receive from patients, staff and family members is always exceedingly positive. On Mother’s Day, every new mum in hospital During COVID-19 lockdown Companion Volunteers receives a handcrafted quilt and knitted items were not allowed in the reablement wards and for their baby. A quilted Santa sack filled with they were so deeply missed by the patients, family knitted items goes to each baby in the hospital members and staff.’ Lindy Lely, Volunteer Manager on Christmas morning. The volunteers also make and Maria Mariotti, Companion Volunteer Coordinator incubators a more appealing environment by sewing under-rugs for them as well as covers to Due to its success in the reablement wards, the put over them to block the bright lights. Companion Volunteer programme is now being extended throughout Auckland City Hospital. The team of 228 volunteers makes about 9,000 items each year, which are much appreciated This award recognises four Companion Volunteers among the families receiving them. from the larger team of 80 volunteers: Malia Meni, Peggy Bindel, Rocio Corona and Trisna Putri.
5 Runner up Sammy Milne, The Upstairs Gallery and its community members
Nominated by the Titirangi Community Arts Council
Recognising the positive effect arts can have on mental health for both the viewer and the artist, Sammy Milne, manager and curator of The Upstairs Gallery, responded to an opportunity in the early stages of COVID-19 to give the community a sense of purpose in uncertain times by sharing its creativity in a show of support for essential health workers. After a board member contacted her, Sammy began working with the Well Foundation. The Upstairs Gallery used social media to encourage the local community to create art during lockdown and donate it to Waitematā District Health Board. ‘We show you our (he)art’ was born and the community responded with over 85 pieces of art, including photos, paintings and cuddly toys. The artworks were accompanied by messages of support, such as: ‘Thank you for the dedication and amazing work you do! We want you to know we notice and are inspired by your service.’ Some of this artwork will be chosen for permanent display in Waitematā District Health Board hospitals and community sites.
6 Peter Taylor is one of Waitematā District Health Board’s sustainability volunteers. Health Care Every fortnight he collects polyvinylchloride (PVC) IV bags throughout North Shore Provider Service Hospital and takes them to the basement Outstanding in a special bin. From there, the PVC waste goes to Otaki, where a recycling company Achievement by an turns it into industrial and children’s playground matting for distribution locally Individual and overseas. Peter’s work is part of the PVC recycling programme initiated by Baxter Healthcare in late Peter Taylor 2014 to help hospitals across the country reduce their environmental footprint. Baxter collects about 100 tonnes of PVC waste each year. Nominated by Waitematā Peter is legally blind and catches a bus to his District Health Board shift at North Shore Hospital. He spent his early time as a volunteer there familiarising himself with the hospital’s 10 floors to be sure he could successfully complete his duties. He has now been supporting the hospital for three years. Peter’s contribution not only reduces the amount of waste that goes into landfill but also gives clinical staff more time to focus on patients.
7 Runner up Runner up Dr Jennie Lewis Peter Waskowsky
Nominated by Servants Health Centre Nominated by St John Ambulance
Dr Jennie Lewis has been a volunteer general Peter Waskowsky has been a volunteer practitioner at Servants Health Centre in Dunedin ambulance officer in Russell since 2004. He for the past 10 years. Servants Health Centre is successfully studied to become a paramedic in a charitable general practice that provides free 2007 and an upskilled paramedic two years later. health care services to those who are struggling He is now a fully qualified volunteer paramedic. financially. There are very few volunteer paramedics in New Every Thursday from 9 am to 2 pm, Jennie Zealand. By studying to become a paramedic, works with the most difficult and challenging Peter has helped provide the best service cases, including those involving people who are possible for his community. As well as providing homeless or unemployed or who have substance care that benefits the community, Peter has addiction or mental health issues. ensured the rest of the crew receive a high standard of training. He recruits new volunteers Patients know Jennie will take time to and passes on his knowledge and experience. listen to them and provide high-quality and His fundraising efforts help secure the best compassionate care. equipment available for the St John Ambulance ‘Working the front desk, I can see first hand station in Russell. how thankful and appreciative the patients are Peter has also done his utmost to keep the for the care that they receive.’ Debbie Gilder, volunteer roster covered as close to 100 percent receptionist, Servants Health Centre as possible by volunteering many thousands of hours himself.
8 Wāhine Connect is a nationwide social and professional network that supports Community or NGO New Zealand women who work in medicine and health. It matches women Health Service who are seeking guidance to mentors Outstanding Team who support these relationships with a structured mentoring programme. Award More than 350 professional women belong to Wāhine Connect’s mentor team, including doctors, nurses, policy makers, researchers, medical entrepreneurs, chief executives and Mentors physiotherapists. Mentors from Māori, Pacific, LGBTIQ and immigrant communities are well of Wāhine represented. The mentors provide virtual or face-to-face Connect support for other women in the health sector (mentees) and they do this outside of their demanding day jobs. Many have been with the programme since its beginnings in mid-2017, Nominated by Wāhine Connect growing an idea into a thriving programme that has so far directly helped more than 200 mentees. As well as mentoring, they contribute to the programme’s governance and operating needs.
9 Runner up Runner up Hutt Buddies Library Talking
Nominated by Kites Trust Book Despatch Volunteers
Nominated by Blind Low Vision NZ
Hutt Buddies at Te Whare Ahuru, Hutt Hospital’s mental health unit, is a team of nine culturally diverse volunteers and a coordinator who have all experienced some form of mental distress in their lives. Most of them have been patients in Library Talking Book Despatch Volunteers are a the ward themselves. They have since undergone team of five, who collectively have more than 80 training to become a Buddy, which has involved years’ volunteering experience with Blind Low participating in workshops focused on areas such Vision NZ (formerly the Blind Foundation). They as de-escalation techniques, ethics and reframing are part of the wider library team that delivers language. Talking Book CDs to New Zealanders who are blind or have low vision. Before CDs existed, the The Buddies form empathetic bonds with the team despatched cassettes. patients in the ward, known as ‘peers’. They meet in the unit’s courtyard for a chat and some food. The volunteers are Shelley Grant, Kaye Wood, Sometimes they sit in silence; just being there Matthew Neighbour, Christine Litchfield and shows they care. If a Buddy becomes concerned Annette Lindsay. They are rostered over the for a peer’s welfare, they will seek professional week so that each of them helps with packing, assistance. unpacking and mailing the CDs, giving Blind Low Vision NZ’s clients access to their favourite books Hutt Buddies is a service that not only makes a and current magazines, delivered to the door. difference to the peers, but over time benefits the wellbeing and self-development of each Buddy. Talking Book CDs are read by Digital Accessible To help keep a check on each team member’s Information System (DAISY) machines. Currently wellbeing through their own journey of recovery, 4,000 DAISY machines are in use around New the Buddies have one-on-one catch-ups with Zealand. their coordinator and monthly supervision facilitated by an independent supervisor. The service has organisational benefits too, as Buddies provide input into how services should be developed.
10 Runner up Taranaki Retreat Peer Support Team
Nominated by Taranaki Retreat Trust
Taranaki Retreat offers a range of residential and outreach suicide prevention and long-term support programmes to avoid loss of life and tackle suicidal distress. Each year the team works with over 1,000 whānau. Whether the aggravating factors are related to drugs, alcohol, housing or relationships, trained peer support workers at Taranaki Retreat are paired with people according to life experience. The peer support workers meet people in their homes and communities throughout New Zealand as well as at the retreat in Taranaki. They give their time alongside clinical support not because they are paid to or have to, but because they care. ‘Working together has been life changing. I’ve had a safe and neutral space in which I have been able to navigate dark corners, had reliable and practical love and support and built the confidence to dream about what my ideal life would look like moving ahead.’ Person paired with a peer support worker
11 Peter Burland, who faces his own challenges with cumulative head Community or NGO injuries, has been volunteering with the Health Service Brain Injury Association for 25 years. After serving as a voluntary board member for the Outstanding Nelson Brain Injury Association, these days he works tirelessly in the Nelson Tasman community to raise awareness of brain injury and support Achievement by an others going through the journey. Peter currently organises and co-hosts a fortnightly radio show Individual on Fresh FM for and by people living with brain injuries, which has been broadcast for the past three years. Peter Burland A brain injury, particularly in its early stages, can be overwhelming for the person and their family. Having someone to call on who shows empathy and understanding is invaluable. Peter Nominated by the Brain Injury provides mentoring and peer support, guidance Association and advocacy for others affected by brain injury in the Nelson Tasman region. He gets involved in street appeals and other fundraising and actively promotes the Brain Injury Association and information about how it can help.
12 Runner up Runner up Claire Gyde Meera Patel
Nominated by FASD-CAN NZ Nominated by Anxiety New Zealand Trust
Claire Gyde set up the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Meera Patel began volunteering for Anxiety Disorder – Care Action Network (FASD-CAN New Zealand Trust after completing its Helpline NZ Inc) in 2013 to unite caregivers, strengthen volunteer training in 2015 and has since been families, support individuals and educate promoted to Helpline duty manager in 2018. communities about fetal alcohol spectrum The Anxiety Helpline is a free 24/7 nationwide disorder. Claire networked with key professional service that provides support, education and personnel in the area of FASD and connected anxiety management for those living with with other parents and caregivers to form a anxiety and for their whānau and friends. Duty committee that she chairs today. manager responsibilities include supporting junior volunteers during their shifts, helping callers with Over the past seven years, Claire has been a complex needs, facilitating debriefing groups at strong advocate for increasing the recognition Helpline meetings and assisting with role-play and support of FASD and having FASD supervision at volunteer training. recognised as a disability in New Zealand. She has partnered with other agencies to achieve Over the years Meera has assisted hundreds FASD-informed practice and has provided of anxious callers and family members and advice to policy decision-makers and service supported many junior volunteers. She has also providers. On top of that, she has contributed to boosted volunteer morale by running social training programmes and community education events and other fun activities for the team. Meera programmes, created resources and been a guest is just 23 years of age. speaker at international conferences. Claire has achieved all of this as a volunteer in addition to being in paid work and a parent.
13 Runner up Warrick Jacobson
Nominated by Alzheimers Society Manawatu
Warrick Jacobson is one of the Horowhenua Alzheimers Society’s volunteers, known affectionately as its ‘driver extraordinaire’. Operating four days a week, Horowhenua services include a day programme with cognitive stimulation therapy and exercise programmes for those affected by dementia. If clients can’t get there on their own, Warrick drives them to and from this service at the Marion Kennedy Centre in Levin. He has been doing this for over a year, because he knows how much his wife enjoyed taking part in this programme. Warrick also set up and currently manages a memory café in Levin. For all those carers who have lost a loved one or whose loved one has moved into residential care, this café offers a chance to socially connect with others who may be going through similar experiences. In addition, Warrick is part of a group of carers and people with dementia who meet once a month as part of the Alzheimers Society Manawatu’s Consumer Advisory Group to advocate on behalf of those affected by dementia and their carers.
14 Runner up Māori Health Service Outstanding Piki Thomas Achievement Nominated by Te Arawa Whānau Ora Patricia (Patu) Whakairi Sigley
Nominated by Kororareka Marae Society
See page 3 for information about Patu and her volunteering.
During COVID-19 lockdown, Ngāti Pikiao leader Piki Thomas on behalf of Te Arawa Whānau Ora led the distribution of nearly 20,000 hygiene and sanitation packs to whānau across the Waiariki region. Piki secured a suitably sized warehouse at no cost and set up risk management and health and safety plans to make the environment safe for up to 60 volunteers who helped him each day. His workforce plan included daily health checks, infection control training, and monitoring and tracking processes. After working long hours on the site, he completed administrative work in the evening so that everyone knew their role and had the tools they needed to do their job well. The distribution of these packs was a significant part of a wider iwi response plan called Te Arawa COVID-19 Hub. This collaboration of marae, hapū and organisations across Te Arawa region was established to support people and communities through the COVID-19 pandemic. ‘Piki has displayed Te Arawa Whānau Ora Collective’s mātāpono or organisational values which are based around respect, caring for and looking after our whānau and communities.’ Mapihi Raharuhi, Manager for Healthy Families Rotorua – Te Arawa Whānau Ora
15 Coco Tuffery has made a big contribution to her community through Pacific Health Pacific Health Plus medical practice in Service Outstanding Porirua. When New Zealand went into COVID-19 Achievement lockdown and she heard Pacific Health Plus was going to deliver food packages, 16-year-old Coco immediately phoned and asked to be part of the team. Coco Tuffery She quickly became an active team member – shopping, packing parcels, phoning recipients and making deliveries. She developed her own Nominated by Pacific Health Plus database to keep track of packages, which Pacific Health Plus incorporated into its wider database. She also helped out at the medical practice, answering the phones, booking appointments and ensuring patients were comfortable. Coco did all this while continuing her school studies online. She applied what she was studying to her volunteering work, such as using her statistics learning to set up her database. At times she found the phone calls strongly emotionally moving, as she reflected that the callers asking for help could be her family.
16 The Student Volunteer Army COVID-19 Response Team swung into action Youth Health quickly to help with the COVID-19 Volunteer Outstanding pandemic response and was ready to act when New Zealand went into Achievement Team lockdown. The team recruited more than 3,000 volunteers Award nationwide, partnered with a supermarket chain and built a grocery store entirely staffed by volunteers that was accessible both online and Student via a call centre. Friendly volunteers delivered groceries contactlessly within 48 hours of Volunteer Army ordering, in a service available nationwide. The team delivered thousands of groceries to COVID-19 those who needed support during lockdown, answering over 1,000 calls for support and Response Team working with 52 supermarkets. As well as fulfilling a functional need in delivering food and other goods, the Student Volunteer Army COVID-19 Response Team provided an Nominated by the Student important sense of connectivity and friendliness Volunteer Army for those who most needed it.
17 Dawn Hangartner volunteers for Recreate NZ, which provides tailored Youth Health adventure, recreational, social and educational programmes and events for Volunteer young people with disabilities. Outstanding Dawn provides friendship and support, making a real effort to get to know the young people Achievement by an participating in the programmes and ensuring they are fully supported in anything they may need. She sees them for more than just their Individual disability and helps them shine as contributing members of society. She also assists the facilitators who run Dawn Recreate’s programmes. ‘Although Dawn has not been with us as long Hangartner as some of our other volunteers, she has had a big impact at Recreate and is always first to put her hand up to volunteer, even though we know Nominated by Recreate NZ she has many other commitments.’ Sheridan Jackson, Volunteer Coordinator, Recreate NZ Dawn is studying to become an occupational therapist. She also volunteers with Little Sisters of the Poor and is a Brownie leader and youth group leader.
18 Lou Rigg joined the Alzheimers Tauranga/Western Bay of Plenty team as Long Service a befriender volunteer in 2004 at the age of 79. Over the years since then, she Outstanding has worked with seven clients who have Achievement dementia, visiting them in their homes each week and providing friendship and comfort. Lou Rigg The carer involved in her current visiting role greatly appreciates her support. ‘Lou is a very nice and interesting person. I can depend on her turning up which allows me when needed to get Nominated by Alzheimers out and do a few errands. I know Jill is safe and Tauranga/Western Bay of Plenty entertained while I am out.’ Now at 95 years of age, Lou attends training sessions, gets her visiting notes in on time, helps with fundraising and Alzheimers Tauranga/ Western Bay of Plenty’s annual appeals. She is a role model for other volunteers and demonstrates that age is no barrier to volunteering.
19 Runner up Runner up Henny Vervaat Shona McLean
Nominated by Alzheimers Society Marlborough Inc Nominated by Alzheimers Society Nelson Inc
Henny Vervaat has been volunteering for the Shona McLean has been Alzheimers Nelson’s Alzheimers Society Marlborough for 18 years. ‘dementia support extraordinaire’ for almost 30 years, working tirelessly on a range of tasks He began as a volunteer driver and a year later to help people affected by dementia in Nelson he took on the role of facility maintenance, Tasman. along with the responsibility of taking care of the organisation’s vehicles. He has continued in both Shona originally volunteered as office roles up to the present day. administrative support. With her covering the office, dementia advisors were freed up to visit Henny was also a valued member of Alzheimers and support clients in their own homes, which Society Marlborough’s building committee formed helps reduce their anxiety. She helped keep in 2007, where he helped with fundraising and Alzheimers Nelson’s quarterly newsletter on volunteered his many practical skills. His work track for regular publication and went on to lead contributed to the opening of the Society’s new the update of the information resource library, facility in Blenheim in February 2009. cataloguing the books and making them more ‘Henny is a volunteer with many talents. He is accessible for clients. referred to as “Mr Fix It Man” and rarely a week Shona also provides support for community goes by without him calling in to do a prearranged education sessions, including early memory loss job or to see if there is any work that requires groups in Nelson and Stoke, and helps organise his attention.’ Diane Tolley, Manager, Alzheimers fundraising events. Society Marlborough Inc
20 Congratulations to the 2020 Minister of Health Volunteer Awards recipients. Thank you for the contribution you, along with the many other dedicated and hard- working health volunteers, are making for New Zealanders in our health and disability services. 22