Vaka Tautua Looks After Staff Health And Wellbeing

Vaka Tautua Finance and Business Manager, Lara Dolan, and Social Services Team Leader, Suzanne Joseph.

Vaka Tautua’s new health and wellbeing programme is helping its employees with their personal health and wellbeing, as they continue to support Pacific communities’ work through the impacts of COVID-19. 

“Our staff, like all essential services workers, worked tirelessly throughout the COVID-19 lockdown periods supporting our families, and in challenging circumstances…” says Vaka Tautua Chief Executive Officer, Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop. 

“COVID-19 highlighted the need for well thought-out and developed initiatives to support our staff with their physical and mental health and wellbeing.., so they stay well, and can continue to serve our communities well. We are thrilled to be able to offer this programme to our staff.”

The health and wellbeing programme, launched in December 2020, involves quarterly health and wellbeing days where a guest speaker presents on a health and wellbeing topic suggested by staff; and is followed by a group activity for staff to socialise and connect with one another. A small fund to help support staff’s personal health and wellbeing goals is another part of the programme.

“The workplace is an important place and space for staff connections and relationships… and with the (COVID-19) lockdowns, and us working remotely, some of our staff struggled… so the group activities are about re-connecting,” says Dr Dunlop.

“The programme is also about supporting our staff’s personal journeys… helping them to be well and stay well… role-modelling the work we do in our communities.”

Last week, Dr Api Talimatoga spoke with Vaka Tautua Auckland staff about the COVID-19 vaccinations. Staff have also begun accessing support from the health and wellbeing fund.

Auckland disability services team leader, Kramer Hoeflich, who is wheelchair-bound, can now keep physically and mentally fit, thanks to the boxing gloves and hand weights he bought with the support from the fund.

“This will help me a lot physically, mentally… I am unable to go to the gym because most gyms are not wheelchair accessible… with this gear, I can now work out at home anytime I want,” says Mr Hoeflich.

Auckland social worker, Lota Sika, can now see better, thanks to her new glasses bought with support from the fund.

“I had been meaning to get new glasses for the longest time as I needed stronger strength lenses, but other expenses always seemed to be popping up,” said Ms Sika.

“So, when the programme was announced, I was overjoyed as I knew right away what I would ask help for. I have had these glasses for two weeks now, and they are amazing. I am so thankful.” 

Vaka Tautua’s health and wellbeing programme is supported by funding from the Ministry of Health.

Vaka Tautua is a national Pacific health and social services provider with a strong regional presence in the greater Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury regions. It delivers disability, mental health, older peoples, social services, and financial capability services.

For all enquiries, please email: comms@vakatautua.co.nz