Meet the health professionals behind the mask
Registered Nurse Nicole Andrews wanted to change up her nursing career and make a difference in the community.
About a year ago just she secured a contract at Manurewa marae to test for Covid-19 and realised that she had found the challenge and holistic based marae health service she was looking for.
Nicole is now the Clinical Site Lead at New Zealand's first marae-based Covid-19 vaccination centre and loves her mahi.
"We incorporate tikanga into our practice, so you're not only just coming here to get vaccinated but to be looked after holistically as well."
Nicole, who has Fijian and Samoan heritage, says they have made the process and flow of receiving a vaccination simple for whānau from their arrival at the gates of the marae to the end, where people sit in a recovery room overlooking the Manukau Harbour.
"They are provided with all the information they need to know, and I think having the familiar faces of the kaumatua and kuia at this vaccination centre and incorporating the tikanga into this process provides a whole different feel here for our people."
Nicole was attracted to a nursing career after her four children, aged 16 and under, suffered from a range of respiratory problems.
"I think for myself being uneducated around health issues my children had motivated me to learn more, and I wanted to provide a better future for them, so I decided to go back to school as a mature student and become a registered nurse."
She now leads a small team of nurses at Manurewa marae administering the vaccination. Nicole encourages them to connect and engage with the people that come to the marae to be vaccinated and let them know about the other services the marae offers.
"For some people, it's their first time on a marae, but once you've been on this marae, you have a connection, and you are more than welcome to come back.”
To book an appointment at Manurewa Marae, email your name and number to [email protected]
About a year ago just she secured a contract at Manurewa marae to test for Covid-19 and realised that she had found the challenge and holistic based marae health service she was looking for.
Nicole is now the Clinical Site Lead at New Zealand's first marae-based Covid-19 vaccination centre and loves her mahi.
"We incorporate tikanga into our practice, so you're not only just coming here to get vaccinated but to be looked after holistically as well."
Nicole, who has Fijian and Samoan heritage, says they have made the process and flow of receiving a vaccination simple for whānau from their arrival at the gates of the marae to the end, where people sit in a recovery room overlooking the Manukau Harbour.
"They are provided with all the information they need to know, and I think having the familiar faces of the kaumatua and kuia at this vaccination centre and incorporating the tikanga into this process provides a whole different feel here for our people."
Nicole was attracted to a nursing career after her four children, aged 16 and under, suffered from a range of respiratory problems.
"I think for myself being uneducated around health issues my children had motivated me to learn more, and I wanted to provide a better future for them, so I decided to go back to school as a mature student and become a registered nurse."
She now leads a small team of nurses at Manurewa marae administering the vaccination. Nicole encourages them to connect and engage with the people that come to the marae to be vaccinated and let them know about the other services the marae offers.
"For some people, it's their first time on a marae, but once you've been on this marae, you have a connection, and you are more than welcome to come back.”
To book an appointment at Manurewa Marae, email your name and number to [email protected]