Also known as: Maori Health Worker
What do they do?
Community workers work with individuals, families, groups and organisations to help and support community development.
They work with people from all ages and include youth, elderly, beneficiaries and people with disabilities.
They can work with District Health Boards and both government and non government organisations such as Plunket.
Good communication skills and a keen desire to educate people about health are invaluable qualities to a community health worker as they are often the first point of contact with the health sector for many New Zealanders.
What will I get out of this job?
Everyday you can go home with the feel good feeling that you have made a difference in your community.
Working with the most vulnerable people in the community, your daily work will have a big impact on others.
You won’t be short of work! More funding from the Ministry of Health in New Zealand is being placed into health prevention work in the community. The future for jobs like these is promising.
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How do I get this job?
If you’re not keen to do further study straight after school, this may be a career you want to get into.
Most skills can be gained on the job and most supervisors promote ongoing learning and development.
Qualifications that you may wish to study to help you into a career in community health work are
- a National Diploma in Community Work or
- Social Services courses in community work which are offered at some polytechnics and private training establishments.
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Check out Clayton's profile to see what it's really like on the job. Community health workers also work in Mental Health. Check out Rebecca's and Namrata's profiles to see what it's really like in mental health.