By Jerrie Valli | Posted: Wednesday April 3, 2019
Vickery Court care worker Anna Oosthuizen may be only beginning her nursing career, but if she continues as she has started, her future will be bright.
Last year she won the Enliven-sponsored award for the Most Outstanding Student – New Zealand Diploma in Enrolled Nursing (Level 5), at the Southern Institute of Technology’s 2018 awards; recognition of her stellar work and an award she was both surprised and humbled to receive.
“It was amazing, I did not expect it at all,” she said.
“I really thought there were a lot of other people who could have won it, so I was very surprised, but it was pretty awesome.”
While Anna is not sure where she wants to take her nursing career now that she has finished her studies – for now at least – but she has loved her introduction to working in aged care.
She has been working as a relief care worker at Enliven’s Vickery Court resthome/hospital in Waikiwi for a about a year, after taking a placement there during her studies.
“I’ve loved it. I love the residents’ sense of humour, and getting to see their perspective on life, they all have extremely interesting stories,” she said.
“It’s been really valuable experience working at Vickery Court and I’ve really enjoyed working with the team there.”
Family Works Southland also supported an award for the Most Inspirational Student – New Zealand Certificate in Health and Wellbeing (Social and Community Services Level 4) , which was won by Anna Brown.