Anna Erwood

Social Connections Co-ordinator, Age Concern Auckland
Bachelor of Health Science in Public and Environmental Health with a minor in Counselling Studies

She has always had a passion for health and wellbeing, and wanted to explore options for a non-clinical role in healthcare, says Anna Erwood who came to AUT to study a Bachelor of Health Science in Public and Environmental Health with a minor in Counselling Studies.

“I chose to study this degree because I had heard that AUT was rated very highly in terms of its practical application of skills and theories. I wanted to learn more about health from a holistic perspective, and explore a top-level approach to preventing disease and illness. I also wanted to further educate myself on Māori and Pacific approaches to health and wellbeing. I’d recommend this degree to any student seeking a non-clinical role in healthcare, and wanting to make a difference in the lives of people and the future of our environment.”

The discussions and connections with others are what she enjoyed most about her studies, she says.

“The small tutorials and workshops were great for meaningful engagement with my classmates and lecturers, and I felt that I was able to learn more than in bigger classroom and lecture settings. These connections were great to make and helped me expand my networks. I’ve also enjoyed being challenged in my courses and being forced to think about things from different perspectives.

“When I was doing my final presentation about my work placement experiences, I realised how much confidence I had gained in speaking and presenting in front of people since I had first started at AUT. This also made me realise how much I enjoy presenting and speaking to others, particularly about things I’m passionate about. This has motivated me to seek roles that involve educating people about health, and has also shown me how much I can grow when I apply myself.”

Helping older people feel connected
Since completing her studies at the end of 2022, Anna now works at Age Concern Auckland where she is helping older people become more socially connected.

“I work with seniors over the age of 65 who may feel lonely or isolated, and help them to connect with groups, people and activities in their local community. I also help to onboard our volunteers to be visitors to the older people. That involves organising training, co-ordinating their role within the organisation and making them feel like a part of the team.

“I enjoy the people aspect of my role and being able to meet many different people. Being able to see the difference we make to the lives of older people is such a wonderful thing, especially to those who have no one around and are extremely isolated. Knowing that my role is able to help someone in need gives me a lot of satisfaction in my work.”

She has already had a number of highlights in her career so far.

“I’ve been asked to assist on a new project that helps people who may be living alone share their home and experiences with someone who can provide them with help with practical tasks and social connections. I’ve also been able to attend many workshops on different topics to help in my role, including dealing with people with dementia, learning about the different support services available and learning to work in different cultural contexts.”

Advice for other students
Anna has some great advice for other students.

“The one piece of advice I’d give to other students is to be involved and make the most of opportunities during your time at AUT. These opportunities will really help to broaden your horizons and thinking, and might open up pathways for you that you might not have thought about.”

She herself has certainly made the most of her time at university.

“I was heavily involved with AUT during my studies, including working as a peer mentor, and I’ve also completed the AUT Edge Award. These experiences helped me to develop better communication and networking skills, along with challenging myself and putting myself out there.

“I also made the most of various workshops and personal development courses including Brightside’s Design your Life and Design your Life 2.0 workshops, which I highly recommend to any student seeking clarity for their future career and goals.”