Jess Bevan

• Assisting kaiako with the care, changing, feeding, and learning of tamariki with varied additional needs
• Maintaining safety and security of tamariki within school grounds and on outings
• Assisting kaiako with classroom management to maintain a positive learning environment.
• Supporteing student's physical, mental, and social development

I was originally employed and trained as a tele-audiology assistant and hearing health assistant, but after Covid my role changed into a customer service specialist. Within the contact centre, I became a part of the ACC specialist team, where I helped clients with their journey in applying for ACC support for their hearing loss.

Originally this role was voluntary for the first year, but the DHB decided to employ us KTO’s as they could see the great work it was doing in the community. This role is heavily based around supporting mothers and babies from pregnancy through until the baby is two years old. I supported mum and her whānau with the right information around eating a healthy balanced diet, infant feeding, and starting solid foods when their baby was showing signs of being ready for kai.

The skills needed for this job are great people skills, empathy and compassion, as well as computer skills, particularly documentation into the woman’s health records. A non judgemental outlook on how others live was needed too, as we were coming into these people’s homes and seeing a lot of what other health workers may not see.

In this rewarding role, I assisted the midwives at a busy birthing unit with activities such as cleaning, stocking the delivery rooms, and any other jobs that were needed under the direction of the charge midwives at the unit.

The skills I brought to this job were great people skills, and being able to assist in any situation when directed.