Thank you to all of our Admin professionals who play a crucial role in organizing our hospital services! Today we specially acknowledge Clerical Coordinator Julie Robertson, who is about to celebrate 21 years of service working for Counties Manukau District Health Board.
Julie has been working as a Ward Clerk for the past 17 years in Neonatal Care.
"I love interacting with the parents and seeing all the babies. I take pride in being a cheerful face for parents and whaanau to see when they come to Neonatal Care. It can be an overwhelming place, so I try to be that person to help put parents and caregivers at ease."
When the country went into lockdown due to COVID, Julie noted admin staff are essential workers. It was stressful for her to journey across the borders to play her part.
"We keep the service organized by doing many tasks, including admissions, transfers, running clinics and answering the phone. I love this job! I'm dedicated and believe I can make a difference."
"My role as the clerical coordinator is a team leader role. There are five of us, and I get to be a mentor."
Her length of service has seen her go through challenges. One of the biggest challenges was when her husband had an Endovascular abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) surgery. Complications from surgery led him to the ICU.
"Thankfully, my husband survived. The staff here did everything they could. Nurse colleagues from Neonatal would go and sit with him after they'd done a 12-hour shift. Even now, six years on, some of the ICU staff still stop to ask me how my husband is doing"
For Julie, she started as a relief clerk in Emergency care. Since then, she's been the Clerical Coordinator for Neonatal Care, Kidz First Service Leave Coordinator and has been an active PSA Delegate since starting at Middlemore, representing the Clerical staff on several bargaining rounds.
"I like helping people - it gives me a great feeling of satisfaction. I remember hearing clerical staff are the oil that keeps the cogs turning at the hospital, and I've always kept that with me as my mantra in work," says Julie.