As a Social Work Supervisor at Oranga Tamariki | Ministry for Children, Renee Conway empowers and supports her team to provide effective interventions, tools and support for children and their families.
What does service to the community mean to you?
Service to the community to me means using my skills and knowledge to make a meaningful difference to the lives I come across in my mahi and within the community I work in.
How does your work make a difference?
As a supervisor it is about empowering and supporting my team to provide effective interventions, tools and support for the tamariki and whānau we work with to make significant and positive changes to their lives.
What achievements are you most proud of?
In a professional sense the achievement I’m most proud of would have to be my journey as a tamaiti in care, to social worker, to supervisor. Taking a negative experience and using this to form my career path and help others in similar situations is what fuels my passion to create better outcomes for the tamariki and whānau we work with.
Taking a negative experience and using this to form my career path and help others in similar situations is what fuels my passion to create better outcomes for the tamariki and whānau we work with.
What’s your favourite part of the job?
My favourite part of the job would have to be the people I work alongside, watching them grow and develop professionally and being a part of that growth is such an amazing experience. I feel privileged to be in the position I am in. It is also rewarding when we see positive changes with the tamariki and whānau we work alongside.
What are 3 words you would use to describe your work?
Challenging, transformative, essential.
What advice would you give to someone starting their career in the Public Service?
Take the time to truly understand the organisational values, these values are essential to your role and will guide your actions.
Networking and building strong relationships with community services and other Public Services will enhance your mahi and provide you with valuable support throughout your career.
And finally, prioritise your kaimahi ora, the mahi can be demanding and it is important to look after yourself as you can’t pour from an empty cup!
