Volunteer for an inclusive future

The theme for the event, on 5 December, is: volunteer for an inclusive future, e whai wāhi ai te katoa, kia tūao te tū.

Natalia volunteers for the University’s Workplace Insights Programme and she also founded and runs the Pacific Pharmacists’ Association (PPA).

Pursuing diversity, equality and inclusion is a big part of why Natalia volunteers.

“These are all things we are constantly striving for.  Achieving them is far from simple but volunteering our time to initiatives that pursue these ideals is something we should all seek to do.  Also, the shared experience of volunteering brings together so many different people that volunteering itself is a mechanism for inclusion.”

With less than 40 Pacific pharmacists in New Zealand, Natalia saw a need to ensure these professionals were being supported, as well as educating others about Pacific health.

“PPA was born out of a desire to connect with other pharmacists of Pacific decent. Community is a huge part of our collective cultures so forming a Pacific pharmacy family is really where we started and that has led to us now having a unique voice and a valuable one that needs to contribute and be heard.

“Our Pacific community is also overly represented in the worst of the health statistics, the most dire being the reduced life expectancy compared to other New Zealanders.  It's this statistic that singularly represents how the disparities in education, living situations, personal income and health contribute to an early death for many of our people.”

Natalia, along with more than 120,000 alumni and friends of the University, actively engaged with the University over the course of the For All Our Futures Campaign – which included participating in volunteering programmes for the University’s inaugural Volunteer Impact Week in June.

Alumni Relations Manager Joel Terwilliger says that building a worldwide community of alumni committed to social and environmental issues is at the heart of the Volunteer Impact Week.

“The University is committed to involving alumni with our aspirations to advance national and international efforts for a more civil society and a better world. Our community of more than 200,000 people is a powerful force for social innovation and improving the lives of people across the globe.”

“To all those that volunteered this year, we owe you a debt of gratitude for your contributions toward realising an inclusive future – you have our deepest thanks. Even small gifts of time and talent can have such a positive impact on others and collectively change our world for the better.

“As 2019 draws to a close, we want to convey the important role all our volunteers have played and we’re looking forward to enhancing the impact we can have together in the years to come.”

Natalia encourages her fellow alumni to volunteer for a cause they are passionate about.

“All types of people volunteer and the people you’re helping can come from all walks of life and from around the world.  I am constantly learning from the people I meet and that's amazing.  Empathy is a huge part of being a pharmacist, so the more I learn about others, the more I can relate and the better I can help.

“It also feels great to know you've helped someone just by giving a little time.”

Those interested in supporting Natalia’s work can contact pacific.pharmacists.assoc@gmail.com.

If you’d like to hear more about volunteering opportunities through the University, get in touch at alumnivolunteer@auckland.ac.nz