Growth Journal - Tanya Marsh

From "Just doing Activities" to MOMENTS THAT MATTER

Three years ago, I began my studies in Health and Wellbeing through NZMA, completing Level 3 and 4 with the support of an incredible tutor. During placement week, I arrived at Te Awa Lifecare in Cambridge and immediately felt at home. What started as a work placement soon turned into a part-time position as a Healthcare Assistant.

I loved the work culture. I had great teachers, clinical managers, colleagues, and nurses who not only taught me practical skills but also showed me the heart of aged care — working hard while caring deeply. Over the next couple of years, I became more confident and connected, building strong friendships with residents and seeing how inspiring they truly are.

Our residents continue to learn new things, make new friends, and share their stories and wisdom. These moments deepened my interest in health and wellbeing. I realised just how important it is to give back to residents who have contributed so much to their families, communities, and the world.

Our residents are educators, farmers, parents, war veterans, animal lovers, sisters, brothers, nans, and koros — all from different walks of life. I often thought to myself, if this was my mum or dad, I’d hope someone was checking in on them, making them laugh, and helping them feel seen.

When the Diversional Therapist position became available, something inside me said, You’d be good at that. I had no formal training, but I knew the residents, and they knew me. I didn’t just know the basics — I knew their humour, their stories, their passions, and even what could frustrate them. I wanted this job more than I had ever wanted anything. Even though I already worked at Te Awa, I dressed up for the interview, put together an activity program, and explained how I would incorporate Te whare tapa wha, promote cognitive and physical wellbeing, build trust, and adapt activities to different abilities. I poured everything into that interview — I was confident, genuine, and driven by the belief that our residents deserve to live with purpose and meaning.

Being offered the position was one of my proudest moments. I felt excited, humbled, and incredibly grateful. I walked into the role knowing there would be challenges, but I embraced them all. With the support of my team and management, I’ve grown into this role and pushed myself to keep learning. I have been in this role since March 2025 and loved every minute.

In May, I attended a Professional Education in Therapeutic Recreation day at Tamahere Country Club. Listening to others share their experiences inspired me to aim higher, to create even more opportunities for engagement, and to raise awareness about the importance of Diversional and Recreational Therapy within our team. Now, I am halfway through my Diversional and Recreational Therapy apprenticeship, continuing to grow and develop my skills so I can better support and engage our residents. This journey has been incredibly rewarding.

I no longer think of this as “just doing activities.” I now understand that my work is about creating moments that matter. I’ve helped staff see how powerful resident engagement can be — how it improves wellbeing, builds friendships, and keeps people connected to their identity.

The residents continue to teach me something new every day. They surprise me with their strength, humour, and determination to live life to the fullest. This doesn’t feel like work to me — it feels like a privilege. When a shy resident starts making friends, when someone laughs while cooking and reminiscing about old recipes, when residents ask with excitement, “What are we doing today?” — I know we are making a difference.

These residents are our kaumātua, our whānau, and our friends. They deserve to be celebrated. Moving into aged care can be daunting, but here at Te Awa, I believe we make their light shine brighter.