Corren Ngerengere (left) and Gina Scott
Wāipa District Council is hoping to make the two community advisor roles, which were established last year as part of a Covid recovery package, a more permanent arrangement.
Gina Scott and Corren Ngerengere started in November and in more recent times have worked closely with Waikato District Health Board to support their vaccination efforts in the district’s hard to reach areas.
Council Strategic Partnerships manager Gary Knighton told the Cambridge Community Board the council was looking to extend the 18-month fixed-term roles which are funded from a $795,000 recovery package.
“We see a lot of value in those positions and we’re in the process of making those a permanent role so that would be based on the Covid funding they were initially funded on. We are moving to make those roles permanent,” he told board members.
Their work with the DHB was critical, he said.
“It’s about utilising those contacts that they’ve built up and trying to drill into those harder to reach areas.”
Board member Elise Badger welcomed the work done by the community advisors.
“I think it would be great to see local council really supporting that vaccination drive. I think it’s in the best interests of our community that we can be unlocking and be prepared for whatever this pandemic brings.”
