Niamh

Kia ora, I am a fourth year tauira at the University of Otago in Wellington. I originally grew up on a farm in Auckland but have been based in Dunedin for the last five years before moving to the capital. I have a range of experience, with my first job working as a receptionist at a medical centre, followed by waitressing at the local vineyard and restaurant for several years. I also have experience working at a plant nursery, COVID-19 swabbing (which included having to swab children), and recently have completed two summer studentships through the University, as well as working in clinical trials. Outside of medicine, I enjoy reading, baking, board games, tramping, and skiing.  

Outside of medicine, I enjoy reading, baking, board games, tramping, and skiing. I have grown up with two younger brothers on a farm, so from the legal age I oversaw them, as well as providing childcare for my younger cousins. It then branched out to family friends, whereby the time I was 17 and had my own transport I would babysit regularly throughout high school. This involved one family where the child had an intellectual disability, as well as another child who was 18-months old at the time. Throughout my last year of high school, I tutored a 7-year-old child with ASD, helping him with his reading, writing, and arithmetic skills. With my own experience babysitting my family, I also have experience with families who have multiple children. Since being at university, I have been babysitting on a casual basis for some families, but throughout my course I have been learning about childcare and development. This involved a visit to a kindergarten and writing a report about each aspect of development on a particular child. I look forward to meeting your family!