It was a cold winter's night outside, but a warm and welcoming atmosphere inside the St John Ambulance Station on Brandon St, Alexandra, on Monday as a group of residents gathered to hear from emergency services representatives.
The second of three Getting to Know Central Otago sessions run by Central Otago REAP (Rural Education Activities Programme) and Welcoming Communities Central Otago District Council was a success, with around 20 people in attendance from kids to elders. Everyone walked away having learned something, such as what the different NZ Police uniforms were for, and how important it is to know where your nearest AED location is.
"We're thrilled with how it went. The speakers were so personable and reassuring, and I think it was so helpful, not just for migrants, but for all of us in the community," said Heather Harries, Welcoming Communities Officer.
Welcoming Communities is a NZ-wide government-funded initiative, designed to support councils to help migrants and newcomers feel at home in their communities. CODC runs it as part of their community development work. The Getting to Know Central Otago series is a three-session pilot, covering our place, our emergency services, and our networks – the brainchild of Heather, and Emma Mclean, ACE Adult Education Coordinator, Central Otago REAP.
Originally planned as a way to support ESOL learners at Central Otago REAP, it was during the process of planning this pilot that the two came to realise that this was actually a Welcoming Communities initiative as many people arrive in the region not knowing about the people and places, and what might be important to know.
During the brainstorming of what the sessions could be about and who to get involved, they kept coming back to the question, how do you figure out what's important when you're new in town? This then allowed them to focus on topics for each session – our place, our emergency services, and our networks.
"We've been playing around with this idea for about a year, after we heard about a welcoming programme in Hawkes Bay,” said Heather.
“We settled on a three-session pilot, which we could then use to inform what we do in future."
For the second session, inspiration came from Heather's other role as an ESOL tutor at Central Otago REAP, and the role-play sessions she would do with students – calling emergency services. She realised the benefit of knowing when and how to reach them could be applied much wider than recent migrants. She was also keen to show that here in NZ, our emergency services are provided by people that anyone can identify with, not authorities to be intimidated by.
The first session focused on the stories and history of Central Otago from a te ao Māori (Māori worldview) lens, demystified some of the myths about moa, and delved into European history and the rise of horticulture in Central Otago. The second brought together emergency services – NZ Police, Fire and Emergency NZ, and St John Ambulance – to talk about their work and how to access their services.
Heather has confirmed that the pilot has generated some interest from other organisations, expressing interest to participate in the future if the programme continues.
The third session will focus on building networks, with different groups attending to connect with newcomers and each other. It will be at Alexandra Community House on Monday, 29 June at 6pm. All are welcome – you don't have to be new in town!
Find out more and register for Monday's session on the Central Otago REAP website or Tourism Central Otago website.
