Charles Smith

Alumnus Charles Smith is a Principal Adviser Health for the Department of Corrections.

Postgraduate Certificate in Nursing, 2011

Postgraduate Diploma in Health Care, 2014

Master of Health Care, 2018

Charles Smith decided to do a nursing degree after working as a hospital cleaner in his native Devon, England.

“I had no idea what I wanted to do as a career, but I had seen first-hand how the nurses were skilled professionals who showed real empathy and kindness to their patients, often in difficult circumstances,” he says.

Charles describes completing his nursing degree as life changing.

“I had no idea what I was getting myself in for, but I was able to work and learn from some really good doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals. It also taught me the value of good health and good health care.”

After graduation, Charles worked in several hospitals across London such as the Royal London Hospital and Whipps Cross Hospital, before moving to New Zealand to work at the Capital and Coast DHB—where he learned about the therapeutic benefits of “milo” and “ice blocks”.

Charles now works as a Principal Adviser Health at the Department of Corrections and says that providing good advice is a similar process to assessing a sick patient for the first time. Assess the problem or issue, analyse the options, recommend a course of action, seek agreement, and then help implement it.

Seeing more nurses at the decision-making table when it comes to health planning and delivery is a key development that Charles would like to see more of.

"If we want health services to be patient-centred and we know nurses are often patient advocates, greater nursing involvement when it comes to system improvement is vital. Also, 2020 has really brought in to focus the important role nurses play in looking after us all, particularly when our health needs change,” he says.

“I think that is something we could get a bit better at recognising and celebrating.”