Access has recently welcomed Corrina into the Waikato/Bay of Plenty team as a Complex Care Navigator. From making meaningful connections in the community, to chats about colostomy bags, Corrina will be using her lived experience to build strong relationships with other Access tāngata navigating their supports and hauora.     

“I make sure it is!”

This is Corrina’s answer when she’s asked if life feels positive right now, which sums up her outlook. Positivity is a choice, and she chooses to find positivity in her everyday life. But it wasn’t always like that, she has overcome many challenges on her journey as she adapted to her new way of living.

Originally from Gisborne and now living in Tauranga, Corrina is an Access client and, more recently, an employee.

In 2021, at 24 years old, Corrina left Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit after a car accident and she describes how, among all the challenges she faced, it was really difficult to make connections with her new community.

“I had to push myself well out of my comfort zone. It was very isolating and I felt like I had to do it all on my own.”

Today Corrina can rattle off a list of individuals and organisations who are supportive and welcoming to the wheelchair community in Tauranga (check out Sailability, Wish4Fish and Spinal Support) but back in the early days after her accident she experienced a lack of whakawhanaungatanga.  In her new role she wants to help others avoid the isolation and know they have someone they can trust and seek advice from.

Corrina has friends and whanau who have supported her since her accident.

One of the other constant supports in the last four years has been her Access team. She says that at the meet and greet in the spinal unit, Access really stood out, emphasising that client choice is strongly guided by personal interactions and trust.

As with any relationship, it has not all been perfect in the four years since then, but Corrina is clear about what makes a great team of support workers and care coordinators, she likes clear communication regarding her roster and care to make sure everything runs smoothly.

“Communication is key. You need to know who is coming, you need to know when things have changed. I understand the team is busy, but as clients we need to know,” she explains.

“I need to have good control of my own care and my rosters,”

“And I’ve usually got a lot to say about my care!” she adds with a smile.

Some of Corrina’s support workers have been working with her for more than two years and she says as long as the communication is good, and the care is good, she will continue to choose Access.