Alexa Smith has been appointed a part-time Community Wellbeing Co-ordinator for Fiordland.

She joins Te Hau Toka Southern Lakes Wellbeing Group’s existing part-time coordinator Anna Star ahead of the areas annual summer season.

The pair will effectivelly double the service's capacity to share information about wellbeing concerns, monitor the capacity of mental health services and coordinate wellbeing initiatives in the district. 

Te Hau Toka Fiordland Representative Sarah Greaney, who is also a Southland District Councillor and local business owner, says as one of the hardest hit communities in New Zealand, Te Anau still faces enormous challenges and it had been clear that the Community Wellbeing Co-ordinator role had become a position that needed to be full-time.  

“We’re a pretty isolated community, and the rural community is even more so."

"We’re very pleased that with the generous support of Great South, Te Hau Toka has been able to find a Community Wellbeing Co-ordinator with Alexa’s strong background in the rural community,” Greaney said. 

Originally from the Isle of Man, Smith has worked in mental health supporting people with head injuries, and helping raise mental health awareness in schools.

She has extensive large-scale events and volunteer management experience and a BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences and Psychology.

Smith is also a Northern Southland Regional Leader for the Dairy Women’s Network (since 2019) and is on the Mossburn Primary School Board of Trustees.

Smith said she was excited about the opportunity to return to her first passion.

“I’m excited to be back working in mental health, and I think the last few years living rurally here have given me some useful experience to bring to the role."

"Through our farming business, I’ve helped non-English speaking migrants settle into New Zealand, and as a migrant myself, I know some of those isolation challenges as well."

Smith is married with two young daughters and is looking forward to finding out what she can do to support positive wellbeing in the community. 

Ben Lewis, Great South General Manager Business Services Development said the Great South team welcomed having a second Community Wellbeing Co-ordinator based in its Te Anau office.

“We’ve gained a greater overall understanding of where the needs and possible gaps are in the community and having this role to facilitate deeper community connections is incredibly helpful.”