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Ceremony welcomes new migrants to MidCentral DHB

Ceremony welcomes new migrants to MidCentral DHB

13 March 2014

A special ceremony was held last night to welcome staff and families, who have recently arrived in New Zealand to work at MidCentral DHB.

The ceremony was attended by 43 migrants, as well as MDHB CEO Murray Georgel, Palmerston North Mayor Jono Naylor, and other hospital management. Its purpose was to formally welcome migrant staff and their families to MidCentral and Palmerston North, as well as put them in touch with people who are in the same situation.

Co-organiser, MDHB Medical Recruitment Consultant Christine Wood said the ceremony played an important part in making migrant staff and their families feel welcome in Palmerston North.

“It’s usually around the 12-18 month mark that people start to feel a bit homesick. The ‘honeymoon period is over and they start to think of the things they miss from home. The welcome ceremony is a way of MidCentral DHB engaging with our staff and their families, introducing them to other staff in the same situation, and getting feedback on what they are enjoying and what they find difficult. If there are things we can do to support them to settle long term in Palmerston North then we all benefit. They are highly skilled people whose contribution to our hospital and our community is immense”

On the night, speeches were made by Mr Georgel and Mayor Naylor, before the guests were introduced to some good old kiwi food. This included fish and chips, sausage rolls, cheerios, and pavlova topped with kiwifruit.

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The rest of the night was spent mixing and mingling, allowing people time to get to know one another. On hand to provide advice and share his own experience was Medical Head of Medical Imaging Adrian Lamballe. Born in the UK, he moved to the United States before bringing his family to Palmerston North two years ago, in order to take up a position at MidCentral DHB.

Asked about his experience at MidCentral DHB he said: “The lifestyle in Palmerston North is fantastic, it’s easy going, and you don’t spend two hours in your car each day. My time at Palmerston North Hospital has really reinvigorated my career and I hope to stay here for a long time.”

MidCentral DHB has a great deal of diversity, with staff from Russia, Denmark, Egypt, Spain, China, Switzerland and Canada, providing a sample of its international staff. The New Migrant ceremony was put on by MidCentral DHB with the help of Settlement Support, an Immigration New Zealand initiative to help integrate migrants into local communities.

ENDS

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