Ian Shirley Award winner credits generations of service

Veronika’s path to social work was shaped by a lifetime of values, experience and personal transformation. Originally from Austria, she moved to Aotearoa New Zealand nearly 16 years ago after meeting her New Zealand partner while snowboarding in her homeland. Together, they travelled the world before settling in Aotearoa, where they are now raising their daughter.

While you’ll frequently find her spending time with her family, staying active, travelling and learning about different cultures, you will also find Veronika hunting down a good cuppa before mahi.

“I am a foodie! My love language is cooking and I’m a very dedicated coffee snob. I surround myself with authentic and uplifting relationships. Spending time in Papatūānuku appreciating all her beauty whilst listening to the sound of Tangaroa, provides me with strength after a difficult day at work.”

Her family history is steeped in the value of service—the roots of Veronika’s passion for social justice.

“My grandfather lived and embraced it until his passing at the age of 102 as an active member of his church community, while my mother was a passionate geriatric nurse until her retirement. Two of my late grandaunts were nuns working in hospitals and one of my late granduncles was a priest.

“My grandfather lived through two world wars. He experienced deep mamae. He often cried when reflecting on this past, including losing three siblings because they spoke up against injustices during WWII. These experiences have shaped me and given me a strong sense of justice and standing up for what I believe is right.”

It was a deeply personal experience that led her to pursue social work. When her daughter was born with a heart condition and required a transplant at a very young age, everything changed.

Before entering the profession, Veronika worked in Early Childhood Education, where she followed the RIE Pikler approach: promoting respectful, relationship-based care that fosters self-determination in pēpi. While studying, she also worked in the addictions sector.

“These tangata whaiora have taught me so much. They helped me reflect on the privileges I have been entrusted with and showed me that authentic, respectful connections are powerful drivers for change.”

Winning the Ian Shirley Award was, for Veronika, a humbling recognition of her hard work and of the importance of social policy in practice.

“I was always interested in social policy and worked hard to get my head around the parliamentary system of Aotearoa. Growing up, our family gathered nightly around the television for the news, and issues of justice were regularly debated over dinner. Citizenship rights come with responsibilities, promoting wellbeing for all, speaking up against injustice and human rights breaches.”

Now working for Te Whatu Ora in the Specialist Maternal Mental Health Service, she applies her education every day.

“Te Whatu Ora is a colossal and complex organisation. Social policy education provided me with the tools to critically evaluate legislation, identify gaps and advocate for systems change to support culturally safe, equitable and effective Te Tiriti honouring healthcare.

“There is no such thing as a hard to engage whānau—only hard to engage services.”

For Veronika, the most rewarding part of her journey has been the connections.

“Being invited into the lives of whānau, gently and purposefully walking alongside them at their most challenging and vulnerable times and instilling hope for a flourishing future. Those shared learning experiences are powerful and deeply humbling.”

And the journey isn’t over. With characteristic determination, she shares her next goal.

“I will raise awareness about the wellbeing inequities experienced by perimenopausal women. Watch this space.”