Call for Covid-19 response workers

Skilled communicators stuck at home under level 4 are being urged to join New Zealand’s Covid-19 response, which is crying out for advice-line and testing-centre staff.

Urgent calls went out via email, social media and job sites for callcentre roles to book appointments and give support and advice based on Ministry of Health guidelines.

Additional workers are also needed for new pop-up testing centres throughout Auckland as the number of Delta variant cases rise.

This week an e-newsletter from Retail NZ said Covid Healthline needed staff immediately Full training would be given but candidates needed their own laptop and headset.

The message said filling the positions was “a matter of urgency”.

Covid Healthline calls mushroomed after the decision to move to alert level 4 on Tuesday night. This week callers faced long waits and at peak times were told to call back.

More calls to Covid Healthline are expected with the news of three Covid-19 positive cases in Wellington — taking New Zealand’s total to 31.

You don’t need any prior experience . . . you need a good attitude. Job advert

Whakarongorau Aotearoa is contracted to supply staff to the 30 Government-funded free telehealth services including Healthline, Covid Healthline, Mental Health after hours, Depression Helpline, 1737 — Need to Talk and Shine.

The organisation sought people confident in using online systems and talking with service users by phone.

Skills required included typing ability, experience in customer service, strong communication and the ability to “manage calls with empathy, kindness, and professionalism”.

The Ministry of Health also put out calls to recruiters to find staff for popup Covid testing stations in Auckland.

More than 22,000 swabs were taken at testing stations throughout Auckland yesterday but visitors faced waits of up to eight hours.

Emergent Recruitment placed ads on Seek.co.nz wanting “high volumes of administrators” to work throughout Auckland starting “ASAP”.

“You don’t need any prior experience at all, however you need a good attitude, be able to work under pressure, and be able to talk to a range of people,” the job advertisement read.

“These roles are initially for twofour weeks, however we are open to hearing from people who are free for longer and shorter periods. Weekend work also available.”

Workers would be supplied with PPE protection and stringent practices would ensure staff kept safe.

For information on pop-up testing station roles call: (09) 975 3699 or email: Emergent@Emergent.co.nz