Melissa Morris
Recovery Partner, ACC
Bachelor of Health Science with minors in Case Management and Health Promotion
She enjoys making sure that her clients have all the support they need to manage living with serious injuries, says health science alumna Melissa Morris who now works at ACC.
“I’m responsible for managing the claims of our serious injury clients; people who have suffered spinal cord injuries or traumatic brain injuries. I co-ordinate their rehab inputs, approve funding for the support they need, and build relationships with clients, their whānau and service providers to get the best outcomes for our clients.
“What I love most about this work is seeing the progress my clients make with their rehabilitation. I work with people of all ages, cultures and stages of life, and the variety of my role is so interesting and I gain so much from this work.”
Finding her path
Melissa’s journey to a health career initially started with the dream of becoming a midwife, but life had other plans.
“I started AUT with the intention of completing a Bachelor of Health Science (Midwifery). In my first semester, I completed the four core courses all health science students need to do and then had an interview to discuss progressing into the midwifery degree.
“I was a solo mum with two daughters at the time, and the team interviewing me were very transparent about the requirements and demands of studying midwifery. I wasn’t sure if I could commit to the requirements of the clinical placements, and the team recommended that I consider a non-clinical health science degree instead. I then applied to study health promotion and even completed the majority of the degree, but then I had to withdraw as I needed to return to full-time work for financial reasons.”
But university wasn’t quite done with her yet.
“While I was away from uni and working, I met my now husband and then had another child. After some time, I contacted Deborah Hay at AUT and we talked about returning to complete my degree. I was able to cross-credit all the courses I had already done and ended up completing a Bachelor of Health Science without a major, with minors in Case Management and Health Promotion.”
Supported to thrive
Melissa says, as someone whose university journey wasn’t straightforward, she is grateful for all the support and encouragement she received during her time at AUT.
“My journey to graduating was not your average pathway; it was full of stops and starts, exemption applications, withdrawing and changing courses. Throughout all of this, I was never judged for having a non-traditional university pathway; I was always encouraged and supported. I’ll be forever grateful to my lecturers and programme leaders for their support throughout my studies – they kept me striving for my end goal. Even now I’m in regular contact with Dr Caroline Stretton, and it’s just so wonderful to have built that connection with AUT.”
She has some great advice for other students who are only at the start of their own university journey.
“My advice would be to keep going! Use all the support around you at AUT; it makes all the difference.”
