Faces of Baptcare | Meet Jamie Waiariki

Jamie ‘Jem’ Waiariki is Team Leader of our Customer Enquiry Centre.

She is one of the young leaders making a huge difference at Baptcare, using her energy, charm and expertise to ensure better outcomes for our customers.

She is also handy at karaoke and line-dancing, not a big fan of spiders, and brave enough to be our latest Face of Baptcare.

Jem, what does a good day at work look like for you?

As long as my team and our clients are well and happy, every day is a good day!

Where did you work before joining Baptcare?

In my most recent roles I worked as a Team Leader as well as a robotics project specialist at EnergyAustralia and Telstra.

Robotics? Like R2D2?

That role involved user testing and process mapping for robots within the system – robots being programs essentially that did a lot of automated work. Sadly it’s just a fancy name for data analytics and project work.

Which of Baptcare’s WECARE values (Wellbeing, Ethics, Co-creating, Accountability, Respect, Effectiveness) resonate most with you?

Wellbeing and co-creating. Wellbeing, because mental health is wealth! It impacts engagement, productivity and how much we are able to care for others, which ultimately flows down to our clients. And Co-creating really is teamwork: the act of sharing challenges, letting people be heard, and achieving great outcomes together.

You are one of the young leaders making a difference at Baptcare. What does leadership mean to you?

Leadership is so multifaceted! Different situations require different approaches, but I find I see the best results from my current team by fostering a collaborative, open and respectful environment where everyone feels valued and empowered to contribute. I think also having your team’s back and treating them as people rather than numbers is important in any organisation.

What did you want to be when you grew up?

A lawyer – before I realised I don’t like confrontation and sometimes am not the most articulate person.

Can you tell us something surprising about yourself?

I was a star line dancer as a child. We mostly performed for aged care homes, so you could say I’ve been in the industry for a while.

What is your go-to karaoke song?

Right Next Door – Robert Cray.

Do you have a favourite quote or motto in life?

Stay humble, stay grateful.

We are grateful you are here, but what do you miss about New Zealand where you grew up?

I miss being able to fall asleep in the grass or walk barefoot through a forest without being eaten! I definitely miss the lack of spiders.

How would your friends describe you?

I’m probably the entertainer of the group who can always be relied on for good vibes and a funny, crazy story.

Lastly, what would a perfect weekend look like for you?

A day trip with friends for a hike, preferably somewhere with a waterfall, then dinner and cocktails somewhere in the city, ideally with a rooftop. I highly recommend Beverly if rooftop dinner and cocktails are your vibe!