Not a job for everyone, but a job for her
Opera singer, mum-of-two, former coroner and now new Health and Disability Commissioner, Morag McDowell speaks to Emma Russell about taking her dream job.
This time last year, just days out from Christmas, Morag McDowell was working around the clock helping to identify bodies of those killed in the Whakaari/White Island eruption.
“It was a very confronting experience . . . that time of year you know, those people were on holiday. We were just doing our best to get victims back to their families so they could continue the grieving process,” she said.
Now, the former Auckland coroner is New Zealand’s new boss for “protecting and promoting” patient rights as the new Health and Disability Commissioner.
Her role is to investigate complaints made by Kiwis who felt they’d been let down by the health system, and to hold Government to account if there had been failures.
She said it may not be everyone’s dream job, but it is hers.
“I’m driven to help people understand what happened and why it happened. Sometimes that highlights really good care and sometimes it means highlighting areas that need improving, ensuring failures don’t happen to others and creating positive change.”
McDowell stressed the importance of compassion and humanity.
“I used to say to myself if I didn’t get affected by the cases I was dealing with then it was probably time to move on, because obviously you have to have a degree of empathy . . . of course it impacted you and it was day in and day out.”
After 13 years as a coroner, investigating the causes of sudden unexplained deaths, there are cases that have impacted her more than others, she said.
“Seeing deaths of young people was always hard. There’s such hope that comes with a young person.”
There have been times when she had stepped down from the courtroom bench and into the public gallery to acknowledge family in a more personal way.
Not often, but at times it just felt right.
“If I saw a bereaved family member in the street, I would acknowledge them. You can’t not.”
Dealing with the Whakaari/White Island deaths was a situation she had trained for – but one she hoped would never become a reality.
“It was really hard not to be affected by it. It sounds incredibly cliche but doing the jobs I’ve done teaches you the value of family and the value of your health and wellbeing.”
McDowell said after dealing with death day in and day out, she developed ways of dealing with tragedy and it was important to have support around.
“There was a lot of pressure, we were working with a lot of caseloads and we operated a 24/7 system so we did a lot of after hours work and it did take its toll.”
At the same time compassion had to be balanced with professionalism.
“I think it’s really important not to equate what’s happening in your work with what might be happening in your personal life. So if you see a death of a child, it’s important you be careful in not equating that with your personal situation.”
The self-proclaimed “nerdy girl” from Taupo¯, now working on the 10th floor of a downtown Auckland highrise is more than meets the eye.
Behind the corporate suit is also a opera singer and mother-of-two boys.
“Singing for me is like what exercise is to other people. It really feeds your soul. ”
“Deep down, I think I’m a bit of a performer. I enjoy being on stage. It’s a chance to express yourself and bring joy to people.”
She will be taking time off to spend with her family and recharge for another challenging year.
Shortening the timeframe in which Health and Disability complaints are dealt with, improving accessibility to make a compliant, growing cultural understanding an identifying concerning trends are McDowell’s priorities into the New Year.
“I promise to do my absolute utmost best to protect and promote health and disability rights.”
Singing for me is like what exercise is to other people. It really feeds your soul.
Morag McDowell