03/11/2025
Introducing Olivia Stewart - Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP)
Three Rivers Medical is very pleased to welcome Olivia Stewart as our new Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP), a qualified health professional who will support GPs by offering free consults to support whanau to improve their health and wellbeing.
"Sometimes a HIP is holding space to discuss lifestyle changes around diet, exercise, sleep, or drug and alcohol use - these directly affect health and are discussed to make goals in collaboration with the tangata whaiora (patient),” she says.
Born and bred in Tairāwhiti, Olivia is happy to be working in her home community. She holds a Bachelor of Counselling from WINTEC.
"A Health Improvement Practitioner (HIP) is a role centred around wellbeing and behavioural changes," Olivia says.
"The training identifies it as a generalist role, so everyone is able to come and see me with any problem, at any age or stage - all ethnicities are welcome. We will discuss how to approach building a new skill or reengaging with important values."
The consultations are for anyone who is motivated to learn skills and set goals with a qualified therapist.
They are guided by Te Whare Tapa Whare, a holistic Māori model of health that views wellbeing as a wharenui (meeting house) with four walls.
The four walls represent taha tinana (physical health), taha hinengaro (mental and emotional health), taha wairua (spiritual health), and taha whanau (family and social health).
“The main focus is on how stress is impacting your health and how that stress is indicated in all areas of your wellbeing - this helps identify what areas may benefit from a change or what else should be considered in goal setting,” Olivia says.
"There is a values focus in the approach, when people are unable to think of what behaviours they want to change, we will look at their values and how they are connecting to those values – this can be a great tool," she explains.
Located within the Three Rivers Medical practice, Olivia is the second HIP to work here.
She supports patients to take positive steps to improve their wellbeing/hauora. Appointments of around 30 minutes are focussed on providing evidence-based, brief intervention strategies.
Three Rivers Medical general manager Michelle Te Kira said the practice was thrilled to have Olivia on board.
"Now we can offer free appointments which can be booked through your GP or by asking our reception team."
"We encourage anyone who thinks they could benefit from some one-on-one holistic counselling which is practical and goal driven to make an appointment," Michelle says.
Sometimes appointments can be booked on the day depending on Olivia's schedule.
Olivia loves living back in Gisborne and is settling into her new role at Three Rivers and building her patient base.
When she is not busy working she enjoys yoga, stretching and meditation.
"I also love gyming, getting to the farmers market and checking out the music scene when a good gig is on. I find it to be a peaceful town a lot of the time, with so many beautiful walking spots.”
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