Rekha Hawkins - Team Leader

What is your current role at HCF and what do you like about it?

My current role is Team Leader within our call center Member Care division. What I really enjoy about this role is every single day is different, in this role I love having the ability to help others. I am a passionate leader who yearns to see my people succeed in any aspect of their role. I feel as a leader I have a very important role tasked upon me to support, drive, enthuse and listen to others. I appreciate the hands on approach and try to put myself in the shoes of others with my interactions.

What has been your career pathway within HCF?

I started my HCF journey in May 2013 as a Member Care Consultant. In 2015 I became a 2IC/Senior and undertook many “step in” responsibilities including team leading in leaders absence and reporting to support my leader. I studied Frontline management and various coaching courses along the way to help me better my leadership qualities ready for an opportunity to step into team leading. In February 2021 the opportunity arose for me to step into team leading and I have loved every minute of it. I am constantly learning new skills and tips every day to become a better leader.

How would you describe the culture within your team as well as within HCF?

The team I support has a “close knit” feel. Our team support one another in anything and everything work related. I have always shared this message: share best practice – your knowledge will truly help someone at a time you least expect. How rewarding is that! We have great engagement when it comes to team events and sharing in team success. The culture here at HCF in call center division is what I would describe as “close knit” people are loyal and have immense respect for one another.

We are dealing with peoples livelihoods their health something that matters the most in life – so equally the people we work with we see that transition to the call center also: in showing empathy, love and care for one another. The business units create the fun and share via Workplace and Teams and other avenues. Ie Red Nose Day, Daffodil Day, Biggest Morning Tea just to mention a few.

What’s the best thing about working at HCF?

The support from my colleagues and leader. Sharing in each others successes and happiness is a huge part of being here at HCF. I am thrilled when someone from the call center wins something or has done us proud

This shows me at HCF we are leading by example and our staff are proud to be a part of this organization. Another thing I really like about HCF is as an employee there are so many benefits. The company looks after the staff in so many ways. IE> the work from home set up. We are so fortunate to be still working from home during these unprecedented times. The financial benefits of being an employee - salary sacrifice, lending hardware when needed and the mental health support for ALL with EAP.

We are a leading organization in the division of health care, we truly consider the member at the fore front of everything we do. This to me is very evident from a leaders perspective now that im in the team leader role. IE> special consideration and the process around that, IUA hardship for financial difficulty etc

Do you have any further career plans/aspirations within HCF?

At the moment I am really happy in this role. My goal is to be the best leader I can possibly be, to support my team through anything they need. I have aspirations to be better than I am, through continued development, coaching and courses I will absolutely commit to this achievement.