A big smile kicks off the online chat as Barnardos Invercargill Administrator Rebecca Gauldie laughs and says, “Where do I start?” as she prepares to share her journey with Barnardos.

“I came from a relatively stable family, but there was a time when it wasn’t so stable. I went off the rails and became a young mum at 16,” she says, diving straight into her story.

Having to grow up quickly, Rebecca was fortunate to have a strong support system around her. However, she also saw that many other young mums didn’t have the same village of support she did. That realisation ignited something in her – a desire to help and support those in need.

“You can see how badly things can go if you don’t have the right support,” she reflects. “It made me start to think more deeply about the real world and what life looks like for some.”

Her own mother’s life experiences also played a significant role in shaping Rebecca’s perspective. Rebecca's mum lost her own mother and sister when she was only six years old. Her mum grew up in a home for children and faced health challenges from an early age, including two kidney transplants in her lifetime. Rebecca's mum's incredible resilience and life challenges have inspired Rebecca to consider social work.

"I suppose it's those life experiences, those curveballs life throws at you – those are the moments when you recognise things. Even with a strong sense of hope and faith, sometimes you need other supports in place to help you. That's when I wanted to be a social worker, and when time allowed, I even earned a social work certificate."

Rebecca’s journey with Barnardos began in an unexpected way, 11 years ago. She initially applied for a teacher aide role at a local school that had a Barnardos social worker, but in the end, she covered for the social worker who was going on leave.

Fast forward to today, Rebecca is the glue that holds the Invercargill team together, though not as a social worker. While she aspired to be a social worker, completing her degree proved too difficult as it would require studying from home or studying away from her whānau.

She is now the administrator in Invercargill and has been for the last nine years. Though her love for social work remains, she plays a vital role in the village that supports her social worker colleagues. She sees her role as ensuring her teammates – who are busy helping others – have someone to help them.

That caring attitude became particularly evident when the Invercargill office underwent renovations. For 10 weeks – then two more, then four more – the team was left without an office. On top of that, the service manager was on sick leave, and the team leader position was vacant. Stepping up without hesitation, Rebecca became the “mum” of the Invercargill office.

She recalls thinking back to times in her own life when things felt out of control and the people who had stepped in to support her. “I saw it as my role to be that support person for everyone else.”

Rebecca became the anchor her team needed – the ‘go-to’ person, the one who listened, facilitated, organised, and connected. She arranged regular Teams catch ups, not as formal meetings but as opportunities for staff to check in, chat, and stay connected. She also liaised with the landlord to ensure the new office would meet staff and family needs. When it came time to move back in, she coordinated the entire process – rallying the team, arranging shifters and furniture, and making sure families could return for social work and group programmes as soon as possible.

Rebecca’s unwavering dedication didn’t go unnoticed. This is exactly why she was nominated for and won a Barnardos 2024 Kotahitanga Award. Her teammates acknowledged her dedication to supporting the team so they could focus on their crucial mahi in supporting tamariki and whānau. She was a huge support in relieving stress, always doing so with a smile. She was also described as a "unicorn" by her colleague because she is a special person who goes above and beyond, cares deeply for her teammates, and is always up for a challenge.

Humbled by the award recognition, Rebecca insists she was “just doing her job” and didn’t realise she was making such a significant impact. But to her team, and the wider Barnardos Aotearoa whānau, she is far more than that – a true gem who has fostered unity, connection, and belonging during a chaotic time.

Rebecca Gauldie – Barnardos’ very own unicorn