My name is Tjarda Wierdsma. I help people make work healthier, safer and better.
Through worksense, I run guidance services and WorksafeReps training courses for workers, workplace leaders and representatives.
Whether it's through a formal training workshop, a one-off guidance session or a longer term supervision/mentoring arrangement, I help you build a healthy, safe and better working life.
When I'm not delivering worksense services, I contract to organisations that match my passion for worker-led development opportunities, embedding mentally healthy work practices, and ensuring work always improves people's lives.
who I am
Ko Tjarda toku ingoa. Ko Tati te whakapaparanga mai, nō Fryslân aue, engari ko Ahuriri te whenua tupu. Kei Te Horo, Ōtaki au e noho ana. Toitū te Tiriti!
My ancestry is Dutch. The province of Fryslân is my first home. It's where I got my Frisian name. When I was six years old, my family moved to Aotearoa. I grew up in Ahuriri/Napier and lived in Te Whanganui-a-tara/ Wellington for about 20 years. I now live near Ōtaki.
my credentials
relevant education
for Health & Social Service Professionals
Supervision Skills
Level 5 micro-credential NZQCF
Workplace Health & Safety
Post-graduate Certificate in Health
Level 8 NZQCF
Human Resource Management
Post-graduate Diploma in Business Administration
Level 8 NZQCF
* Facilitating Online Learning Experiences
* Transforming Learning Experiences
online education specialty courses:
Level 5 NZQCF
2012-2013
Open Polytechnic
relevant experience & memberships
2023-
Associate Member
I attend monthly Continuous Professional Development sessions. I don't offer a health & safety advisory service, because I'm not currently eligible for further accreditation with NZISM. I operate within our code of ethics by only running WorksafeReps training workshops and limiting guidance to my areas of competence. I'm happy to connect you to a HASANZ registered advisor.
2021-
Health & Safety Trainer
I deliver interactive online WorksafeReps workshops, including De-Escalation (returning soon), initial HSR training (Stage 1), and training for managers, team leaders and supervisors. Moderation of my assessment for US29315 is done by the Open Polytechnic, through iQualify.
2006-2021
Union Organiser & Educator
I was assigned to organisations across public sector agencies, including local government, public service and the wider state sector. I lead 5-15 Collective Agreement negotiations per year, facilitated delegate training, coached teams of delegates, lead sector groups and represented individual union members through complex employment relationship issues.
But wait, there's more! I've also worked in a bakery, a bank call-centre, as a cleaner and as an administrator for a government department. I've been a union delegate and a health and safety representative. I've tutored at university, teach kiwi English to new migrants, and provide language/learning support to apprentices. I've completed a degree in philosophy, religion and classical studies and have a Master of Arts that has been more valuable than I ever expected.
I have a chronic health condition, so I work part-time with good people doing good things. I've studied advocacy and disability rights, and learned about the cultures of people of the pacific. I stive for a world where work is only ever a positive in people's lives, and where education is always about people, not just jobs. I lead workplace skills workshops including digital literacy programmes. I love helping people influence the world around them.
I'm currently studying adult literacy, and hope to nurture my budding te reo Māori soon. I adore the old internet and playing open-world computer games with all cheats enabled. I kinda built this website! I'm a super-keen and 'joyfully disorganised' gardener, live rurally amongst other people's horses and cattle, and I'm happiest when I'm cuddling all four of my pets at once. I'd love to meet you.
I'm part of the WorksafeReps team. We're governed by the Workers' Education Trust, running worker-centric health & safety training since 2003.
We've collaborated with safety-focused government agencies and other reputable training providers to develop quality training courses for workers throughout Aotearoa. We deliver unit standard US29315 through the Open Polytechnic of NZ.
The Trust made some big changes to our operating model in 2022. Trainers are still well supported by the Trust to ensure quality, and we now run our own marketing, administration and finances. Our lower costs mean we can serve more people. We can offer training courses that may not always be advertised on our websites, so please send me a message for more information.
If you're after inclusive online training and support no matter where you work, stick with me. For face to face workshops, my WorksafeReps colleagues are happy to provide a quote for in-house mahi. If you have a suitable space for face to face training in Kāpiti/Horowhenua, let's talk.