Meet Zerena Van Rooyen: The Calm Force Behind Health & Safety Training
In the world of health and safety, where the importance of preparedness can literally mean the difference between life and death, there’s one trainer who brings both experience and passion to the classroom: Zerena Van Rooyen.
With a no-nonsense approach to her work, Zerena isn’t one to spend much time on long-winded explanations. She lets her actions and experience speak for her, and when you dig deeper, you’ll find a life shaped by real-world, frontline experiences in health care that make her an outstanding health and safety trainer today.
From Emergency Rooms to Training Rooms
Zerena’s journey into the world of health and safety began long before she stood in front of classrooms. Her roots lie deep in healthcare, starting in the mid-1990s when she began her career as an ER nurse at Medi Clinic. “ER is where you learn the true meaning of pressure,” she reflects. “It’s where quick thinking, teamwork, and safety protocols come together to save lives.” Working in such high-intensity environments built her solid foundation in lifesaving skills.
By the early 2000s, Zerena had transitioned to the mental health field, working at Denmar Acute Psychiatric care, where safety protocols took on a new dimension—protecting both patients and staff in an environment that required constant vigilance. “Psychiatric care isn’t just about healing minds,” she explains, “It’s also about managing risk and ensuring that the environment is safe for everyone involved.”
Her versatility is evident in the roles she took on over the years, from being a phlebotomy technician to an emergency response nurse at Mayfair in Auckland. With each shift, Zerena gathered more specialised knowledge—knowledge she now imparts to those eager to learn lifesaving techniques.
A New Chapter: Health & Safety Trainer
Zerena officially stepped into health and safety training in 2022, but her entire career had already been leading her to this point. She trains a wide range of courses, including first aid certifications (6401, 6402, and 6400), refresher courses, manual handling, and even specialised courses for EMS staff. She is registered as a nurse with NZNC (NZ Nursing Council) and as an Emergency Care Instructor with NZRC (NZ Resuscitation Council) . Her students always get information that’s regularly updated with the latest evidence based recommendations. When asked about the more unique aspects of her training, she mentions special requests from local councils for lifesaver training or custom courses like first aid for drowning or oxygen administration.
Her passion for safety training is clear. “I believe in protecting employees,” she says firmly. “When a company prioritises health and safety, it earns the trust of both its workers and its clients.” Zerena understands that health and safety isn’t just about ticking boxes; it’s about building a culture where people feel protected and cared for.
A Lifetime of Learning
Zerena’s work history reads like a textbook on healthcare’s most challenging roles. From handling emergency situations in a South African ER to moving to New Zealand and participating in COVID testing, she has worn many hats. She’s seen how lives can be saved—and how injuries can be prevented—through good training and preparedness. “We worked in teams, all trained, and many lives were saved,” she recalls humbly. Though she doesn’t point to any one dramatic moment, her career is filled with stories of injury prevention and lives saved through proper procedures and teamwork.
In her role today, she draws on these experiences. “Training is about more than just showing people what to do. It’s about helping them understand *why* it matters,” she explains. Whether she’s teaching basic first aid to new trainees or upskilling experienced EMS personnel, Zerena’s calm demeanor and wealth of experience make her an invaluable guide.
In her spare time outside of work, she enjoys working as a flight/travel nurse.
Looking Ahead
Despite the decades of experience behind her, Zerena Van Rooyen shows no signs of slowing down. She’s added new training partners to her resume, working with organisations like St. John and now working full time with Industry Training Works (ITW), always expanding her repertoire of skills. What’s next for Zerena? “More training, more learning,” she says. Her quiet determination suggests that whatever she does, it will be done with precision and purpose, just like her approach to health and safety.
Zerena’s story reminds us that the best trainers are those who’ve been there, those who have walked the walk and who bring a lifetime of experience into the classroom. For anyone lucky enough to learn from her, it’s clear that they’re in good hands.