to the September 2014 Caring Magazine

ISSUE 123 - SEPTEMBER 2014
Community Magazine
Gladiators of Change
Promotes Powerful
Positive Parenting
Hard Work
and SWiS
Help Pay Off
for Sulia
Collaboration, Connection
and Community Converge
at SWiS Conference
A Message from the CEO
F l y i n g without
In their recent submission to the 2014
Interim Report on Welfare Reform,
Australia’s major church providers
outlined key principles they believe
are the basis for a fair, effective
welfare system.
I believe we should share and support these core
beliefs which are summarised here:
•
We believe all people have inherent value, and have the ability to contribute to New Zealand society.
•
We believe participation and engagement requires access to income, healthcare, education, essential services, and housing.
•
We believe that, as a society, we all have a responsibility – individually, in business, via our Government, and through our communities – to enable access to the resources people need to live their lives with dignity and respect.
•
We believe that there must be a social safety net, which provides an adequate level of income to people who aren’t earning enough through paid employment to enable a decent quality of life. This safety net is an important protection against poverty, and should be able to be relied upon by every person in need.
In the run up to the 2014 election, these are principles
we should challenge all parties to support and address
– whether they are left wing, right wing or flying without
any wing! Sadly, far too often in election years, we
see welfare, poverty and equity issues used to score
political points, instead of to formulate workable
solutions to the challenges our society faces.
The critical issue our politicians should be debating is
how they can work collaboratively with government
and non-government agencies to develop programmes
focused on a coordinated approach to addressing the
myriad of social issues our communities face.
Recently someone wrote that simply having a job
would go a long way towards addressing social
inequity. If any Government is to produce lasting and
meaningful societal change, they should ensure people
have enough to live on while they seek work, that there
are real jobs for them to apply for, and that they have a
good chance of getting and keeping those jobs.
In Social Sciences, we read about ‘agency’ (the
capacity of individuals to act independently and to
make their own free choices) and ‘structure’ (factors
such as social class, religion, gender, ethnicity,
customs, etc ... that determine or limit an individual
and his or her decisions). If an individual’s actions
continue to be constrained by the social systems in
which they must exist, arguably their ability to act and
make informed choices and decisions will be seriously
affected.
If we continue to repeat the mistakes of the past,
we will never be able to address the issues of today,
let alone of the future. So let us lobby our left wing,
right wing and wingless politicians to support the
introduction of policies that will create a society where
individuals will be able to act independently and make
informed choices, free from societal constraints that so
often marginalise, stigmatise and disempower them.
This year we have the opportunity as citizens of this
country to advocate for the creation of a society that
allows all its members to live their lives with dignity and
respect.
Philip Beilby
CEO – Anglican Trust for Women and Children
needs your support
ATWC needs your support to help build happy, healthy futures for our children.
To DONATE, visit www.atwc.org.nz, call 09 276 3729, or send a cheque payable to Anglican Trust for Women and Children to PO
Box 22363, Otahuhu, Auckland 1640. Or fill out the card with this newsletter and send it to us in the Freepost envelope provided.
Freepost Authority No. 61481, The Anglican Trust for Women and Children, PO Box 22363, Otahuhu, Auckland 1640
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Caring - community magazine
Hard Work and SWiS Help Pay Off for Sulia
When Sulia Huahulu immigrated to New Zealand from Tonga in 2010 in
search of a better life for herself and her son, she says she felt weak,
confused, nervous and heartbroken.
Four years down the track, Sulia, who graduated
in July with a one-year Diploma of Business from
BEST Training, says she has SWiS social worker Julie
Nohe to thank for helping her to become stronger,
more confident and to have a sense of pride in her
achievements.
Sulia, who first met Julie through a friend, was too
scared at first to approach her but
when she saw the good work Julie
was doing she summoned the
courage to ask her for help.
Sulia needed advice and information
about her child and her benefit. Julie
says Sulia was very shy at first but as
their relationship grew Sulia opened
up to her.
“I helped Sulia access information
so that she could make informed
decisions for her and her family.
I also gave her practical help, like
obtaining a washing machine,”
says Julie.
“Sulia then told me that she had
achieved all A’s in her study. I was so
impressed with her achievements but
Sulia couldn’t see how well she had
done, so I gave her lots of positive
affirmation to help strengthen her self-belief.”
Sulia says: “Julie’s words of encouragement lifted
me up and made me stronger inside. So I thank
her for that.”
Before Sulia graduated, she was thrilled to learn from
Julie that she was going to be given a special outfit to
wear on her special day.
Caroline Marr, the owner of The Carpenter’s Daughter
label which makes plus size clothing for women,
generously donated a gorgeous dress and top to Sulia.
Julie arranged for Sulia to meet
Caroline in her store where she
was able to choose her outfit.
Caroline, whose philosophy is to
celebrate and empower curvy women
to feel proud and worthy of fashion,
said she was “paying it forward” for
Sulia because she was impressed
with how she had taken steps to
change her life.
“You can either sit at home and
twiddle your thumbs or you can
get off the couch and do something,
which is what Sulia has done,”
says Caroline.
When Caroline asked Sulia why she
was studying, she simply said: “I want
a better life.”
Sulia started a Bachelor of Business
majoring in accounting at the Auckland University of
Technology’s Manukau campus in July.
Caring - community magazine
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Collaboration, Connection
and Community Converge
at SWiS Conference
Research and the importance
of local knowledge in social
work practice in New Zealand
was the theme of this year’s
annual Auckland regional
Social Workers in Schools
conference.
Over two days in July at Manukau Institute of
Technology’s marae, 150 social workers, teachers,
principals and key people from the Ministry of Social
Development met to collaborate, share knowledge,
connect and gain insight from speakers who work in
different areas of social work in New Zealand.
Papatoetoe South School principal Mark Barratt spoke
about the importance of the relationships between
schools and their social workers.
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Transparency, trust and respect were the keys to
successfully working together for the ultimate wellbeing of the child, he said.
ATWC’s senior manager of Social Workers in Schools
Elizabeth Walker-Tautali said Mark’s words reinforced
the fact that the success of ATWC’s work hinged on the
quality of the relationships its workers had with people
and what was invested in those relationships.
Multi-agency social workers and Youth Workers in
Secondary Schools were also among those who
attended this year’s conference.
ATWC’s general manager of operations, Judy Matai’a,
said a key benefit of the conference was for social
workers to see that they were not alone.
“Often, they can feel isolated in their practice. To come
away from their schools and see they are another
spoke in a much larger wheel helps to affirm the work
they do,” she said.
“The extra level of professional development to
help build their practices is an important part of the
conference which re-vitalises and re-energises the
work that social workers do.”
In line with the conference theme, speakers connected
their own research to issues affecting social work
in New Zealand.
Anton Blank, the executive director of Te Kahui Mana
Ririki, who initiated the first summit on Maori child
abuse in 2007 which resulted in the birth of the Maori
child advocacy organisation he heads, spoke of the
ongoing need to eliminate Maori child abuse.
ATWC organised and hosted the conference in
collaboration with Te Tai Awa O Te Ora Trust, Family
“Collaborating strengthened the relationships between
providers at management level and provided a lot of
opportunities to work together,” said Judy Matai’a.
The conference provided valuable networking
opportunities for the social workers to pool resources
and knowledge to strengthen their practices.
ATWC social worker Shay Twomey said the speakers
affirmed her passion for her work and made her realise
there was plenty of scope for creativity in her role.
“I also benefited immensely from being able to connect
with other social workers from other organisations.”
The 12 speakers who addressed the conference
included keynote speakers Mark Barratt, National
MP Alfred Ngaro, Dr Jacquelyn Elkington and
Dr Leland Ruwhiu.
Works Northern, Mangere East Family Service Centre,
IOSIS Family Solutions and Strive Community Trust.
Caring - community magazine
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Gladiators of Change
Promotes
Powerful
Positive
Parenting
Positive role modelling, interactive
discussion and humour were keys to the
success of two Gladiators of Change
Raising Families evenings at the Otahuhu
Community Hall in May.
Gladiators of Change (GOC) is an initiative of Social
Workers in Schools (SWiS) and is supported
by ATWC and local schools.
Event coordinator and SWiS practice manager Ashleigh
Latimer is passionate about making a difference in
the lives of the families involved and says GOC is an
important message for ATWC to deliver.
A need was identified to help Pasifika dads grow in their
parenting skills and over the past six years the programme
has evolved to include an evening for mothers.
Fathers’ night speakers were ex-All Blacks Eroni Clarke
and Pita Alatini, National Party List MP Alfred Ngaro,
ex-Warriors player Joe Vagana and broadcaster Efeso
Collins, who was the evening’s MC.
The speakers shared their experiences of fatherhood
including their strengths and struggles during what they
and the fathers who attended said was a satisfying,
helpful evening.
Marama Papau, a presenter, director and reporter for
TVNZ’s Tagata Pasifika, was the MC at the mothers’
night where speakers were Problem Gambling
Foundation’s Rufo Tinai Puphali’i, zumba instructor
Tenga Schwalger, YWCA Future Leaders programme
coordinator Kendal Collins and Otahuhu Child Youth
and Family site manager Anahila Kanongata’a-Suisuiki.
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Caring - community magazine
“The speakers’ honesty in sharing their parenting
stories and the way they wove Pasifika humour into
their parenting advice was an important way to connect
with our mums and dads,” says Ashleigh.
“Feedback from parents was that they loved the
honesty and experiences shared.”
St Joseph’s Primary School principal Liz Horgan, who
has supported GOC for the past six years, recognises
how SWiS reaches out to parents through the
programme.
“The important message to get across to our parents
is for them to find time to spend with their children and
take an active interest in what they do at school and
how they are with others.
“Providing entertainment by their children also
encourages parents to attend and gives them a chance
to see the range of their children’s talents.”
Liz thinks the GOC programme’s influence is far
reaching and will completely change the lives of some
children and families.
She believes parents who are engaged with their
children in the ordinary everyday ways of loving them,
caring for them, giving them time, supporting them,
talking to them and modelling right behaviours will help
them to learn much more effectively at school.
“So much of what happens in a child’s education is
dependent on what is happening at home,” says Liz.
As a follow up to Gladiators of Change, SWiS has
developed a Family Programme where social workers
work with families in their homes over 10 weeks to discuss
key issues and joint activities for parents and children.
Dio Students
Decorate Playhouse
and Build Seating
Dio Harvests a
Generous Crop
More than 300 ATWC families have received
food hampers this year – thanks to the ongoing
generosity of the Junior School community at
Diocesan School for Girls.
Diocesan’s Junior School celebrates the Harvest
Festival every year at a special assembly which
parents and relatives are invited to attend.
Student families are asked to bring a decorated shoebox
or small basket filled with groceries and tinned items for
the festival and this year was no exception.
All of the school’s donations are given to ATWC to be
distributed to families most in need.
“The continued support we receive from Diocesan is a
testament to the values of Diocesan as a whole,” said
ATWC CEO Mr Philip Beilby, who attended this year’s
assembly to receive the donations on behalf of the Trust.
Lorri Higgins, the residential supervisor at ATWC’s
Granger Grove parenting centre, says every year she
and her team make up hundreds of food hampers
with the harvest donations.
“It is really incredible just how much is donated every
year, and this year was no different. We made up
more than 300 hampers, which is just fantastic.”
Thank
You
St Mary’s Preschool children
are enjoying their newly
decorated playhouse and
wharenui (house) seating,
thanks to the creativity
and hard work of Diocesan
School students.
Earlier this year, Year 10 students painted the playhouse
and built seating for the preschool wharenui which the
students built last year, using $500 of funds they had raised.
St Mary’s manager Kathryn Mills welcomes visits from
the Diocesan students each year.
“The girls continue to build on the resources they have
created in previous years and this benefits the children
and the teachers.
“During the week the girls are here, the children have
the opportunity to play and work alongside the older
girls. That gives them a lot of one-on-one time which
they often don’t get in their home environments with
older siblings,” says Kathryn.
A big thank you from all the children and staff at St Mary’s Preschool
to everyone who donated money to support the completion of our
new hiproof.
More than $17,000 was raised towards the $40,000 cost of the roof which now
provides a great space for the children to play under when it’s raining.
St Mary’s Preschool manager Kathryn Mills says children and staff are looking forward
to summer when the roof will also provide much-needed shade.
“The children can now play outside in the wet weather and enjoy activities they would
normally not have been able to. We are extremely grateful for this added resource and
for everyone’s contributions.”
Caring - community magazine
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The Friends of ATWC Incorporated
Open Day Celebrates
Three Generations of Giving to ATWC
A long history with ATWC and a desire to help families are
why three generations of the Anderson Family attended the
annual Supporters Lunch and Open Day which the Friends
hosted on June 20.
Judy Anderson, her daughter Janine Ibb and granddaughter
Alysse Heta all attended the day at ATWC’s Otahuhu
headquarters where they saw ATWC’s work first hand at
Granger Grove and St Mary’s Preschool.
“It was a wonderful event with a personal touch as we
could see that our donations go directly to the Granger Grove
mums,” said Judy.
Judy has supported ATWC for several years by giving cosmetics
collected by her Otahuhu parish to Granger Grove mothers. She
regularly attends ATWC’s open days. Her granddaughter Alysse
has always been interested in ATWC’s work.
“I’ve heard my Nan talk about this organisation for many years.
Every time I collected clothes we didn’t need she would give
them to ATWC,” says Alysse.
ATWC’s CEO Philip Beilby spoke with the Friends and
supporters and thanked them for all their help.
“The wonderful generosity of ATWC’s Friends and
supporters helps us to continue the important work of
caring and nurturing families so they can thrive. Without
this continued support we would be at a real loss.”
Before lunch, the Friends and supporters toured ATWC’s
facilities, including Granger Grove, where residential
supervisor Lorri Higgins told them about ATWC’s unique
long term, three-stage programme which helps mothers
learn valuable life and parenting skills.
ATWC staff Shelmaine Terblanche, Jane Hanley, and
Elizabeth Walker-Tautali also told supporters about the
Family Start, Family Services and Social Workers in
Schools services they lead.
Friends Theatre Night Raises Funds
Thank you to all the people who braved cold, wet
weather to attend the Friends’ Theatre night at
Onehunga’s Dolphin Theatre on June 26 where they
were treated to a charming, madcap adventure about
love, life and man’s eternal love affair with .... golf.
On the Fairway, written by Ken Ludwig Fox and
directed by Carl Drake, was the play for this year’s
Friends’ Theatre night which raised around $800 to
support ATWC’s work.
Order Form for Christmas Cakes
In support of the Friends of
Anglican Trust for Women and Children
YES I would like to order
cakes @ $56.00 (inc GST) = $
Name:
Organisation:
Address:
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Please find enclosed my cheque (made payable to ATWC)
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and have used my surname or organisation name and the word
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Please send me an invoice
Please deliver to me at the above address
Please deliver as per the enclosed
instructions
To place your order please mail
this form with your payment to:
Christmas Cake Orders
Any queries, or to pay via credit card
Anglican Trust for Women
please contact Melissa at ATWC on
and Children
09 276 3729 extn 9028 or send an
P.O Box 22 363, Otahuhu
email to [email protected]
Auckland 1640
Thank you for your support
Editorial inquiries - For feedback or story ideas for Caring, Please contact Deborah at [email protected] or ph 021 226 8882
Caring - a subscription free publication of the Anglican Trust For Women And Children (ATWC)