Time to Meet the Staff from Te Aka Ora Charitable Trust

This page is a quick introduction to the members of the outstanding Social Services team at Te Aka Ora.

Scroll Down to meet the team!

 

Meet the Staff @
Te Aka Ora

Introducing: -

 

Liz Cairns - Service Delivery Manager



Supervises and supports Te Aka Ora Charitable Trust Social Workers and Youth Workers Team.
Manage all Social Service contracts and works with the Board of Trustees, Finance, and Administration to deliver a quality service to tamariki, rangatahi, whanau, hapu and iwi.

Diane Costain - Administration/Finance Support

I support all staff within Te Aka Ora. My role as the administrator/finance support is to support and supervise the administrative needs of the Manager and Finance Manager. I also deal with all incoming and outgoing  enquiries for each staff member.
 

Tiana Apelu
 


 

….Fakaalofa Lahi Atu & Kia Ora….
My name is Tiana Apelu, I am the Social Worker in Schools for Elgin and Te Wharau School.I have worked for Te Aka Ora since 2008, firstly as the Rangatahi Whanau Support Worker, then moving into the SWiS role.  My past & present roles are to work with and for Whanau, also to support them in their journey of life, and to help them break-down those barriers that may cause disruptions or distractions to them or anyone closest to them. I love working for Te Aka Ora because not only are we working for Whanau we are a Whanau, each one of us brings a different dynamic to the team however our main focus never changes which is “Whanau working for Whanau”, and it is because of this that I enjoy coming to work every day.

Venice Thompson


Kia Ora,

My name is Venice Thompson and I have just been employed by TAO. My new role is the Teen Parent Intensive Case Worker (TPICW).  I am really looking forward to working alongside Teen Mums, Teen Dads, their babies and all their Whanau. I’m looking forward to what 2011 will challenge me with, both in my personal and my professional life.

Mauri Ora   

Lois Smiler


Kia ora my name is Lois Smiler and I am currently the Social worker based at Te Whare Whai Hua (Young Parents School) at Lytton High School Gisborne. My role is to provide awhi and support for our teen parents and their whanau while they continue their studies and gain valuable qualifications. We work very much from a whanau concept and my team implements a number of academic/life skill programmes ranging from Parenting, Learning to drive, Budgeting and Family violence awareness to name but a few. 
I believe that the empowerment of our whanau and ourselves through education, awhi and tautoko is the greatest gift we can give to each other.

 

Moana Dewes




Kia ora Whanau, nga mihi nui, nga mihi aroha kia koutou katoa. My name is Moana Dewes, I am the Swis worker in our rural schools Muriwai, Manutuke, Te Karaka Area and Whatatutu. The children I work with are year 5 to year 8.
My mahi has been youth worker with both boys and girls @ Turanga-nui-a- kiwa Activity centre, working with High Complex Needs youth @ Te Ora Hou, managing and working with our teenage boys @ Ka Timata Alternative School and now school social worker@ Te Aka Ora.
My role @ Te Aka Ora is working in partnership with our young children, their Whanau & the schools. I love my mahi and I am passionate about the wellbeing, future, health & education that we can give our children.
They are our future generation and we must help them aspire to reach their goals whatever they are. The moment I lose the passion working with our children and whanau is the day I look @ another field of work.
 

Joanne Forde

Teen House Parent



I have experience in physiotherapy, specialising in ante-natal care, bringing a wealth of experience to the role. My husband Greg has been involved in education, management, and pastoral work for many years.

Sharlene Conning

Turanganui-a-kiwa Activity Centre