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Kia Ora! Tēnā koe! Talofa lava, Kia orana, Malo e lelei, Kumusta, Namaste. Welcome to Family Focus Rotorua. We are here to make a difference for individuals and families/whanau who are experiencing family violence or who are in difficult circumstances. 

Who are we - test

Family Focus Rotorua was set up by people with a strong desire to reduce the level of family violence in our community. We are social workers, counsellors, early childcare educators, women’s advocates, men’s advocates, clinical supervisors, therapists, programme facilitators, financial mentors and service co-ordinators. We strive to provide a safe, inclusive space for people to access information and get help in an environment that is designed specifically for them.

We offer a range of specialised services and programmes such as:

  • Advocacy and support for victims of family and sexual violence
  • Trauma-informed care and support
  • Social work support
  • Non-violence programmes
  • Counselling
  • Parenting programmes
  • Supervised contact
  • Building financial capability (budgeting advice)
  • Elder abuse response service 

Our values are core to shaping the culture of our organisation, helping to guide, unite, differentiate and sustain us. They are integral to everything we do.

  • We are passionate about the safety and well-being of others
  • We treat everyone with respect, and we behave with integrity in all our dealings
  • We focus on compliance, fairness, quality and ethics
  • We are open and honest in all our communications
  • We provide high quality, effective services and maintain the highest professional standards
  • We proactively respond to change to meet the needs of the community

A world in which people participate fully in all decisions affecting their lives, based on equality and respect for their dignity and rights.

Our purpose is to inspire and empower people to re-establish a sense of safety and security in the world as they reclaim, rebuild and renew their lives.

  • To ensure children and young people have safe, appropriate options for healthy development.
  • To increase the opportunities for safety for women and children.
  • To stop abusive behaviours by perpetrators and to increase self-confidence/self-worth for victims of family and sexual violence
  • To represent the interests and voices of vulnerable families/whanau
  • To educate and inform families/whanau on issues contributing to family violence.
  • To create an attitude, shift by generating concern about the impact family and sexual violence has on families/whanau.

 

 

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Derryn Hyde – Counsellor / Facilitator for Men’s services (Tikanga Maori)

Te Ara is of Ngapuhi, Ngati Porou and Te Arawa descent. He has worked in the role of Counsellor for Family Focus for the past 4 years and is nearing the completion of a Bachelor of Social Science. Te Ara has provisional membership with the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW).

Te Ara has spent more than 20 years working in the social service sector as a social worker, counsellor and a facilitator. Past agencies that he has worked with include CYFS, Tuwharetoa Iwi Social Services and Whakatohea Social Services.

Qualifications

Bachelor of Counselling (currently completing)

Diploma in Counselling (currently completing)
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Sonia Jones - Supervised Contact


My role at Family Focus is both the Supervised Contact Coordinator and Parent Programme Facilitator.

I am currently a fully registered Early Childhood Education teacher, with over 30 years' experience 
looking after other people's children.

Sonia is a full member of the NZ Teaching Council. 

Qualifications
National Diploma in Teaching (Early Childhood)
Certificate in Child Protection Studies 
Certificate in Small Business Management

 

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Sylvia Waihi - Women's Empowerment

Sylvia has been involved in the Social Service sector for the past 25 years. She has a passion for learning and teaching which is reflected in the roles she has had. Sylvia has mentored teens through to adults and contract-facilitated with Tairawhiti Polytechnic for a period of 7 years. She moved into the Government Sector and facilitated for two years with a variety of agencies and clientele. Facilitation continues to be a passion of hers and she is currently undertaking study towards a Diploma in Adult Education through Te Wananga o Aotearoa.

Staff Profile – Women’s empowerment.
Ko Hikurangi te Maunga,
Ko Waiapu te awa,
Ko Ngatiporou te iwi.
Ko Rongo i te Kai te marae
Ko Tamati Ngakaho te tangata
Ko au te uri.
Ko Sylvia Waihi ahau.
No Ruatoria ahau.


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Paula Taitoko – Women's Support

Ko Paula Taitoko ahau
Ko Tuhoe me Ngati Awa toku iwi

Paula is a mother of 5 children and is married to Daniel Taitoko. Paula was previously the coordinator for the Toolbox parenting programme here in Rotorua. Her role was to train facilitators and to organise venues and resources to ensure the Toolbox parenting programme was available throughout the Rotorua community.

Paula has worked voluntary for a number of social service agencies and finds it a privilege to be apart of Family Focus as we continue to serve the community. Paula looks forward to empowering parents who will in turn empower their whanau.

Qualifications
Certificate in Child Protection Studies (CDF)
Certificate in Social Services
Certificate in Small Business Management
Bachelor of Social Work, Biculturalism in practice (currently completing)


  1. Aidan Ford
  2. Maria Hancock
  3. Stacey Ford
  4. Faith Timu