He Tipuana Nga Kakano (Growing the Seeds)- Midland Regional Consumer Advisory Group. 

 He Tipuana Nga Kakano Terms of Reference 2009/10 

 Vision Statement 2020 for He Tipuana Nga Kakano

"Consumer organisations are beacons of best practice, credible, professional, strong and successful."

 Co-Chair - Nic Magrath - Consumer Advisor – Taranaki District Health Board – Mental Health and Addiction Service


My career in mental health started five and a half years ago, when I was employed as a peer support worker and advocate for Mahia Mai A Whai Tara Trust. Through this role I was given the opportunity to attend the He Tipuana Nga Kakano meetings. These meetings are often the highlight of my working year. HTNK gives opportunities for peer support, mentoring, sharing information and enabling us to have a voice with such organisations as MOH, MH Foundation, and Te Pou to name a few. It’s fantastic to hear what other regional consumer groups are doing also. I loved the people and the work at Mahia Mai and it was a tough decision to leave and take on the advisor role. The job is challenging and varied. There is no time for boredom! When I’m not working, I walk a lot, I love knitting and I enjoy the company of our two dogs. I am married to John and he breeds Hanoverian horses.

  

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  Co-chair Adele Winikerei - Consumer Advocate Waikato - Certificate in Mental Health Support Work (Level 4), Graduate Diploma in Business Development with an endorsement in Maori Management and Leadership, Audit Certificate, Graduate Diploma in Not-for-Profit Management

My career within mental health commenced in the late ‘90’s, when I was admitted to Tokanui Hospital and diagnosed with depression. I then moved to Hamilton and lived in supported accommodation with Richmond Fellowship (now known as Richmond New Zealand). Whilst attending New Progress Enterprises (now Progress to Health) I was contacted with an opportunity to work part-time for Richmond Fellowship. I gladly accepted the dual role of Consumer Advisor-Administration Assistant. I started working 20 hours a week, which increased to 30 hours after a year, and then full time, after another 12 months. It was during this time that I got involved with Midland Regional Consumer Advisory Group (now He Tipuana Nga Kakano). Also becoming a member of the Waikato District Health Boards-Consumer Council, and continuing employment with Hauora Waikato as a Consumer Advocate. Due to my study commitments and work-life balance, I have had to resign from my involvement with these forums. Now employed with Progress to Health for the past 3 years and 8 months, after resigning from Richmond New Zealand because of a re-structure and 5 years of service. I enjoy meeting new people and being able to share my recovery journey with them, to give them hope in there journey. I am engaged after 14 yeas with no children and enjoy spending time with my family, marae, and hapu - He aha te mea nui? He tangata, he tangata, he tangata!

The skills I bring to the role is a personal experience of mental health, knowledge base, a cultural perspective, a variety of networks within the Waikato District Health Board region, role model, a passion and desire to support and ‘walk alongside’ tangata whaiora.

 For more information about our forum please feel free to contact:

Nic Magrath nic.magrath "at" tdhb.org.nz  Adele Winikerei adele "at" progresstohealth.org.nz or  Akatu Marsters (Admin Support) akatu.marster "at" lakesdhb.govt.nz

 

He Tipuana Nga Kakano Members:

 

Jude Rickard

Kia ora whanau

My journey with the consumer movement began after my first admission to the acute inpatient unit at Gisborne in 1987. It was known as a psychiatric survivor with a single advocate named Mary O Hagan. I received some wonderful information in the post on a regular basis that was both educational and empowering. (These handouts are still at the bottom of a very old glory box)

In 1997 I applied for and began employment for Ngati Porou Hauora as their mental health advocate. Shortly after that I attended my very first conference where a group of consumers met with Central Health Funding Authority to discuss setting up local consumer groups. Came up with a business plan, and so the birth of Te Kupenga began.

Experience

12 years as a consumer advocate either doing or speaking on behalf of.

6 month project providing consumer input for research into mental health.

Currently co-ordinate and co-chair the Tairawhiti local advisory group.

Member of He Tipuana Nga Kakano (Midland Regional Consumer Group)

Attend the Local Advisory Group for Mental Health

Part of the Recovery work shops.

Undertaken Advocacy Training with Ruth Gerzon

Certificate in Social Work

Certificate in Mental Health Support Work

Dip in Visual Art (delivering work shops for "art" as a therapy)

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Lisa Baty

Hi I’m Lisa Baty and am currently employed with Challenge Trust as the Peer Support operating out of the Gisborne service.

My journey started in 2003 as a consumer. In 2007 I completed the National Certificate in Mental Health Support work and moved onto the Diploma in Applied Mental Health Support work. My own experience has provided some direction in my life as I was uncertain of what career choice to make prior too; consequently I view my personal experience as a positive that has paved the way for my future.

I have been employed with Challenge Trust since the establishment in Gisborne – midday through 2010 as a Peer Support and also picked up the Consumer Representative role which is complementary to the Peer Support.

In January 2011 I completed an internal WRAP training that allows this program to be delivered to the Challenge Trust consumers of the Day Program.

I am involved in the Local Consumer Advisory Group meetings and also the 3rd Tairawhiti Representative for the Regional Consumer Advisory Group.

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Don Paratene

I have spent 29 yrs working in health 19 of those as a Registered Australian nurse, 10 of which I worked in Australia. Returned to New Zealand in 1990 worked in the Inpatient ward for Taranaki mental health services for 4 yrs. In 1996 set up Te Whare Puawai O Te Tangata Trust a Maori Mental health Provider with my wife who is a New Zealand Registered Nurse and became one of three organisations that help to set up Tui Ora LTD that was to become the MAPO of all Maori health services in Taranaki.

I spent the next 12 yrs as the Manager of TWPOTT managing two level 3 residential houses, a joint venture with Taranaki DHB for a high needs complex home and a joint venture with Taranaki DHB for a health and fitness programme for tangata Whaiora. We have 1 FTE crisis nurse for 6yrs down graded to a CAT nurse for safety reasons, 2 FTE Early Intervention nurses and 2 FTE Peer support & consumer advocates.

I am also the chairperson for the Taranaki Consumer Advisory Group also sit on the Local Advisory Group with representatives from the NGO and Manager and Portfolio Manager for Mental Health Services in Taranaki. I was also seconded by Taranaki DHB in May 2008 to there advisory group to do the Self harm and Suicide Prevention Collaborative Whakawhangungtanga. Early last year 2007 I was a part of the assessors team that did the Huarahin Whakatu PDRP Assessment of Maori Nurses in the Midland Region. Worked as a Youth worker for the Taranaki Iwi for 2 years also as a Programmes Co-ordinate for a Maori men's group for stop violence for 2 yrs. I am a 49 yr old, 3yrs diagnosed with Bipolar holding down a full time job working as a consumer advocate for my wife in the organisation that I set up 14 yrs ago and enjoy what I do to make changes for the good as best as I can.

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Kelly Ware

BsocSci Major Psychology - University of Waikato

Experience as Consumer Advocate -Training by Ruth Gerzon, Peer Facilitator, Consumer Participation training, and Recovery Trainer.

Chair of Waikato Consumer Advisory Group

Waikato District Health Board Consumer Advisor (Currently undertaking Blueprint CA Training)

 

 

 

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Noeline Kuru

Recovery Educator trained by Laurie Curtis

WRAP Train the Trainer NPE

Advocacy Trainer trained byRuth Gerzon

Mental Health Cert Netcor

CAT Certificate in Adult Teaching Waiariki

Like Minds Like Mine Educator

Diploma in Mental Health Oranga Hinengaro

Health Promoters Certificate

 

 

 

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Barbara Hart

Consumer Advisor, Mental Health Services Lakes District Health Board

I have been in the role for 7 years. I am involved in a whole range of training

Qualifications

Certificate in Adult Education and Training (Level 4)

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Kathleen Wright 

Lead Consumer Advisor – Bay of Plenty

My personal journey with Mental Illness began as a child. My mother experienced severe mental illness, and continues to be affected by her illness. I still remain her carer.  This in turn had an impact on my mental health, and also my perception of what might be considered a “normal” family/social life. This is where my own personal experience of mental illness began.

My professional journey began in 2005. I was asked to represent family members on an Advisory Group for Mental Health. I also represented family for DHB policy/protocol review and recruitment panels for Mental Health staff, at the Wanganui DHB. At this time I was involved with the development process of Te Tahuhu.

In 2006, I completed the National Certificate Mental Health Support Work (Level 4).

I worked at Supporting Families with Mental Illness (SF) during this time, until the end of 2007.  Whilst at SF, I did training to manage and facilitate a community support group for Children of Parents that experience Mental Illness. I completed many short courses during this period, some of which were, Train the Trainers, Exploring the Lives of Young People that experience Mental Illness, Strengths Based Training.

In 2008, I moved to Tauranga, and began work at the Acute Adult Mental Health Unit, Te Whare Miangiangi, as a Healthcare Assistant. From this I gained a lot of insight into how it is for our consumer’s to experience their care on acute wards.

My history and experience has lead me to my current role of Consumer Advisor.