Introducing Tema
Tema felt as if she had come home on her first day as Quality Practice Leader at ConneXu. Having worked with Fern, Kate and Josie previously in the disability support sector, she knew they shared her desire to find better ways of supporting people to live their chosen life.
Her long experience in disability support and the mental health sector, along with her business management degree, had led Tema into an administration role too far removed from contact with the people she wanted to support. Furthermore, the demands of her previous role prevented her from achieving the quality of service she felt her clients deserved. She realised that, for her, only a role that allowed her to personally understand the needs of individuals, and to put effective support in place would bring job satisfaction.
With the move to ConneXu, Tema has already found herself closer to the people she supports, and working alongside her team, rather than from behind a desk. She absolutely shares the total commitment of ConneXu staff to enable better lives for those they support. She believes every person has a place in the community as a respected individual with a worthwhile contribution to offer. The onus is on the community to accept people as themselves.
At ConneXu, Tema feels she will have the benefit of excellent practical advice from her colleagues and the opportunity to share ideas. She is looking forward to undertaking courses and training to extend her skills. Tema has found less emphasis on filling out forms and meeting criteria, and much more about becoming familiar with the people around her. She has also found ConneXu to be an inclusive community that values views and insights from families and staff.
Tema has taken responsibility for the people ConneXu supports at Colgen Street, Williams Street, Raeburn Street and Chatsfield Drive. She is thoroughly enjoying working in Te Awamutu, which is also her home town.
We are delighted to have the benefit of her long experience in the health sector, and her particular understanding of the funding processes that directly affect organisations such as ConneXu and the people we support.
We also value her understanding of Maori culture and language. Tema will be working alongside ConneXu staff as a resource for Maori culture, as well as the various Pacific cultures. Her personal interest in other cultures in general has been augmented by her experience in the health sector. She will be able to share her insights into different cultures with ConneXu staff, as well as her deep understanding of the needs of people with disabilities.
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