Pātaka Toa | Neurodiverse Service Spotlight
Te Rūnanga o Toa Rangatira is excited to announce a new initiative under our Education Strategy (found here), the Neuro Diverse Learning and Behaviour Service.
This innovative support service currently in the design phase, aims to support whānau to access the right help at the right time from people they trust. By establishing an iwi-led community-based service, we aim to provide culturally centered interventions, particularly benefiting our whānau māori, and offering timely, local support.
Some of what we have accomplished to date includes:
Engagement: Whānau engagement hui in Nelson and Porirua with over 40 people contributing to the service design. Whānau with lived experience and those passionate about supporting the kaupapa attended both sessions. The information gathered will be used to inform the draft design.
Building key kaupapa partner connections: The team have worked hard over the past few months to connect with experts across the diverse learner's space and built strong partnerships with groups committed to better outcomes for Māori learners with diverse needs.
The current support landscape for neurodivergent ākonga outside of mainstream options is limited, leaving many whānau with scarce information and lack of cultural support. Our vision is to build strong relationships with whānau, helping them understand their tamaiti’s (child’s) needs and connect them with relevant agencies and resources, all while respecting their own definitions of success.
The service will be accessible to whānau and individuals at any stage of their journey, whether they are beginning to explore neurodiversity, have a formal diagnosis, or are already receiving support.
As we progress, we will continue to refine and enhance our offerings, learning from initial feedback and iterating on our approach to better meet the needs of our whānau. This foundational phase is crucial, as it sets the stage for a reliable and effective service that will evolve and expand over time.
Next steps: We are working toward implementation of this new service that will complement the growing area of Pātaka Toa – Education and Employment, while working alongside areas across the Rūnanga and community. We are aiming toward 2025.
Meet Our Project Team:
Photo Credited: Wesley Osman. Bottom to top | left to right.
Our team is made up of classroom professionals, health experts and those specialising in neurodivergent learners. We are committed to keeping our approach in line with tikanga Māori, enhancing the mana of every whānau and young person in the pursuit of success.
Calisa Hippolite | Ngāti Toa | Education Service Manager
Erica Blundell | Project Lead for Service Development
Gabby Kelly | Ngāti Toa | Project Management Support | Bachelor of Science – Neuroscience
Megan Marshall | Ngāti Toa | Kaitakawaenga – Rūnanga/ MOE Representative
Jennifer Randle | Public Health Doctor
Our Kaupapa Partners:
Carla Wallace-Watkin | Ngāti Toa | Te Herenga Waka
Carla has an undergraduate degree in psychology and criminology, a master's in educational psychology, and a PhD from Victoria University of Wellington. Her research focuses on the accessibility of autism supports, specifically examining barriers and adaptations for lower-income families in Aotearoa New Zealand. She is currently a Research Fellow in the School of Education and a Community Therapist at the Victoria University of Wellington Autism Clinic.
We would like to acknowledge Carla and her colleagues from the Wellington Autism Clinic who have supported our kaupapa and continue to walk alongside us as we progress our vision.