Kia ora

As the holiday season approaches, I wanted to take a moment to wish you a wonderful Christmas and a safe, happy and healthy New Year.

Whether you’re planning a family gathering or a trip away for a change of scene, I hope you find some time for reflection and rest over the summer break. Your role as caregiver is so important and you deserve this relaxation time just as much as, if not even more than, the rest of your whānau. 

Thank you to everyone who attended one of our Family Fun Days over the past six weeks. I spent a fun couple of hours at the Pool Party in Masterton recently and it was priceless to see the joy it brought to your tamariki. I also noticed caregiving whānau connecting beside the pool, playing games in the water and enjoying a sausage sizzle and fizzy drink together. These events always reinforce to me why we do what we do and I want to thank all of the local businesses that supported them. It’s a lovely example of business and charities getting together for the community.

As I look back on our year at Caring Families Aotearoa, one of the stand-out moments for me was our national conference, which really championed the shared learning and commitment that helps provide the best outcomes for our children in care. It was such a privilege to connect with some of you there, to hear your stories, struggles and celebrate your wins.

Another highlight for 2024 is the progress we have made towards developing an online and self-directed training course for caregivers on the National Care Standards. I look forward to adding this training to our comprehensive suite of caregiving courses in the new year.

This year has been a challenging one for many of you. I know the struggles are particularly hard right now. If you need some extra support over the holiday period, please reach out to one of these wonderful community organisations on our website – click here for contact details.

Our National Office will be closed from Friday 20 December and reopen on Monday 13 January. If you experience an urgent matter during this time involving allegations, please call 0800 693 278, leave a message and one of our team will get back to you.

Ngā mihi nui,