Denise Green
Upper South Regional Coordinator
03 929 6578 or 027 369 3333

As George and I approach 28 years of caregiving I think of all the wisdom and support that we have received from fellow caregivers in that time, and can honestly say that without it we would have struggled to do this for so long. If you are feeling isolated and alone, it may not be easy to reach out but you can guarantee that whatever you are experiencing, you won’t be alone.

Many thanks once again to Eurocell wood products for a container load of wood, this time for our Nelson caregivers. We truly appreciate the generosity of these guys over the last couple of years.

I am always grateful that I get to do my mahi in such a beautiful region and even though, at present the rain is teeming down, when the sun is shining we have the best views around! Here are some of the views of my travels during the last term from the top to the middle of the West.

I hope you had a lovely school holiday with a mixed bag of weather thrown in to challenge those daily activities.

Training

I am looking forward to another new module this term that should interest everyone! Family Dynamics – Torn Loyalties. The challenges that all caregivers face when our tamariki have to balance access visits and living away from parents and sometimes siblings. This is the time when using our PACE (Playfulness, Acceptance, Curiosity, Empathy) structure really comes into force.  Sometimes it is understanding our own anxiety and feelings that is the most difficult to balance in order to appropriately respond to our tamariki when they are processing their feelings. Please find the link to the training calendar below.

If you have missed some of our previous Face to Face sessions, we are delivering many of them online. Please scroll through the training calendar to catch the online modules.

Support

Our support groups and the liaison people who organise them are the unsung heroes in our region. I know that it has been a particularly difficult couple of years, but you always continue to offer cuppas when possible and I really appreciate you all! Please find the following groups meeting in our region below and follow the closed Facebook page where they are often advertised as well. We also have online support groups that happen on a regular basis so check for these also on the FB page: Caring Families Aotearoa Upper South Support.

Nelson Coffee group

Monday 8 August, 10am, Tahunanui Community Hub, 55 Muritai Street

Nelson GRG

Every 2nd Friday (12 Aug), 10am, Nelson Golf Club

Motueka GRG

Every 2nd and 4th Thursday of the month, 12.30 – 3pm, Community House

Blenheim – The Marlborough Support Group

Friday 5th and 19th August. 10am, Market Street North Cafe

Westport dates to be confirmed

EVENTS

We have had a very busy winter this year with our Movie nights and our caregiver connect at the pool in Greymouth. I have enjoyed each and every one and look forward to the events at the end of the year.  Until then we have our biennial national conference in September which is always a highlight and I wish that I had attended many years ago when I first started the caregiving journey. The camaraderie from other caregivers, the shared journey and experiences and the amazing array of speakers always leaves my cup full at the end of each and every conference. And like the naughty girl I am, I always find a wee souvenir from the gala dinner to bring home as a fond reminder (don’t tell the boss!)

Have a look at the lineup on our Conference website and I encourage you to attend if you can.

21 & 22 September – Lower Hutt (Te Awa Kairangi)

Early bird registrations close on 31 August.

Keep safe and warm through these winter months

Ngā mihi

Denise