Care for Taiao in Social Services
Human wellbeing is dependent on the health of our natural environment. This insight has always been obvious to Māori and Pacific communities, and the rest of us are rapidly catching up. This Kai & Kōrero session will offer practical ways for community agencies to make the connections. There are a host of benefits to integrating care for Taiao and Tangata, including reducing costs and waste, aligning with core values, attracting funding, emotional wellbeing, empowerment, disaster preparedness, new partnerships and enhancing your local community. It is a beautiful way to honour Te Tiriti through care for Papatūānuku. Come be inspired.
Presented by counsellor Silvia Purdie together with Kirsten Gendall from Wesley Community Action in Wellington.
Kirsten and Silvia will share experiences and effective strategies for connecting environmental and human wellbeing.
Kirsten Gendall
Kirsten Gendall is the Taiao Lead at Wesley Community Action. She brings much experience in strategy and funding, and sees clear advantages of environmental action for community and funder engagement. This year Kirsten has been thoroughly enjoying setting up a community composting system at Wesley Rātā Village in Naenae - yay for the worms! Wesley Community Action has been leading the way in the sector for climate strategy and innovative eco projects: https://www.wesleyca.org.nz/wesley/our-mahi.
Silvia Purdie
Silvia Purdie is counsellor, supervisor and ordained minister, based in Upper Hutt. She loves biking down Te Awa Kairangi, the Hutt river. She’s also a researcher, trainer and author, including a book profiling 30 women leading in care for the environment. Her concern for sustainability saw her develop a consultancy with social service agencies. This year her focus has been on climate mental health, and she is co-ordinating a new interdisciplinary network: https://www.conversationscounselling.nz/climate-network.html
