News

Congratulations to Brenda Pilott

Brenda Pilott small 72dpiJanuary 2021 - SSPA would like to congratulate Brenda who was recognised on the 2021 New Year’s Honours list. Our National Manager Brenda Pilott has been made an Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit in recognition of her dedication and services to the social and public service sectors. Brenda has been a tireless advocate for pay equity for women and social service sector workers, better resourcing and support for public services and increased recognition of the issues of domestic violence in Aotearoa. We are proud of this well-deserved acknowledgement of Brenda’s hard work throughout her distinguished career.  It is fantastic to have Brenda's achievements celebrated.  Brenda features in this media release from ANZASW.

SSPA begins a new chapter with appointment of Dr Claire Achmad as Chief Executive

Dr Claire Achmad HeadshotDecember 2020 - Social Service Providers Aotearoa is delighted to announce the appointment of their new Chief Executive, Dr Claire Achmad.  “Claire brings with her a vast amount of experience and knowledge and I am excited for the future of SSPA under her guidance,” said Dee-Ann Wolferstan, SSPA Chairperson.  Read the media release here.

Briefing to Incoming Ministers

coverBIM2020croppedNovember 2020 - Social Service Providers Aotearoa (SSPA), the sector representative group for child, family, whānau and community providers, looks forward to continuing our work with the government and is pleased to present this briefing paper.  We are seeking dialogue and we are seeking action.  We are committed to making progress together in this term of government. 

Read our Briefing to Incoming Ministers here

Tiaki Tamariki Whakamana Whānau Programme

Logo header Tiaki Tamariki

Improving Outcomes for Tamariki Māori Workshop Series
Registrations open

The Tiaki Tamariki Whakamana Whānau programme (click here for a summary) is a series of one-day interactive workshops that will help you enhance your organisation’s capability to respond to the Act’s changes and help your staff work alongside tamariki and whānau.

Changes to the Oranga Tamariki Act 1989 Section 7AA mean that now more than ever there is a need for service providers to have the skills, practices and structures that support their Māori clients to achieve improved outcomes.

Many of you will have participated in the Tū Rangatira Governance hui held in July, where we discussed these changes. We also explored the Tiaki Tamariki: Whakamana Whānau programme designed to enhance your organisation’s capability to respond to the Act’s changes and help your staff work alongside tamariki and whānau.

The programme’s skilled facilitators will work with you so that you can adapt and respond to your local environment. Regions include: Wellington, New Plymouth, Palmerston North, Hamilton, South Auckland, Central Auckland and Northland

The programme is designed around a whole-of-organisation approach. Such an approach will involve you:

  • Supporting two or three of your staff to participate in and promote organisational approaches within your workplace to achieve improved outcomes for tamariki Māori and their whanau.

  • Participating in the four one-day workshops in your region over the next eight months.

This programme is free to attend for Oranga Tamariki contracted providers and their staff.

Read more here

Community Services across the Tasman Series - 10 September 2020

Social Investment and Commissioning Social MediaSeptember 2020 - CSIA, in partnership with Social Service Providers Aotearoa, have launched the Community Services across the Tasman series. This is a free online event bringing together speakers from across Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia to share their insights, learnings, research and more. The three sessions include Service Adaptation, Employment and Inclusive Growth, and Social Investment and Commissioning. Tickets are limited! You can find out more and secure your spot here

Please join us on Thursday 10 September at 11am-1pm (NZST) to walk away with fresh insight to Industry-led approaches to commissioning as well as new ways of working that focuses on empowering communities in the process. 

Don’t miss out on this opportunity. The borders may be closed, but we can still come together and share what’s working and what isn’t as we move into COVID-19 recovery.