Tena koutou katoa

I am FASD-CAN’s Navigator for Te Waipounamu, bringing together lived experience, professional practice, and a deep commitment to supporting whānau impacted by Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD).

My journey into the FASD space began through lived experience as a sibling to my adopted brother, who was not diagnosed with FASD until the age of 17. Growing up with little understanding of FASD, our whānau faced significant challenges, including a lack of accurate information and the use of parenting strategies that were not only ineffective but often had the opposite effect to the one our parents intended. This absence of understanding had a profound impact on our whānau relationships and highlighted for me the critical importance of early identification, informed support, and compassionate, strengths-based approaches.

Professionally, I am a qualified Early Childhood Teacher and Early Intervention Teacher, with an additional Diploma in Child Protection. I spent 26 years in the early childhood education sector before transitioning into the social services space, working alongside whānau and tamariki through Family Start and Women’s Refuge. These roles deepened my understanding of the complexity, vulnerability, and resilience that sit within many whānau journeys.

The FASD space is one of significant challenge – navigating misunderstood behaviours, systemic barriers, limited resources, and ongoing stigma. Yet within this complexity and chaos, there is also profound beauty. I continue to witness the strength of individuals with FASD, the fierce advocacy of caregivers, and the power of connection, understanding and acceptance to transform lives and relationships.

My husband and I have recently relocated to Nelson to be closer to our children and three granddaughters and being close to whānau continues to ground and inspire my work. This move created the opportunity to work solely within the FASD space over the last year, where I was able to focus on advocating, educating, and supporting individuals, whānau, and communities.

I am passionate about growing awareness, strengthening understanding, and building community capacity across Te Waipounamu and I am excited to take this work to the next level with FASD-CAN, using the range of skills, experience, and insight I have developed over many years. My aim is to support the wider FASD community by fostering connection, reducing stigma, and helping communities and systems see not just the challenges of FASD, but also the humanity, potential and beauty that exist within it.

Nga mhi nui.