Background

FASD-CAN supports a group of rangatahi (16+) and adults living with FASD via Tītoki, our Individuals Development Programme (IDP). We've held five weekend camps hosting this group to date so we're pretty good at them now!

Anyone with FASD (or possible/probable FASD) can join us for these weekends, although places are limited.

The weekends are a mix of learning about FASD and understanding how their own brains work, plus lots of the fun stuff: e.g. kayaking, climbing, swimming in the pool, walks – maybe a bonfire with marshmallows!

Whanaungatanga / connection and friendship is always a priority, and it’s through this that our young people with FASD are gaining mutual āwhi / support, encouragement and an increased sense of mana. Other priorities include opportunities to build self-confidence and develop self-expression and kaiārahi / leadership skills.

Some of our young kaiārahi are keen to promote awareness of FASD and have appeared in videos, met with policy-makers, and have had living-experience input into our training and webinars. They are the experts in FASD and we support them in helping others find out more about it.

Please note: We work hard raising funds for these events, but donations/koha towards the cost helps us continue to offer them. They mean so much to both individuals with FASD and their whānau. 

Facilitators

Anna Gundesen, our lead trainer and navigator in Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland is the project lead for the IDP, with the support of other FASD-CAN kaimahi / staff, parents, caregivers and special mentors as available.

Our kaiārahi/group leaders with FASD are Byron Jones, Teowai Te Moana Clayton and Noah Langdon-Reidy.

Tītoki 6: March 2026

Dates / times: Friday 20 March 2026 from 3pm – Sunday 23 March, ends 2pm.

Venue: El Rancho Conference Centre, Waikanae.

Click here to find out more about the venue on the Kapiti Coast (one hour north of Wellington).

Please note that this is an alcohol, illegal drug and smoke-free facility (there will be a designated area to vape).

How to register your interest

If you are keen to come, please let us know as soon as possible – there are limited spaces available and we will have to allocate these as we receive them. 

Click here to fill in your expression of interest for attending.

Once you have filled this in and sent it, our administrator Paige will get in touch with you soon to confirm your attendance and arrange accommodation, flights or petrol vouchers for those driving.

We will provide an outline of the programme for the weekend closer to November. There’ll be tailored activities for individuals and for caregivers, as well as team activities and of course, time to chill and connect.

Please rest assured there will be flexibility to respond to the needs of the group as they unfold during our days together.

For further information please email Paige: [email protected]

Our mission statements

• We are a diverse, multi-cultural group of individuals with brain differences resulting from pre-natal alcohol exposure.

• We want to create opportunities for us to plant our feet firmly with pride, confidence and certainty.

• We stand together with courage. 

• We grow our mana, our connections and our leadership skills so our whānau and communities can hear our voices and improve their knowledge and understanding of FASD. We want our voices heard to bring about change.