Trust in need of new ‘face’

‘‘It’s a really key role for Taranaki Safe Families.’’ Mary Beaumont

A trust tasked with trying to stamp out family violence in Taranaki is on the lookout for a new coordinator.

The Taranaki Safe Families Trust has been in operation since 2008 and is a collaborative venture made up of 26 services around Taranaki who work in the domestic violence field. Katy Wilson, who was previously in the role of coordinator, left at the end of March and the trust is now hunting for a replacement.

Trustee Mary Beaumont said the deadline for applications was April 16 but a further extension could be possible depending on the number of applications received.

She said the coordinator role was a pivotal one regarding the trust’s work in the region. ‘‘It’s a really key role for Taranaki Safe Families,’’ Beaumont said.

Candidates for the position need to be strongly committed to the trust’s kaupapa, which is centred around the prevention of family violence, she said.

‘‘It’s very much agency and community focussed.’’

Beaumont said the coordinator is essentially ‘‘the face’’ of the organisation, representing it within the community and in the media.

Evidence of the trust’s work includes the numerous ‘It’s Not Ok’ billboards dotted around the region. It is also involved in several other initiatives which are designed to raise awareness on the issue of domestic violence, which is a well-known blight on New Zealand society.

Each year, about 28 people die at the hands of a family member.

Beaumont said given the nature of the issue, the job was a challenging one, but the successful candidate would become an essential part of a team which was totally dedicated to trying to stamp out family violence in Taranaki.

‘‘They need to be able to be in there with all of us,’’ she said.

Anyone interest in applying for the position can contact Beaumont by calling 06 759 1492 or sending an email to marybeaumont.tcls@xtra.co.nz.