Disability support for wha¯ nau
Provider expanding coverage to Taupo¯ and surrounds
Waikato-King Country and Bay of Plenty-based disability support provider ConneXu is answering the demand for disability support in the Lakes district, confirming it will have a presence in Taupo¯ and its surrounding areas by the end of the year.
It is looking to move into a shared collective space where organisations work. A couple of options are available but will confirm the location later.
ConneXu chief executive Fern Ryan says it is answering the call for its presence in the region.
“Expanding to the Lakes district will mean that people in this area won't have to move from Taupo¯ to receive real support.
“We have now started recruitment for our team. We have been in talks for a while with disabled people, and their wha¯nau in this region. They asked us to come . . . ” she says.
“The opportunity came up and we have always said we would go to where there was a need for our support. Where disabled people and their wha¯nau need that facilitation and support to enable a good life for the disabled person.
“With an initial emphasis on family-governed support, the focus is always on being person centred and empowerment,” says Fern.
“ConneXu becomes the bureaucratic shield where the disabled person, and their wha¯nau, determine what a good life looks like. We partner with them to make that happen...”
Getting involved can mean anything from advocating for funding to managing human resources, payroll, and PAYE requirements for support staff, as well as working with the disabled person to create goals and a whole life plan, or partnering with them to find a home, flatmates and support they want and require.
“Often the families and wha¯ nau are very busy with the back-office stuff and that can cause stress — this way we can alleviate that pressure. They can return to having a great supportive relationship with their loved one, without all the added work behind the scenes — we can take care of that for them.”
ConneXu started in Te Awamutu nearly 33 years ago and has grown over time to cover the wider Waipa¯ district, Hamilton, Tauranga, Mount Maunganui and Pa¯pa¯moa, with some presence also in Matamata and Rotorua.
“We are really excited with this move into the Lakes District and to be able to work with new disabled partners and their families.
“We are under no illusions that there will be a challenge heading into a new region, like finding great new team members.
“Still, we also relish the chance to show people how ConneXu does it differently, and how we help to enable good lives for those people we work with. As families, the people of the Lakes district are already very well connected.
“They were already using individualised funding and had some awesome staff working alongside them already, however, they wanted some additional support from an organisation to partner up with them,” added Fern.
This move into the Lakes district is also a great example of the current system transformation being rolled out within the disability sector, which has a more significant emphasis on the disabled person and their family and wha¯nau having greater choice and control over their lives and determining what a good life looks like for them.
“We see this expansion as creating a triangle for us. I don't believe we have any plans to expand further than this. But if people reach out to us and there is a gap then we are happy to do our best,” adds Fern.
ConneXu becomes the bureaucratic shield where the disabled person, and their wha¯ nau, determine what a good life looks like.
Fern Ryan, ConneXu chief executive
Recruitment inquiries can be made to 0508 0 CONNEXU.