We want our young people to get the support they deserve.
Our Vision -
To Mātau Tirohanga
Our vision is to foster social and vocational development in young adults with high-functioning disabilities, such as Aspergers/autism, ADHD, physical disabilities, and Down syndrome. We take a holistic approach providing a centralised collection of services targeting all aspects of wellbeing using te whare tapa wha model of health.
Whanake House -
Our Place
We have a holistic approach to exploring health, wellbeing, life, social skills, and creativity.
Using a strength-based model, we encourage and promote the use of social role variation, a dynamic set of ideas useful for making positive changes in the lives of our young people with high-functioning disabilities.
Our team
All founding members of Whanake House have lived experiences of impairment, neurodiversity, and/or disability. Each member brings a unique worldview that fosters inclusion and partnership making Whanake House truly our place.
Lynda
CHAIR
Meet Lynda, the Chair and a founding member of Whanake House Charitable Trust. Lynda's unwavering vision revolves around supporting young adults with disabilities, providing them opportunities to embrace their passions and live their best lives. Her goal is to establish a welcoming home where individuals can express their true selves and cultivate meaningful friendships.
In her role, Lynda brings a unique perspective as she has personally navigated the challenges and triumphs of living with a disability through her son, a vital member of Whanake House at 26 years old. Lynda has dedicated the past 26 years to supporting her son to live a life of purpose.
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During the early years, Lynda spearheaded an intensive ABA (Applied Behavioral Analytics) programme and is a trained ABA therapist. Her journey has connected her with a multitude of people and professionals who have provided guidance. Through these experiences, Lynda has continuously learned and amassed a wealth of knowledge to share.
Lynda firmly believes that just one friend can shape your world and embraces the idea that the impossible is always possible – there is no such thing as "can't." Her commitment to Whanake House stems from a deeply personal connection, making her an invaluable leader in the pursuit of creating a supportive and empowering environment for individuals with disabilities.
Debbie
Manager
With a deep-seated passion for making a genuine difference in the lives of others, Debbie excels at listening to and understanding the needs of those she works alongside. Her career began with training in Diagnostic Radiography, where she worked as Radiographer-in-Charge at a rural hospital before transitioning to private practice in London. She furthered her studies with a degree in Radiotherapy.
Debbie’s diverse background also includes roles as a Community Support Worker and Service Coordinator for people with disabilities. During this time she completed the New Zealand Apprenticeship in Community Facilitation (Level 4) - Disability Support. Her commitment to treating everyone with dignity and respect and advocating for community inclusion reflects her empathetic and caring nature.
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Debbie has lived and worked in many countries around the world, including South Africa, the UK, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and New Zealand. This has broadened her perspectives and allowed her to engage with people from diverse backgrounds.
Outside of work, Debbie enjoys nature and photography, travel, reading, and spending quality time with her family and pets.
Debbie is excited to bring her experience and passion to Whanake House and is looking forward to making a positive impact within our community.
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Rhea
Transition Coordinator
Rhea is Whanake House Transition Coordinator. She is passionate about supporting and guiding individuals to help find what inspires them, and to assist them in finding their passion and purpose.
Rhea obtained her Bachelor of Commerce with a double major in Human Resource and Marketing Management at the University of Otago. In the last 20 years she has been blessed and fortunate to be exposed to varied roles in her field; including supervisory and advisory roles, Administrator, Management, and Leadership roles, as well as Operations Management.
She enjoys being part of and contributing to a team environment and is excited at the opportunity to interact with people of differing cultural backgrounds and abilities, and most importantly: being able to provide successful customer service by identifying their individual needs and tailoring the service in order to meet their needs.
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She believes in being proactive when it comes to self-development, and considers herself a self-learner, taking it upon herself to enhance her skills in order to keep up with the continuous changes that occur within the workforce and as a result perform any job effectively. Rhea also regards herself as a conscientious and versatile person with a strong desire to succeed and can cope with the ever-changing nature of work.
Apart from being passionate about volunteer work and believe in giving back to the community, Rhea find great pleasure in plodding in the garden, trying out new things – like learning how to Tap dance and Pickleball.
One of her philosophies in life is that success without education may lead to short-term gains, but it often lacks the depth and resilience needed to withstand adversity
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Michelle
Activities & Education Support
Michelle can say that she has worked with people from 0 to 100 years old!
She began her career as a high school teacher but couldn’t ignore the fact that many students were living with huge challenges in their home lives and school work was not their first priority. As a result she leant more into youth work and alternative education both in Australia and New Zealand.
Along the way she studied more and picked up skills as she needed them, such as Literacy and Numeracy, SPELD, Cultural studies (– Te Reo and Tikanga) Plus a Counselling Diploma , Clinical Pastoral Education, Support Services and Diversional Therapy Certification.
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She and her daughter attended Playcentre but when it was time for school Michelle stayed on to play, I mean work as an Educator with both children and parents; in the sandpit by day and adult workshop tutor by night!
In the next exciting chapter she worked for 15 years with the elderly as an Activities Co-ordinator. While her life has been a mosaic of jobs and learning, the common thread is education, support and a belief in the individuals’ ability to aim for more, no matter what background, ability or context.
When she is at home she is mostly being a Grandmother . She also loves her chihuahuas and birds and her happy place is Queens Park! And for fun – Laughter yoga and Theatre Sports!
Virginia
ADMINISTRATOR
Meet Virginia, a valued member of the Whanake House Charitable Trust team whose professional journey has included work with adults dealing with mental health challenges and substance abuse. Virginia's expertise lies in connecting individuals with their community, facilitating employment opportunities, and fostering a pathway to recovery.
Armed with a diploma in NZ Health and Wellbeing (practice and applied practice) and additional coursework in Social Work through Massey University, Virginia brings a robust educational foundation to her role. Her commitment to quality development services at Whanake House is rooted in the immense satisfaction derived from engaging young people in transformative experiences.
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In her role at Whanake House, Virginia is deeply involved in crafting programs that directly contribute to the personal resilience of young individuals. These programs focus on enhancing protective factors, improving mental and physical health, and promoting economic well-being. Virginia is passionate about equipping the youth with the skills necessary to thrive in life, creating a positive impact on their journey towards success.
Virginia's approach to support aligns seamlessly with the mission of Whanake House, making her an integral part of the team. Her dedication to enhancing the well-being of young individuals and empowering them to succeed reflects the core values of the Whanake House Charitable Trust.
Jacob
Personal Trainer
Whanake House offers One on One personal training session to our Y.A.W.S (Young Adults We Support).
Jacob’s journey into personal training began three years ago. Where he needed the right facility for his clients with disabilities and found City fitness Invercargill.
City Fitness NZ presents the Sir Murray Halberg Legacy Award, which honours individuals who have significantly impacted New Zealand’s disability sport communities.
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As a former support worker for people with disabilities, Jacob enjoys working with a range of different people.
Jacob is more than fit for the role as Whanake House Personal Trainer with the following qualifications:
New Zealand Certificate in Health & Wellbeing
Level 2
New Zealand Certificate in Exercise Level 4
New Zealand Diploma in Cookery Level 4
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To inquire about our Gym services please contact Jacob on:
Phone: 021 252 0768
Email: jacob.tiddy@gmail.com
His availability is extremely limited, so inquire today.