Family Works
Safe children. Strong families. Connected communities.
Family Works’ vision is for Aotearoa NZ to be the best place in the world to grow up – a place where all tamariki are safe, families and whānau are strong and communities are connected.
Our social services are designed to support people experiencing challenging or difficult times. We’ve been supporting communities nationwide for more than 100 years and understand everyone’s circumstances are different. We support children, young people and families to make positive changes in their lives using the strengths and resources they already have.
Family Works New Zealand facilitates and support seven regional Family Works organisations, each offering services that respond to local needs.
You can find out more about Family Works services at familyworks.org.nz
For information about Family Dispute Resolution services, visit resolutionservices.org.nz
Some examples of Family Works services are:
Te Kōrero mō ngā Tamariki
Te Kōrero mō ngā Tamariki: Exploring the context of middle childhood in Aotearoa New Zealand
Poipoia te kākano kia puawai – Nurture the seed and it will blossom
NZCCSS is thrilled to release Te Kōrero mō ngā Tamariki – an online resource designed to support understanding of middle childhood (between 5 and 12 years old) in Aotearoa New Zealand.
We know that middle childhood is a crucial stage of development and until now it hasn’t been easy to find up-to-date information specific to this age stage. This guide seeks to change that.
A one-stop shop for parents, caregivers, and kaimahi working with children, it’s full of valuable insights and information relevant right now in our country.
Using Te Whāriki (the woven mat) as a guide and drawing on local and international sources, Te Kōrero mō ngā Tamariki takes a deep dive into middle childhood.
It covers topics such as holistic development, whānau and community dynamics, key relationships, and children’s rights and legislation.
It’s full of easy-to-read information with links to more in-depth knowledge for further exploration. It is designed to be dipped in and out of.
A legacy for Family Works from Presbyterian Women Aotearoa NZ:
The sad news of PWANZ ceasing to operate as an organisation turned to good news for the children and whānau served by Family Works.
Over the years PWANZ has done so much for the rights of girls and women in Aotearoa and the Pacific, including leadership within UN Women in Aotearoa and sustained community development and partnership work in Vanuatu. “Sadly, the organisation recently decided to cease operating and PSNZ Chair Andrew Johnston, Te Manukura Jim Berry and NEO Dr Prudence Stone attended PWANZ’s farewell celebration in September, during the Presbyterian Church’s General Assembly.”
To our surprise, Mary Gibbs invited Dr Stone to the podium to receive a PWANZ donation of $75,000! As this organisation stops operating, their gift to Family Works is their remaining operational funds. Dr Stone spoke briefly to accept, noting the honour it was to receive such a donation, given the legacy of Presbyterian Women in Aotearoa and the Pacific, and the chance this gift was to extend that legacy further through Family Works services.
“The Family Works Managers want to use this money to support children and parent clients to overcome everyday financial hurdles, exactly like a successful Tindall Foundation grant proposal of Presbyterian Support Central called “Little Things” Dr Stone announced.
“Little Things” will in effect scale up in 2024 to be provided across Aotearoa through our Family Works services. If each “little thing” (such as a school uniform, extra heater for the bedroom or devoted device for a child’s homework) for a child averages $200, with $10,000 each PS region could financially support around 50 children to overcome these barriers of equity in their everyday lives. That’s around 350 children (and their parents) nationwide that will be helped directly by PWANZ’s donation over the coming year.
So, from Family Works and Presbyterian Support New Zealand, thanks Presbyterian Women!