Gisborne Regional Hui speakers

Guest Speakers

Michael Payne

Michael has been working in the health field since 1980 – starting in England, and moving to New Zealand, and now working in private practice as a therapist working with children, adolescents and adults.His work experience includes working with addiction, ADHD, Autism, behavioural problems, anxiety and grief, plus m...
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Professor Nicola Atwool

Nicola has professional qualifications in social work and child psychotherapy. She was employed in a variety of roles by what is now Oranga Tamariki for nearly twenty years.

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Michael Payne

Michael's base training is as a Registered Mental Health Nurse with Post Grad Certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health. He has also received a Post Grad Diploma in Alcohol Counselling, Post Grad Certificate in Child Centered Play Therapy (childplayworks Ltd) and Certificate in Child Centered Play Therapy.

Michael has been working in the health field since 1980 – starting in England, and moving to New Zealand. He now works in private practice as a therapist working with children, adolescents and adults.

Michael has been working with the Child Centred Play Therapy model for over four years and has completed his post graduate training in this - believing it to be the best form of intervention for children with emotional and behavioural issues and one of the most respectful forms of treatment he has found so far.

His work experience includes working with addiction, ADHD, Autism, behavioural problems, anxiety and grief, plus many other issues that face children and families today.

Professor Nicola Atwool

Nicola has professional qualifications in social work and child psychotherapy. She was employed in a variety of roles by what is now Oranga Tamariki for nearly twenty years.

Nicola joined the University of Otago in 1994 when she was appointed to a lecturer position in Community and Family Studies. She became a Senior Lecturer in 2000. During this time, she had a close association with the Children's Issues Centre.

At the beginning of 2006 she took up a position as Principal Advisor in the Office of the Children's Commissioner. She returned to the University at the beginning of 2012 as a Senior Lecturer in the Department of Sociology, Gender and Social Work.

The goal of her research is to influence policy and practice to improve outcomes for children and young people exposed to adversity. Nicola came to an academic position with extensive practitioner experience and is committed to research what bridges the worlds of academia, policy and practice.

Nicola has a particular interest in attachment theory and resilience and in 2008 completed a PhD exploring the use of attachment assessments in decision-making for children in care. An ecological framework, the sociology of childhood, critical theory, and a children's rights perspective informs her work.

Nicola is also currently a Board Member of Fostering Kids New Zealand.

Guest Speakers

Site Manager Florrie Brooking

Jay Worsnop

Manager Maringi Brown-Sadlier

Michael Payne

Professor Nicola Atwool