October 2026 North East Caregiver News

Kia ora koutou,

Well, it has sure been a very busy couple of months.  I have officially moved back to the Central North area, and I am also covering the North East region, and it has been a pleasure reconnecting with members and meeting new members. I want to acknowledge the amazing role you play in raising the tamariki / rangatahi in your care. Ka mau te wehi!

Since returning to the region, I have met with key contacts, discussing what are the current needs, what we can do to connect, and working on some plans.  So, keep an eye out as there are some exciting things coming up.

I had an awesome opportunity in September to be involved in professional development through Te Whare o Oro which is a Mātauranga Māori framework that uses the structure of a whare tūpuna (ancestral meeting house) as a metaphor to understand the roro (brain) and neurodevelopment.  We learnt the different parts of the brain, the role these parts play through a Te Ao Maori lens.  We also explored practical application of resources and mapped out how these could support families.  I am very honoured to have been given this opportunity to develop my knowledge and strategies to support our members who are raising a child that is neurodivergent.

SELF-DIRECTED ONLINE Training

Have you tried our new registration process for online caregiver training yet? If you’re an eligible trainee, we’ve started sending you a monthly invitation from our training platform, with a link to find out more and register for courses in the next intake.

We’d love to hear your feedback while the platform is still new – as it has been designed with your busy days in mind. Like any new system, we have experienced some teething issues, but we’re working hard behind the scenes to ensure the process is seamless for you. Send any thoughts and comments to us at training@caringfamilies.org.nz

If you’re caregiving under an Agency, our monthly invitations to register for training are sent to your Agency instead. Have a chat with your Agency and let them know which of our courses you’d like to start!

You can find information about our caregiver training courses and the registration process at the button below.

New courses for October

This month we’re introducing two new Additional Courses to our training suite. Each course takes approximately one hour to complete, but you don’t need to finish them in one sitting – just like all our courses, you can dip in and out and save your progress as you go.

Helping Babies Heal – understanding the impact of trauma

Learn how to recognise and respond to the emotional and developmental needs of an infant or toddler in your care. We’ll leave you with strategies for building trust, security and healthy attachment.

They Care Too – the impact of fostering on biological children

We explore the experiences of biological children in mixed caregiving households, navigate the unique challenges (and some opportunities too!) and learn practical strategies to support positive relationships and help the whole family thrive.

Register by Tuesday 6 October if you’d like to take advantage of this training, or any of our courses, this month.

Missed the email?
We’ve received a few enquiries from caregivers who haven’t seen the email from our registration platform inviting you to register for courses. If this sounds familiar, check your junk mail or search for these details in your Inbox – sender no-reply@caringfamilies.net.nz and subject “Invitation to sign up for Caring Families Aotearoa training course”.

EVENts

Have you heard it’s our 50th Anniversary and there are lots of ways to get involved in our 50th Celebrations. You can enter our monthly competition, register for a free gift, watch our 50th Anniversary video, or read some inspiring stories from some very special people who have helped shape who we are today as an organisation. If you haven’t already seen all the ways we are celebrating our 50th Anniversary, go to our page on the website by clicking the button below.  

Support

Rotorua Support Group – 50th Celebration
Date:  Wednesday 21 October 2026
Time:  10am – 12pm
Location: Family Focus Meeting Room, 21 Sala Street, Rotorua
We have a few spots left for this 50th Celebration in Rotorua. Please RSVP via the email link that Support Group Members would have received on the 29th September. Or call 0800 693 323 to register with us.

Tauranga Support Group – 50th Celebration

If you are a member of one of our Support Groups in Tauranga, please keep an eye on your Inbox for a separate email invitation to our 50th Anniversary celebration soon. If you would like to join a Support Group in Tauranga, please reach out to your Regional Coordinator Chris (contact details below).

If you need support, or just need someone to talk to, feel free to contact me, your Regional Coordinator on M: 027 501 0393 or E: christinef@caringfamilies.org.nz  

My hours of work are 8.00am – 4.00pm Monday through Thursday, or you can call our national office on 0800 693 323. 

Tiaki i a koutou anō, look after yourselves!   

Chris