Lower South Regional Hui Program

Wednesday, April 3rd
Sign in desk opens
08:30 AM - 12:00 AM
Welcome/Mihi Whakatau
09:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Keynote Speaker
09:20 AM - 12:00 AM
Keynote Speaker
09:30 AM - 12:00 AM
Morning Tea
10:30 AM - 12:00 AM
Keynote Speaker
11:00 AM - 12:00 AM
Lunch
12:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Keynote Speaker
01:00 PM - 12:00 AM
Discussion Panel
02:15 PM - 12:00 AM
Closing Address/Evaluations
02:45 PM - 12:00 AM

Veronica George

Soul Psychology

I grew up in Dunedin and, following high school, spent four years at Otago University, completing an honours degree in marketing and tourism. Upon completion of this, I spent a few years travelling and it was during this time that I started to become really fascinated with human behaviour due to the wide range of people I was meeting so I returned to NZ to study psychology.

I attended the University of Waikato and completed the Applied Behaviour Analysis programme, becoming a registered psychologist in 2013. Since then I have been working in Whangarei for the Ministry of Education in the Intensive Wraparound Service, as well as recently setting up a private practice, Soul Psychology.

Over these last few years, I have become increasingly interested in the effects of childhood trauma and disrupted attachments on child development and the subsequent lifelong impacts, as I was finding it was hugely affecting the majority of the children and families I was working with. As such, I have attended numerous professional development courses in this area, including completing Level Two Dyadic Developmental Practice (DDP), and I am about to start the practicum for this to become a certified practitioner in this field.

I am passionate about increasing the understanding people have of childhood trauma across all settings, particularly education, so that these children have the support they need to be able to recover from trauma and discover the core essence of who they are so that they can thrive, instead of merely survive.

Alongside this, I have trained extensively in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) so I incorporate mindfulness based practices into my work as well; I find this an integral part of being able to implement the strategies that best support traumatised children to heal and grow. I have also found that the core principles of DDP and ACT are beneficial for all children and parents and, as such, I am committed to incorporating these practices into my personal life as a mother of two children. I am dedicated to continuing to learn more about the complexities of adverse childhood experiences in order to be able to effectively apply this knowledge in ways that will improve the life outcomes of these children and a particular area of interest that I am currently exploring is how nature based programmes could provide an education setting that better meets the developmental needs of these children in a variety of ways, primarily enhancing their sense of connection and self-worth.

Occupational Therapist Anna Baker

Anna is a New Zealand Registered Occupational Therapist with over a decade of experience working with infants, children and young people who have experienced injury, illness, trauma, maltreatment and neglect. She works with Oranga Tamariki, ACC, Ministry of Education as well as privately. Anna is experienced working with a wide variety of individuals, their family, caregivers, social service and education providers.

Her special area of interest is working with infants, children and young people who are experiencing sensory difficulties and developmental delay behavioural challenges following maltreatment, many of whom are in the foster care system. She understand how rewarding yet demanding it can be to work with children following abuse and neglect because she is a foster parent too.

Debbie Smith

Musselburgh School

Kia ora, my name is Debbie Smith, I am Principal of Musselburgh School and have been in this role for the past nine years. I am the Immediate Past President of the Otago Primary Principal’s Association and a current executive member on the New Zealand Principal’s Federation.

I am a passionate advocate for all our children to be actively involved in an environment where they feel safe, nurtured and loved so they can engage in learning and reach their potential.

Over the past few years we have identified more and more children arriving at school who are simply not ready for learning. There are a myriad of factors that can cause this but the main one, we see at our school, is the amount of trauma that these wee people face in their lives.

Musselburgh School’s focus is developing our children’s emotional and social capabilities, so they will become engaged in their learning, they will be empathic and kind to others and they will become life long learners who contribute positively to our society

Debbie Smith

Musselburgh School

I am a passionate advocate for all our children to be actively involved in an environment where they feel safe, nurtured and loved so they can engage in learning and reach their potential.

Veronica George

Soul Psychology

Lower South Regional Hui Program

Wednesday, April 3rd

Sign in desk opens

Welcome/Mihi Whakatau

Keynote Speaker

Keynote Speaker

Morning Tea

Keynote Speaker

Lunch

Keynote Speaker

Discussion Panel

Closing Address/Evaluations