MASSiSS | YWiSS

MASSiSS – Multi Agency Support Services in Secondary Schools

Challenge 2000 has social workers in Aotea, Bishop Viard, Mana, Porirua, Naenae and Taita Colleges. Our social workers work with secondary school students and their families providing support to achieve their goals. We provide a wide range of interventions to improve the achievement and well-being of the students.

This service is community oriented, whanau and community inclusive, culturally responsive and strengths based. Our social workers are committed to early intervention and prevention focused. Outcomes are dependent on individual needs. These can include: attendance improvement, academic success, sporting representation, cultural engagement, developing leadership qualities and community participation.

Our social workers also help facilitate weekly breakfast and lunch clubs, run holiday programmes, provide mentoring, weekend camps, group work and are actively involved in cultural festivals and whanau events.

YWiSS – Youth Workers in Secondary Schools

Challenge 2000 has youth workers at Mana, Porirua, Naenae and Taita Colleges. The aim of this service is to improve engagement and achievement in mainstream education for year 9 and 10 students who are at risk of disengaging from their education journey and school community.

Our youth workers are focused on working with students to improve motivation, provide encouragement, set realistic and achievable goals, support participation and learning within the school environment and improve their overall well-being.

Eric Sione

Eric Sione

Youth Worker | Youth Justice
Fa’afetai Avei

Fa’afetai Avei

MASSISS/YWISS Team Leader
Kat Birdling

Kat Birdling

Social Worker
Tito Kisona

Tito Kisona

Social Worker
Pip Dorn

Pip Dorn

Social Worker
Adam Bain

Adam Bain

MASSISS Team Leader
Petrina Foaese

Petrina Foaese

Youth Worker
Polly Kennedy

Polly Kennedy

Social Worker
Junior Seumanufagai

Junior Seumanufagai

Youth Worker
Melisha Isa’ako

Melisha Isa’ako

Social Worker

Eric Sione

Youth Worker | Youth Justice

Fa’afetai Avei

MASSISS/YWISS Team Leader

Hi, I am the MASSiSS Social Worker in Hutt Valley Colleges. I am a Wellington girl and grew up in Porirua East. I started with Challenge 2000 in 2015 and was attracted to its strengths-based vibe, can-do attitude and was impressed by the many services it offers. My working experience has been working alongside people with disabilities, child and adolescent mental health, education and general health.

Kat Birdling

Social Worker

Hi, I’m Kat. Having recently completed my Masters of Applied Social Work I am here at Challenge 2000 working with a range of young people and their families to achieve their unimpeded potential. I love variety, and believe that with Social Work I have found my niche’, with no day, like the people I work with being the same. Working with Challenge out in the community enables me to put my dynamic approach to work, while advocating for the social justice and solidarity which drives me.

Tito Kisona

Social Worker

Ko te ahurei o te tamaiti aroha o tätou tamaiti mahi – let the uniqueness of the child guide our work(whakatauki)

Mihi mahana kia koutou e hoa ma! Malo ni! my name is Tito Kisona, I am of Tokelau decent, bornand raised in the greatest city ever Cannons Creek - Porirua! A community that has fostered theimportance of who I am, my culture and faith.

I am a father of 4 children, a set of twins, a girl, and our foster son (yes, it is a busy household) and ahusband to one! (ha ha) – so the daily art of multi-tasking and having flexibility whilst remainingpersonable, positive and approaching tasks hands-on is a 24.7 thing and definitely transferable inother aspects of my work. My first experience at Challenge was my final placement in my socialwork studies. What I was drawn to was the awhi shown to me by the staff here. I was based as aSocial Worker at Taita college which reinforced my ‘why’ I am a social worker, what it also did wasconfirm the alignment in the work challenge does and I align well with the values that guides me.

As a new practitioner my hope is to work in a capacity where the above whakatauki is upheld -acknowledging the Mana Rangatahi and their whānanu carry and the uniqueness of who they are.Regarding my social work practice, this is my starting point, my first right answer – the next step willbe the journey together.

I look forward to creating intentional connections with those I walk alongside, I am excited aboutgrowing as a social worker in an environment that privileges people – their Mana, their stories, theirpotential first.

Totō hau tokiga nei, auā na tupulaga e fai mai – plant a seed today, for our future generations(Tokelau proverb). Fakafetai.

Pip Dorn

Social Worker

Adam Bain

MASSISS Team Leader

Petrina Foaese

Youth Worker

Talofa lava. My name is Petrina Foaese, My family and I are from the beautiful island of Samoa. I have been at challenge for 2 years and am enjoying every bit of it . Challenge 2000 has many values that my Aiga and I hold close to our hearts.

I am privileged to work for such a giving and loving organisation. I have always wanted to give back to my community and I thank Challenge 2000 for helping me achieve this goal. I am currently working in the Hutt Valley colleges doing youth work with awesome rangatahi under the Youth Worker in secondary schools government support programme.

This is great as it gives me and insight i what is needed out in the community to develop and harness the strengths of young people. It gives me the opportunity to work alongside youth and listen to their beautiful stories. Another programme I am involved in is Mates and Dates in the whole Wellington Region.This programme focuses on young people developing healthy relationships and recognising when relationships are damaging and put the young people in danger.

I am also currently studying a BA in criminology and education at Victoria university. I believe this study is helping me understand more about the work we do and why we love it.

Everyday is different at Challenge2000 and I am truly blessed to be part of this amazing Aiga.

Polly Kennedy

Social Worker

Junior Seumanufagai

Youth Worker

Talofa lava, my name is Junior Seumanufagai. I’m originally from the beautiful island of Samoa and raised in Wellington since I was 9 years old. I’m a proud Catholic old boy of Saint Patrick’s College Town. I started working at Challenge 2000 in 2014 after I completed the 2013 Gap Year. I am privileged to be a youth worker at Challenge and working along side an amazing group of people who have a passion for youth, families and communities. My role as a youth worker involves; one on one mentoring, helping out with camps, supporting youth groups/retreats and also missions. I enjoy my time working at Challenge because each day brings something new and exciting. Challenge 2000’s purpose is to walk alongside young people as they make positive choices in their lives and strive to achieve their full potential.

Melisha Isa’ako

Social Worker