A Call to Men - Be the Change
17th of August, 2015
Aviva was recently asked to help organise and host a South Island Hui aimed at creating connections and stimulating a movement of men who can be part of the solution to family violence.
The 'Be the Change' hui was the fourth in a series throughout the country supported by the It’s Not Ok Campaign, and its focus was on taking the issue of family violence out to men in our community. Thirty-eight people attended the hui held at Tuahiwi Marae and all found it a very positive experience, particularly because of the safe and non-judgemental space in which men could share their experiences, develop their skills to change, or support other men on their journeys of change.
The South Island hui provided a lot of opportunity for local speakers to share and lead and, like the other hui throughout the country, it also featured It’s Not Ok Champion Vic Tamati and Dr Michael Roguski’s “Narratives of Change” research. Amongst the presenters were Aviva’s Paul Scott, our male Peer Support Specialist, talking about the value of the peer relationship; and ReachOut Worker Darragh Fahy who presented the ‘Healthy Relationship’ youth programme Aviva has been developing with support from the Dublin St Trust. That programme received a lot of positive feedback from participants, including representatives of the It’s Not OK campaign, who are keen to access the programme’s resources and see it extended to other regions.
“The myth is that men do not talk about issues like this. But put a group of men together with this type of issue and you can’t shut them up!” said one participant. In acknowledgment of that apparent need, organisers and attendees have resolved to continue meeting and grow their representation and networks across the South Island.
"It made me realise that if these men could change, so could I."
Hui attendee
Peer Support Training
25th of May, 2015
Purposeful Peer Support Workshop
Purposeful Peer Support is for women and men who have successfully overcome family violence and are now leading fulfilling lives free from violence, who want to gain skills to support others (peers) in their community who are on a similar journey.
The peer relationship offers a basis to explore personal journeys, look at things from new angles, offer mutual encouragement, and develop a greater awareness and understanding of one’s self. It is an intentional transformational relationship that involves a deep connection inspiring hope, self-determination and empowerment through the knowledge that overcoming adversity is possible.
Our Purposeful Peer Support model has been informed by extensive research, literature reviews and the voice of people with lived experience of family violence. The training content is informed by the “Intentional Peer Support” model developed in the USA by Shery Mead. The model is relationship focused, trauma informed and used throughout the world by health and social services.
Read more about our upcoming eight week Purposeful Peer Support Workshop here. Interested in joining the workshop?
40th anniversary
17th of July, 2013
Our 40th Anniversary - Honouring the Courage to Make Change
On 9 May 2013 we invited past clients; staff; supporters; sector colleagues and some of the women who founded Christchurch Women's Refuge to come together to join us in celebrating 40 years of service to Cantabrians living with family violence.
The evening focused on people – the reason Aviva exists. Two of Christchurch Women's Refuge’s founders – Rosemary Howard and Diane Shannon – shared their experiences of founding the first women’s refuge in New Zealand, the challenges - and hostility - they and their friends faced, and their determination to make positive change for women and children living with violence.
April Green and Brian Gardiner both shared inspiring experiences of having overcome violence, the difficulties in taking up that challenge and the liberation of being violence-free. Their personal stories were proof that personal transformation is possible and that we can all support people to begin or continue that journey.
All four speakers demonstrated that achieving personal or social transformation is possible, with determination and the right support. We're very privileged to have shared their stories and learned of their journeys.
We also took the opportunity to progress our own jouney by announcing our new identity that night, transforming from Christchurch Women's Refuge to Aviva. Thank you for joining us as our journey continues.
