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A new group programme started this week at Iosis’s Family Learning Centre. ‘Getting a Grip on Communication’ is for individuals and couples who wish to learn how to resolve conflicts peacefully and develop supportive relationships. Trained facilitators will help participants learn how to identify their feelings and needs, and to communicate these to others compassionately….

The Warehouse’s ‘Bags for Good’ programme has led to extra funding for Iosis foster care services. Over several months this year, The Warehouse Manukau allocated the proceeds from sales of its plastic shopping bags to the programme, and selected three local charities to be the recipients. The store then invited their customers to vote for…

Thanks to the Sir John Logan Campbell Residuary Estate, Iosis’s child-focused social workers now have iPads to use in their therapeutic work with children. “People may be surprised at social workers using such devices, but children live in an interactive technological world and need to be supported in a way that is relevant to them,”…

A new programme at Merivale is bringing long-held dreams to fruition. Merivale Service Manager, Sandra Druskovich, says the ‘missing link’ at Merivale has been working with the women’s partners. Now that is being addressed in a completely new initiative. The Significant Others Group (SOG) is a weekly evening session where the ‘significant others’ – typically…

Victoria University is conducting research into restorative justice in the context of intimate partner/family violence, and has reached out to partner with Iosis in the study. Emma Wicks, a summer scholarship student, will interview and observe the Iosis management team and frontline staff from across our community-based services. It is hoped this exploratory research will…

A celebration to mark 100 years of the opening of the Manurewa Children’s Home was held 23 October at Manurewa Baptist Church. Iosis and the Baptist Children’s Trust co-hosted the event. Approximately 80 former residents, staff, board members, supporters and family members came from as far as Australia to mark the centenary. The Home’s presence…

Ruby Duncan stepped down from the role of Iosis CEO on 26 September 2014, to begin a new work with husband Mick in their Manurewa community. Ruby began her social services career in 1997, as a part-time support worker at Merivale. At that stage Merivale was located in Epsom and Baptist Action ran it as…

Iosis now offers a free eight-week group programme for individuals and couples struggling with dependency. Called ‘Getting a Grip on Addictions’, it will be run each school term. “Whanau can struggle with a number of issues. These might be alcohol, drugs, gambling, food or even sex,” Iosis service manager Megan Phillips says. She and co-facilitator…

Iosis community social worker Lydia Teatao is about to start research she hopes will inspire women and children who suffer from abuse. Mrs Teatao, who migrated to New Zealand from Kiribati in 2006, will focus her research on other migrant mothers from her home nation. Specifically she will be studying the strategies women have used…