"We are VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai, and we stand for the Voice of the Young and Care Experienced - Listen to me. We believe children and young people in care need to be heard and their voices kept at the centre of all the decisions made about them."
The new Chief Executive for VOYCE – Whakarongo Mai, an independent connection and advocacy service for young people in care, has been welcomed to her new role which starts today.
Dr Ainsleigh Cribb-Su’a of Ngāti Maniapoto, Ngāti Tamaterā and Ngāti Kauwhata descent was handed over by her whānau and iwi in an intimate ceremony yesterday involving youth, caregivers and officials at the VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai headquarters in Auckland.
Although a relatively new organisation, over 200 children and their caregivers attended their official launch in April this year.
Ainsleigh is a Doctor of Clinical Psychology and joins VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai after spending ten years with Counties-Manukau Health working in a variety of clinical leadership and operational management roles.
Her strong background in working in a kaupapa Māori context in child and adolescent mental health has prepared her for this important role.
Something it seems the youth involved in VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai are really excited about. Mana Williams-Eade, a care-experienced youth who now works with VOYCE, says he believed Ainsleigh was the right person for the job as she was nervous in her interview.
"It shows she cares and wants to ensure our rangatahi get the best care, and that's what they need," Mana said.
Empowering children's voices to be heard and listened to and enabling a pathway to their cultural identity is what Voyce Whakarongo Mai is all about, an advocacy service in pursuit of change for young people in care of Oranga Tamariki.
Ainsleigh, a mum of four, said she's looking forward to walking alongside our tamariki and rangatahi on this journey.
For more information on VOYCE - Whakarongo Mai, check out their website.
Read more here: Voyce Whakarongo Mai: In pursuit of change
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