CSS Team

Vicar for Social Impact and Communications

Fundraiser/Operations Manager

Background in finance and administration. Her ethnicity is Samoan and Chinese.  She has worked in the public and private sector and has worked in community for 20 plus years.  Her hobby is cooking.  She has also taken a keen interest in gardening.

Social Worker

Natalie has worked for Catholic Social Services for over ten years as a Counsellor and a Social Worker. She is a Registered Social Worker with the SWRB and a full member of New Zealand Association of Counsellors. She also offers families support in the parenting space and is also a Level 4 Accredited Triple P Parenting programme facilitator. Outside of CSS, she is an accredited Restorative Justice facilitator in the family violence and a Survivor Specialist for Restorative Justice (Sexual Violence).

Social Worker

I am a University of Auckland qualified and SWRB registered Social Worker with just over 10 years of experience. My Social Work background is in Domestic Violence and Family Violence, focusing on ‘Safety, Welfare and Wellbeing’ - being able to thrive in a safe and healthy environment with a long-term sustainability.

I am of Tongan and Samoan decent.

Social Worker

I am a registered Social Worker. I have worked for Catholic Social Services since 2011. Before this I worked for Monte Cecilia Housing Trust.

Housing continues to be a major issue for all Aucklanders, and I continue this focus in my work.

Other social work issues include family harm, WINZ advocacy, income inequality, and our aging population.

I have two adult children and I am enjoying being a grandmother.

Psychotherapist (NZAP), Supervisor & Cultural Advisor (Pacific)

Cabrini 'Ofa Makasiale, of Tongan and English ancestry, lives with a community of Catholic women with religious vows in Auckland. She works as a counsellor, psychotherapist, tutor, supervisor, spiritual director and group facilitator with Catholic Social Services in Ōtara. She has written and contributed to many texts and publications on Pasifika life drawing from her colourful life experience, professional career and intensive ongoing studies.

The Pasifika person, I believe, needs to be met, first, at the point of faith, of spirit and meaning before being invited to the place of cognition and science if lasting healing and transformation is to occur."

Psychotherapist (ACC Registered)

Ruth Mather is a registered psychotherapist, Member of the New Zealand Association of Psychotherapists and is ACC registered. She has a Masters in Theological Studies. Ruth is Pākehā.

She works primarily in the field of sexual abuse and trauma. She also provides supervision for counsellors, psychotherapists and students in training.

Ruth lives in a Christian community of four women.

Counsellor

I am an experienced  NZAC registered counsellor & group facilitator of Māori, Pākehā and Niuean ethnicity who has offered counselling support to the South Auckland community from 2000 to the present. Currently I work for Catholic Social Services Ōtara where I provide a safe counselling space for clients to express their concerns so they can find solutions.

Organisations worked for: Relationship Services Whakawhanaungatanga Manukau, Private Practice Takanini, Manukau Institute of Technology Health Centre Otara, and Iosis Family Solutions Manurewa.

Counselling Roles: Individual & Couple Counselling, Employee Assistance Programme Counselling, Group Facilitator  Women’s Anger, Family Court Co-gender Facilitator Non-Violence Programme for Men,  Partner Abuse for Women.

Counsellor

My name is Susana Quilodrán-Valdebenito. I am originally from Chile and I have lived in New Zealand for over 15 years. I have Mapuche (Indigenous people from South America) and Spanish ancestors.

I studied Psychology in Chile (1999-2004), completed a PGDip and an MA in Development Studies at The University of Auckland (2008-2010), and a PGDip in Psychology at Massey University. I am a Triple P provider (Positive Parenting Programme), and  EMDR trained clinician.

In Chile I gained experience as a Psychologist working with families in a foster care family relocation programme; as a school psychologist, counselling students and their parents at a primary school; as a lecturer at the education department of Frontera University; as a Psychologist facilitating training workshops for the staff of public hospitals and facilitating workshops for parents, children and teenagers at social risk conditions, with indigenous and non-indigenous background.

I am a Full Member of NZAC. I have worked as a Counsellor at Catholic Social Services since March 2011. Here I provide counselling for adults in a wide spectrum of issues. The areas I have focused during the last 12 years include, among others: Depression, anxiety, trauma, domestic violence, PTSD, communication, anger management, relationships, and self-esteem.

“I believe in people’s strength and courage to make positive changes in their lives”.

Living Without Violence Programme Co-ordinator

Qualifications – MA in Sociology, studies included community development.

Cultural Competence – Fluent in Tongan/English languages.

Past work experience includes social work, community work, university lecturing, health funding management.

Ponsonby Receptionist

Mehi is our friendly face at Ponsonby Reception. She is a keen gardener and loves spending time with her family.

Ōtara Receptionist

Edwina is our welcoming presence at Ōtara Reception. She has been working at CSS for  years.

Ponsonby Receptionist & Community Support Worker

I am Pākehā/NZ European of Bohemian descent. I love reading, volleyball and learning other languages. 

I enjoy giving admin support to the Ponsonby Office so we can give our clients the best support possible.

                         You know well enough that Our Lord does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, nor even at their difficulty, but at the love with which we do them."   

-St Therese of Lisieux