Finding Solid Ground with Family Start

CLIENT STORY | WHĀNAU SUPPORT

When Olwethu first connected with The Fono's Family Start service in June 2023, she was navigating life in a new country with two young children aged two and four, a relationship in crisis, and very little support around her. Nearly two years on, her story is one of remarkable courage, steady growth, and the kind of change that happens when the right support shows up at the right time.

Olwethu had arrived in Aotearoa New Zealand from South Africa in 2019. By the time she was referred to Family Start, she was dealing with the breakdown of her relationship, financial hardship, and the worry of raising two children on her own. Her eldest had not yet begun speaking, and she was unsure how to access support.

Christine, her Family Start Worker, began visiting regularly, focusing initially on the children's routines, sleep, and development. But it quickly became clear that Olwethu herself needed space to open up about what was really happening at home.

"In the beginning, Christine was there for the children. She would ask about the kids – how they were sleeping, how they were doing. But she also always asked, how are you? How are you coping? At first I said, oh yeah, I'm okay. But slowly I trusted her."

When the situation at home became unsafe, Christine stood firmly alongside Olwethu and her children. She helped navigate the steps needed to ensure the family's safety, supported Olwethu through contact with police and housing services, and worked late into the evening to find secure accommodation for the night when it was needed most.

When refuge spaces were full, Christine kept calling. She stayed by Olwethu's side until a safe place was arranged and then accompanied her to housing interviews and appointments in the following days. She also wrote professional emails to Olwethu's employer on her behalf, ensuring her job was protected while the family's situation was being resolved.

"Christine didn't say, ‘It's after hours, we'll sort it tomorrow.’ She made sure we were in a safe place. We were waiting while she was calling, and she kept going until we had somewhere to go."

Alongside all of this, the everyday work of Family Start continued. Christine helped Olwethu establish consistent routines at home, including bedtimes, mealtimes, and time away from screens. She supported a GP referral for her youngest child's speech delay, followed up on therapy engagement, and celebrated every step of progress.

The progress has been real. The eldest child, who was largely non-verbal when they began, is now communicating in sentences. Both children are meeting age-appropriate milestones, playing with other children, and doing well at school. Olwethu also received an autism diagnosis for her eldest, which she approached with the same determination she has shown throughout, committed to supporting his independence and his future.

Building independence

Over the course of the programme, Olwethu has also secured her permanent residency, converted her South African driver's licence to a full New Zealand licence, maintained stable employment, and established reliable transport. These milestones, each one hard-won, have given the family a foundation that did not exist when they first arrived at Family Start's door.

Christine reflects on Olwethu's journey - "She was transferred to us when engagement had been difficult elsewhere. I kept coming. And eventually she felt safe enough to open up. That's where her journey really started. She's a strong woman."

When asked what she would say to others in a similar position, Olwhetu responded, "Find someone you trust and share what you are going through. Don't leave it too long. When you carry too much alone, you end up losing yourself. But when you get help, you can be free, and you can enjoy your children."

(L - R) Janeth Del Rama - Family Start Team Leader, Veronica Vailahi - Family Start Worker, Sharlene Kita - Family Start Worker, Christine Pupa - Family Start Worker

The Fono Family Start service works with whānau from pregnancy through to the age of three years old, providing intensive in-home support tailored to each family's needs and cultural context. Olwethu and her children have completed their planned exit from the service, ready to move forward on solid ground.