Family Issues

Homebuilders, Warkworth

Homebuilders operates in the North Rodney area (from Puhoi to Mangawhai, coast to coast), providing the following services:

• Family support workers: Give emotional and practical support to families under any kind of stress. Youth worker available. A free, confidential service.
• Disability Information Service: A free disability information service is available, including access to the WEKA (What Everyone Keeps Asking) database. Disability Support available.
• Courses and facilitated self-help groups: For parents and caregivers. Strengthening Families support programme.
• Help Desk: Free information and advocacy support for people dealing with Work & Income / ACC / IRD / Housing issues, etc.

2012

Living well courses - May

It is interesting that a lot of the old-fashioned skills are again in demand as people search for ways to save money, avoid artificial additives for health and environmental reasons, live more sustainably, and simply live well and eat well.

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Being a supportive employer - April

It makes sense for employers to find ways to support their staff when their life takes a turn for the worse. A staff member who feels respected and cared for as a person is far more likely to be willing to go the extra mile in return.

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Avoiding destructive arguments - March

Having a disagreement with your partner is okay; in fact, it can be very productive leading to growth in a relationship. However, when disagreements lead to shouting, swearing, hitting, slamming doors, walking out or threats to leave, they inflict a serious impact on relationships and are particularly hard on any children who may be present.

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Arthritis issues - February

One in every three New Zealanders over the age of 45 years lives with some form of arthritis.

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Changing behaviours - January

Have you ever wondered why the same negative events happen to you or you repeat destructive or unhelpful behaviours that do you no favours in life? Or perhaps you experience anxiety or depression and are looking for strategies to help alleviate the symptoms?

2011

Family dynamics at Christmas - December

Christmas is often a time that we get together with our families and there are extra expectations. Unfortunately, this can lead to break-downs in communication, disappointments, and other difficult feelings and experiences, at a time that is supposed to be good. So how can we make a better Christmas?

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A case for optimism - November

The interface between a teen’s developing autonomy and a parent’s fears for their child’s safety, can be uncomfortable territory for both.

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Communication and kids - October

Communication is a lifelong skill and as adults, we can help children to become great communicators. The first step is to do a lot of talking with children. 

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Keeping children safe - September

As parents and caregivers, it is important to be educated about keeping children safe from sexual violence and abuse.

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Benefit review process - July

This article is intended to provide an introduction to the process of the Benefit Review Committee (BRC), an extension of the work of Work and Income New Zealand.

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Winter parenting - June

It is easy to focus on family time in the summer with longer days, sun, and sea, but winter can have a positive impact on family dynamics if we take advantage of what it creates. 

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Bringing joy into parenting - May

With the pressures of modern life parents often find themselves struggling with their children. Everything can become a rush and a stress rather than a joy. Getting joy into your parenting brings more love into it and more satisfaction.

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Grief (Part 2) - April

All living is growing and changing but we often struggle with change.

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Grief (Part 1 of 2) - March

This is a poignant time to be writing about grief with the latest earthquake in Christchurch.

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A helping hand - February

The Christchurch earthquake, floods in Australia and Brazil – there is nothing like a natural disaster to illustrate people’s willingness to look out for each other, to help the vulnerable and demonstrate how much we depend on one another.

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Breaking the cycle -  January

We are lucky in Rodney to have some great organisations whose focus is dealing with and stopping family violence.

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2010

The First Year of Life - December
The wellbeing of babies is everyone’s responsibility. If we awhi (embrace/help) parents then we will enable them to provide the nurture babies need in order to develop into happy, secure competent adults.

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Practical skills - November
As we go through life, we sometimes feel like we are going through the motions without a real sense of knowing why we respond to certain situations the way we do.

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Foundations of Parenting (Part 4 of 4) - October
Those in powerful positions have a responsibility to act in a way that maintains and earns ongoing respect. So how does this fit in with parenting? Lots actually.

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Foundations of Parenting (Part 3 of 4) - September
Communication consists of three main parts: listening thoroughly, expressing your view, and knowing how to negotiate when two different points of view exist.

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Foundations of Parenting (Part 2 of 4) - August
Image for a moment how you would fee if you lived in a country where there were no clear rules and to make matters worse, on every corner there was a law enforcer.

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Foundations of Parenting (Part 1 of 4) - July
It can be hard to know who to listen to when getting advice on parenting. How do I know whose ideas are good? Will reading this or that book give me any better ideas?

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Resolving disputes - June
The Disputes Tribunal is a low cost way to sort out a legal dispute. Claims of up to $15,000 can be heard by the Tribunal.

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Powerful teaching tool - May
As an adult, it is easy to underestimate the enormous influence that our actions and behaviour have on our children. Young children see adults as idols, someone to emulate, so it's not surprising that they copy our so-called adult behaviour.

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Osteoarthritis - April
Osteoarthritis is the most common form of arthritis and will affect one in six New Zealanders over the age of 15 years. It most commonly affects the weight bearing and mobile joints such as the neck, shoulders, lower back, hips, hands, knees, ankles and toes.

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The Riverdance: How to keep yourself moving along  -  March
By Madhurii Ball, Homebuilders Family Support