Sign In / Register
After 18 years, Women’s Centre Rodney has a new face at the helm, following the departure last year of long-term manager Colleen Julian for a new role.
She’s not going far, however, having moved just a few hundred metres around the corner in Warkworth to be a family support worker with Homebuilders.
Colleen says that after so many years of steering the women’s centre to its current position of running a broad range of courses, services and support groups, she’s ready to get back out into the community at a more grass roots level.
“I just wanted to work with a bigger team and expand my expertise to be working with families, rather than only women,” she said.
“I’ve known the Homebuilders team for years. I was solely responsible for a lot at the women’s centre, so it’s a change from doing so much admin to be working more in the community and making more of a difference.”
Colleen’s replacement as manager at the Morpeth Street centre is Jo Nicholson, who moved to Snells Beach a year ago to enjoy semi-retirement with her husband Dale, but couldn’t resist applying when she saw the vacancy.
Jo spent 12 years with Te Whānau ō Waipareira family support organisation in Henderson, specialising in social transformation and workforce development, and she remains on the boards of Social Value Aotearoa and Social Value International, organisations that focus on what is important to people and communities, and telling the story of how change affects them.
“Seeing how busy everybody was last lockdown, I thought I should be contributing, though I didn’t know how. Then an ad for this popped up, so I threw my CV out there just to see, I met the board and team and thought our visions aligned.”
Jo was appointed just before Christmas and is now raring to get started on a new year of activities at the centre – Covid restrictions permitting.
“During Covid, we just kept in touch with people,” she says. “Now, the next phase is working through while we’re in Red, looking at ways of supporting our existing women and the wider community of women who may not be aware that we’re here.
“We’re reconnecting and reigniting the women’s centre.”
She is especially keen to encourage women to simply drop in to the centre for a coffee and a chat, especially during a time when many may be feeling anxious or isolated.
“Connection is a huge thing for people. We’d love people to call in for a chat and a cup of tea. Or if you’ve got an idea, come in and talk about it,” she says. “The women’s centre is like a hub, or a hive of ideas, where we can connect and work alongside each other and existing community services.”
Jo says a walking group will be starting soon, as well as popular centre activities such as courses, counselling and legal advice.
“We’re looking at all sorts of ways to alleviate stress and improve mental wellbeing,” she says. “We’re not all about women at the bottom of the cliff … it’s about journeys and how we help women to flourish. It’s about connecting people with the community and tailoring solutions to fit.”
Jo says absolutely all women are welcome to the centre, which is open from 9.30am to 2.30pm every weekday.
“I love the sound of women’s chatter and laughter. I was told that when the centre was at the Town Hall, a lot of people used to drop in for a coffee and we need to get that vibe again,” she says.
