ConneXu answers demand and heads to the Lakes District

Waikato/King Country and Bay of Plenty-based disability support provider ConneXu is answering the demand for disability support in the Lakes District, confirming it will have a presence in Taupo and its surrounding areas by the end of 2022.

ConneXu chief executive Fern Ryan has confirmed the move into the Lakes region, and says they are answering the call for their presence in the region.

“We have now started recruitment for our team. We have been in talks for a while with disabled people, and their families/whanau in this region. They have asked us to come to the region and we are answering that call,” she says.

“The opportunity came up and we have always said we would go to where there was a need for our support. Where disabled people, their families/whanau need that facilitation and support to enable a good life for the disabled person.”

With an initial emphasis on Family Governed support, the focus is always on being person centred and empowerment, says Fern.

“ConneXu becomes the bureaucratic shield where the disabled person, and their family/whanau, determines what a good life looks like. We partner with them to make that happen, and we get involved to the level they require us to.”

Getting involved can mean anything from advocating for funding, to managing human resources, payroll, and PAYE requirements for support staff, as well as working with the disabled person to create goals and a whole of life plan, or partnering with them to find a home, flatmates and support they want and require.

“Often the families and whanau are very busy with the back-office stuff and that can cause stress – this way we can alleviate that pressure. They can go back to having a great supportive relationship with their loved one, without all the added work behind the scenes – we can take care of that for them.”

ConneXu started in Te Awamutu in the Waikato nearly 33 years ago and has grown over time to cover the wider Waipa District, Hamilton, Tauranga, the Mount and Papamoa, with some presence in Matamata and Rotorua too.

“We are really excited with this move into the Lakes District and to be able to work with new disabled partners, their families/whanau. We are under no illusions that there will challenges heading into a new region, like finding great new team members, but we also relish the chance to show people how ConneXu does it differently, and how we help to enable good lives for those people we work with.”

This move into the Lakes District is also a great example of the current system transformation being rolled out within the disability sector, which sees a larger emphasis on the disabled person and their family and whanau having greater choice and control over their lives and determining what a good life looks like for them.

Recruitment enquiries can be made to 0508 0 CONNEXU