over 30 years as a disability support provider
We’ve been around for a while, having started out as Te Awamutu Residential Trust back in 1989. We were founded as an intellectual disability support service for 10 people with intellectual disability who were leaving Tokanui Hospital. Initially this support was provided in residential homes in Te Mawhai and Te Awamutu.
Over the years we’ve grown in leaps and bounds – having started out with a staff of seven, we now have almost 200. Similarly, the number of people we support has increased from the original 10 to over 130. We have also expanded our services to include support for physical, cognitive and sensory disabilities, as well as for traumatic brain injuries.
Evolving to meet your needs
As times have changed, so have the expectations of the people we support. We’ve evolved to meet these changing needs with a key focus on providing more flexible and personalised support to better suit each individual. This ranges from fully supported residential care through to highly independent living. We embrace the principles of Enabling Good Lives, offering greater choice and control over supports people receive so they can plan for the lives they want.
Support tailored to each individual
Each person has a different vision of the way they want their life to be so our role is to help you achieve this, with the reassurance of knowing that you also have all the backup and support you need. It’s up to you, and your families, to determine exactly what that level of support should be.
Facilitating meaningful relationships
A key part of our philosophy as a disability support provider is to help people to get connected – helping you to live a rich and fulfilling life enhanced by a network of meaningful relationships. This includes providing an individually selected group from our staff who become your team, as well facilitating meaningful connections within your community.
Our values
Social Justice – equality, equal opportunities, no discrimination, responsibility, independence
Integrity – honesty, transparency, professionalism, respect, cultural sensitivity, individualisation
Collaboration – supporting, encouraging, working together, working with others, team work, partnership, cooperation, sharing
Innovation – no boundaries, openness, communication, vision, creativity, new Ideas, pioneering, development
Care – toward the people we support, the staff we employ and the communities we are part of.
Our vision
Connexu’s vision is ‘communities where people are empowered.’
Our mission
We collaborate with people to create and sustain a life that is meaningful to them, and we contribute to the strengthening of our community and encourage inclusiveness.
Meet our team
Our team are totally committed to achieving our vision. What we each individually contribute is what makes us so strong as a team.
Visit our Team page to meet more of our team.
Stories from people we support
Everyone has a unique vision of how their best life looks. Our role is to support them in achieving that, whatever it may be.
Visit Stories to read about other members of the ConneXu community.