Ko Hikurangi te Maunga, Ko Waiapu te Awa, Ko Horouta te Waka, Ko Ngati Porou te Iwi, Ko Te Whanau-a-Iritekura raua ko Ngati Konohi oku Hapu. Tena Koutou Katoa; my name is Tina May Wilkins. In January 2018 I returned to Challenge 2000 as a Senior Social Worker, I am also responsible for the MASSiSS and YWISS contracts (social and youth workers in secondary schools).

I have recently been accepted onto the Masters for Professional Practice Program at Whitireia Polytechnic, I have a Bachelor in Social Work and an Undergraduate Diploma in Professional Supervision.

I first joined the Challenge whanau in 2009 as the first social worker to be placed at Porirua College. From there I progressed into leadership roles; the Youth and Family Centre Manager at Dr Taylor Terrace and then the Social Work Manager.

After taking a reprieve from social work I went to ACC for a few years and a short stint in Sydney where I was privileged to work within the workers compensation area supporting workers transition from workers comp to being supported by the community.

On returning to Aotearoa; I snapped up the chance to return to Challenge 2000 where I feel so honored to be able to work alongside such an amazing group of people, who daily tirelessly do their best to support the rangatahi of the greater Wellington region and beyond. I can honestly say after many years of practice that my heart is within the community and I’m really excited about my future at Challenge 2000.

In addition I am researching how we as a bi-cultural organisation can be part of the solution to supporting rangatahi to realise their own potential so that they can flourish. My passion in the Mental Health area is the drive for me as well as the over whelming over representation of Maori in the mental health statistics.