Home Ground is a collaborative creativity and wellbeing initiative for women who
have experienced incarceration or are engaged in the justice system.
Artists of different disciplines collaborate with women within prison and the community to
create art projects that address the issues women and whānau face in the justice
system. Previous projects have been supported by Creative New Zealand, the
Department of Corrections, the Sonja Davies Peace Award, Heather and Brian Main
and the Ministry for Women.
The initiative is divided into three projects – Tahi, Rua, and Toru, which are delivered
in the Wellington community or Arohata Prison over a 12-month period. Each Home
Ground project runs full time for three weeks, then one day a week for the following
four weeks. Smaller 3 day projects, funded by the Ministry of Culture and Heritage
(MCH), are also beginning to be implemented, with three annual projects planned.
The projects use creative arts practice, such as theatre, photography, creative writing
and music, as a non-threatening, strengths-based approach to self-empowerment,
community connectedness and wellbeing.
We have two projects left to run this year; Project Toru based both offline (in the
Lower Hutt community and Arohata Prison Tawa) and online (through Google
Classroom), and a 3 day MCH funded community project at the end of November
(date and location to be confirmed).
Project Toru starts at the end of October and finishes mid-November. Ideally the
person applying would be keen and ready to start work by then, with ongoing
contractor work on all three of our yearly core projects. There are also extra hours
available in Artist support and training work, and in our maintenance programme.
We want to find that magic person who understands the value of community
connection, lived experience and the importance of creativity in wellbeing practice. It
is a flexible role that we can shape to suit your strengths.
We are looking for a responsive practitioner to support the Home Ground people and
programs in our practice and delivery. You will also be a lead facilitator, developing
and designing trauma informed practice during our group projects. As a lead
facilitator, the Wellbeing Navigator will closely work with the Home Ground Creative
Director, Jacqui Moyes, as well as a handful of other core Home Ground staff should
the need arise.
On core projects, they will be co-facilitating approximately ten
women, along with various collaborating artists.
As a navigator, you must be able to demonstrate knowledge and application of
Tikanga Māori and Pasifika values. You must be an outstanding communicator able
to resolve conflicts and issues. If you also have a deep respect and capacity for
creativity and wellbeing, and can inspire that in others, you are ideal for the role.
Hours: The hours are flexible, with the successful applicant hired as a contractor, but
would be focused around the following projects/dates. There are also extra hours
available in Artist support and training work, and in our maintenance programme
which runs once a week for four weeks after a core project has finished.
2021
Project Toru is 26 October - 12 November in Lower Hutt.
(approx 90 hours)
This role would be 2 days per week, ideally Tuesday and Friday,
9am -2:30pm.
2022
Project Tahi runs in Feb/March in Lower Hutt.
(approx 90 hours)
This role would be 2 days per week, ideally Tuesday and Friday,
9am -2:30pm.
Project Rua is June/July, in Arohata Prison Tawa.
(approx 90 hours)
This role would be 2 days per week, ideally Tuesday and Friday,
9am -4pm.
Responsibilities
● Plan and oversee trauma informed practice
● Work hard to provide a safe, supportive environment for participants to
experience and respond to emotions and gain
understanding of issues relating to their wellbeing
● Provide one on one support with clients if necessary
● Offer information and counseling on the best course of action during sessions
● Maintain accurate records and report on clients’ status
● Act as a lead facilitator and cooperate with multidisciplinary practitioners
● Refer clients to community services post-project
● Adhere to professional standards as outlined by protocols, rules and
regulations, including maintaining strict privacy protocols
● Reflect on current program practice and the impacts of practice
● Modify and improve practices in collaboration with the Creative Director
Requirements
● Proven work experience as a Counsellor, Social Worker or experience in
mental health and/or addictions sector
● Working knowledge of social theories and practices
● Knowledge and application of Tikanga Māori and Pasifika values
● Clear understanding of Te Whare Tapa Whā
● Understanding of the impact of trauma and trauma informed practice
● Experience in the justice system (lived or professional)
● Social perceptiveness and empathy
● Ability to build and maintain professional helping relationships
● Ability to relate and communicate with diverse population and groups
● Resilience, along with the ability to quickly and safely assess situations
● Interest in facilitation and group work
● Values relationships with other organisations
● Understand the importance of creative practice and wellbeing
● Know how to have fun, while maintaining boundaries.
For more information about Home Ground and the work we do, please visit our
website and social media pages:
Website: www.homegroundnz.com
Fb: @HomeGroundPoneke
Ig: @home_ground_poneke
If you are interested, please get in touch!
homeground.poneke@gmail.com
Picture by a participant on the Ministry for Women Covid-19 creative resilience workshops.