As a part of a Ministry of Social Development contract through the SKIP National team, Tara supported The Glen Innes Family Centre to set up and develop HEART Parenting in 2014.
At the end of 2014 with the support of The SKIP Team, Tara developed and coordinated The HEART Movement Change Agents to learn how to gather thoughts about what it’s like to be a parent in Tāmaki. A large gathering of community whānau came together at the local rugby club, and those Change Agents led the discussions at their individual tables. After the event, we regathered to share findings about how the local whānau experience the Tāmaki community and parenting. The Whanau Community Dinner Report that was created from this event, was then used alongside individual interviews, to develop the key actions going forward for HEART Parenting.
In 2015, Tara continued to work with HEART Parenting and the coordinator – Anne Purcell, creating the foundation of the movement, introducing it to the community, and developing the documents of the initiative.
- Heart Parenting findings
- Heart Parenting tikanga
- Parenting activities in Tāmaki
- Themes and quote posters
- Notebook of ideas for organisations
- Notebook of ideas for whānau
- The Tāmaki parenting survival guide
At the end of 2015, a new project for HEART Parenting was launched that focused on parenting during the early years. Tara developed The Whānau Awhina Project directly from the key findings of HEART Parenting research, secured funding from SKIP and recruited the new coordinator for the project – Sam Tu’itahi. Tara continued to work with the project throughout 2016 by supporting Sam in his leadership, providing and organising professional development for the Whānau Awhina and being a part of the Support Team alongside Sam and Anne. Here is a key document that details the project as well as a document that focuses on Māori parents in Tāmaki, which was a small part of the project.
Rākau Tautoko 