OUR STORY
Catholic Service Social was established in 1973 for the Waikato-King Country area under the Auckland Diocese. Catholic Family Support Service developed out of the Home-maker pilot project launched in Hamilton in 1980. The project was an adaptation of a scheme set up in Holland to assist families at home to forestall the need for institutional care. The service started in Hamilton based on that model. The scheme which began as a support for families in crisis, developed to serve also families with temporary problems. Three Opportunity Shops were set up to support the work of the service, and these operated for a number of years. It is noteworthy that the Hamilton Catholic Social Services played a significant role in developing the Homemaker scheme nationwide.
In 1989 Hamilton Catholic Social Services joined forces with the Social Welfare Department and a formalised contract was drawn up. The contract was the first of its kind to be signed by the Department and the Catholic Church. It initially ran for three years, and was known as the Home-builder Service. From 1989 Family Support Service has operated under the auspices of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.
In 2000, the Catholic, Presbyterian and Anglican Churches established a new initiative of collaboration in establishing Te Ara Hou village, (a social services village where offices and facilities are provided for their Church, and other compatible social services). This is unique in New Zealand.
In 2009, the agency responded to the economic pressures being faced by the community by training six staff to be certified budget advisers. The agency then affiliated with the NZ Federation of Family Budget Services Inc.
Over the next few years the agency ensured the social work staff were registered social workers, in line with current practice, and the Budgeting service changed to a financial mentoring service. We received a new contract for working with clients who posed additional challenges, and our Oranga Tamariki contract was increased.
In 2016 the agency was asked to set up a branch in Tauranga Moana and had one staff member working from the St Thomas More and St Thomas Aquinas parish offices to provide a four day a week service. This service was set up largely by seed funding provided by the Church and the two Tauranga Moana parishes. Funding has been received through grants from Philanthropic Trusts, and support from the local parishes. In 2017, the LINK volunteer mentor scheme was set up, the goal of which was to match specially chosen (and vetted) volunteers, with people who needed a little extra support. This has been a great success. Unfortunately this service was suspended in 2020 and later closed in 2022.
In 2023, the Rotorua office was opened, which was well attended, supported, and celebrated by local Iwi Ngāti Whakaue, Katorika community and social services. At the opening we also unveiled the gifting of our Māori name Kake Oranga Hāhi Katorika by Turei Thompson. Kake means to ascend, climb, and escalate. Oranga means life, health, and wellbeing. Hāhi Katorika means Catholic.
The name ‘Kake Oranga Hāhi Katorika’ promotes a holistic approach to health, wellbeing and spirituality of the body, the mind, the soul of the family and whānau unit. The services Catholic Family Support Services provide is available to everyone living within the Diocese, and the team seeks to provide hope; help; support; advocacy; and healing to empower and to inspire people, families and whānau to live their lives to the fullest.
In 1989 Hamilton Catholic Social Services joined forces with the Social Welfare Department and a formalised contract was drawn up. The contract was the first of its kind to be signed by the Department and the Catholic Church. It initially ran for three years, and was known as the Home-builder Service. From 1989 Family Support Service has operated under the auspices of the Catholic Diocese of Hamilton.
In 2000, the Catholic, Presbyterian and Anglican Churches established a new initiative of collaboration in establishing Te Ara Hou village, (a social services village where offices and facilities are provided for their Church, and other compatible social services). This is unique in New Zealand.
In 2009, the agency responded to the economic pressures being faced by the community by training six staff to be certified budget advisers. The agency then affiliated with the NZ Federation of Family Budget Services Inc.
Over the next few years the agency ensured the social work staff were registered social workers, in line with current practice, and the Budgeting service changed to a financial mentoring service. We received a new contract for working with clients who posed additional challenges, and our Oranga Tamariki contract was increased.
In 2016 the agency was asked to set up a branch in Tauranga Moana and had one staff member working from the St Thomas More and St Thomas Aquinas parish offices to provide a four day a week service. This service was set up largely by seed funding provided by the Church and the two Tauranga Moana parishes. Funding has been received through grants from Philanthropic Trusts, and support from the local parishes. In 2017, the LINK volunteer mentor scheme was set up, the goal of which was to match specially chosen (and vetted) volunteers, with people who needed a little extra support. This has been a great success. Unfortunately this service was suspended in 2020 and later closed in 2022.
In 2023, the Rotorua office was opened, which was well attended, supported, and celebrated by local Iwi Ngāti Whakaue, Katorika community and social services. At the opening we also unveiled the gifting of our Māori name Kake Oranga Hāhi Katorika by Turei Thompson. Kake means to ascend, climb, and escalate. Oranga means life, health, and wellbeing. Hāhi Katorika means Catholic.
The name ‘Kake Oranga Hāhi Katorika’ promotes a holistic approach to health, wellbeing and spirituality of the body, the mind, the soul of the family and whānau unit. The services Catholic Family Support Services provide is available to everyone living within the Diocese, and the team seeks to provide hope; help; support; advocacy; and healing to empower and to inspire people, families and whānau to live their lives to the fullest.