Our Mission

The Personal Advocacy and Safeguarding Adults Trust provides a range of safeguarding services and supports. These include Supported Decision Making support and training, short term advocacy and life long advocacy, and a coordinated inter-agency response for Adults at Risk.

The Trust offers parents and other interested persons an opportunity to invest in peace of mind for the future through membership and enrollment. The Trust also extends support to people not enrolled in the Trust.

Our History

The Personal Advocacy and Safeguarding Adults Trust (previously known as The Personal Advocacy Trust, PAT) is a not-for-profit registered Charitable Trust.

It was established in 1967 as the trusteeship scheme of parents with children cared for through IHC, who sought reassurance and confirmation that on their death someone would provide advocacy, guidance and support in their stead. Much of our membership enrolled at this time and in the decade following. Some of our current members and their families have received advocacy support for over 40 years. In 2017 we also started responding to the need for short term independent advocacy.

The Safeguarding Adults from Abuse (SAFA) Collective has been working for the last twelve years to promote safeguarding principles and framework, and to provide a coordinated inter-agency response to the abuse, harm or neglect of Adults at Risk.

PAT and SAFA have now partnered to become The Personal Advocacy and Safeguarding Adults Trust (PASAT), to extend a greater range of safeguarding supports to more New Zealanders in need.

For a full history, please refer to Our History Page.

Our Work

Safeguarding is a range of activities and responses that promote and protect human rights, health, wellbeing and culture, and prevent or reduce harm, abuse and neglect.

Advocacy

Advocacy is a service that argues for, or defends, another who is unable (or needs help) to do so for themselves. Our service is designed to work alongside the individual and to assist them, where needed, so they remain happy and healthy. The Personal Advocacy Trust is another set of eyes and ears, and importantly a voice for its members.

Regional advocates work to maintain the rights of the enrolled member so they continue to receive the best services available, while taking any necessary actions to ensure a positive outcome. Advocates encourage the potential for leading as independent a life as possible.

Our Advocacy work has two major components; Lifelong advocacy and Short term advocacy.

Life long advocacy involves the establishment of a trusting relationship between the member and the Regional Advocate, who will make regular contact, visit, report and engage in planning to monitor the wellbeing of the member. The type and intensity of advocacy required will vary between each member, and from year to year and depending on their needs or issues at the time. This relationship plays a preventative role in stopping the majority of issues before they arise. If an issue did occur, the Advocate would work with the member and their other supporters to find an appropriate resolution.

Short term advocacy support typically only focuses on issue or crisis resolution.

In order to be effective in promoting and protecting the interests of its members, PASAT is administratively and financially independent of any organisation providing residential, occupational or other services for people with intellectual disabilities. It is also independent of Government.

Our lifetime advocacy and membership scheme is funded almost entirely through the payment of a Pre Support Annual Subscription and a Full Support Enrolment Fee by people enrolling a family member or friend as a member of the Trust. Being independent of external controls or priorities, PASAT is able to provide effective advocacy.

Our short term advocacy is funded through the payment of a fee by the referrer. In situations of financial hardship, short term advocacy can be delivered at no cost, by applying for support under the Rangatira Fund.

Supported Decision Making

All of our team of Advocates practice supported decision making principles in their advocacy work.

We also provide Supporters for Decision Making as part of the Mana Whaikaha System Transformation in Mid-Central Region.

Safeguarding Adults Response Service

The Safeguarding Adults Response service is the coordination of an inter-agency response to referrals of harm, abuse or neglect for Adults at Risk. It adopts a person directed and whanau centred approach, ensuring that the individual remains in control of their decisions and wellbeing.

Our Trustees

As dictated by The Personal Advocacy and Safeguarding Adults Trust’s Deed, the Trust is governed by a Board “comprised of one Trustee appointed by IHC New Zealand Incorporated; one Trustee appointed by the Residential Providers Association or any other Association or organisation selected by the Trustees and providing services to people with an intellectual disability; one Trustee appointed by the Council of the New Zealand Law Society; two Trustees who are Contributors*, and are elected by Contributors who have fully paid an enrolment fee; and three Trustees appointed by resolution of the other Trustees.”

* Contributors as defined in the Trust Deed are the individuals responsible for enrolling and paying the enrolment fee of an individual with an intellectual disability. In most instances this is a parent.

Trust Board Members 2020

Barney Cooper, Chair.

Janine Stewart

Gerard Letts

Catherine Cooke

John Stribrny

Paul ‘Taz’ Holmes

Michelle Clayton

Wendy Becker

Our Advocates

Emma Neilson

Emma Neilson

Auckland / Whangarei Regional Advocate

022 101 4131
emma.neilson@PASAT.org.nz

Kaysey Manuel

Kaysey Manuel

Auckland Regional Advocate

022 587 0594
WestAuckland@PASAT.org.nz

Claire Buckley-Smith

Claire Buckley-Smith

Auckland Regional Advocate

022 451 2670
SouthAuckland@PASAT.org.nz

Sally Hartley

Sally Hartley

Waikato Regional Advocate

022 088 7438
07 391 1728
Waikato@PASAT.org.nz

Narissa Siemonek

Narissa Siemonek

Bay of Plenty Regional Advocate

022 088 7439
07 393 5728
Bayofplenty@PASAT.org.nz

Dianne Darbyshire

Dianne Darbyshire

Taranaki Regional Advocate

022 088 7503
06 391 1728
Taranaki@PASAT.org.nz

Deborah Taylor

Deborah Taylor

Hawkes Bay Regional Advocate

022 088 7504
06 390 5728
Hawkesbay@PASAT.org.nz

Jennifer Shaw

Jennifer Shaw

Manawatu Regional Advocate

022 088 7505
06 392 1728
Manawatu@PASAT.org.nz

Lynne King

Lynne King

Wellington Regional Advocate

022 088 7507
04 391 1728
Wellington@PASAT.org.nz

Shannon Kerr

Shannon Kerr

Nelson Regional Advocate

022 088 7509
03 391 1728
Nelson@PASAT.org.nz

Marion Bayley

Marion Bayley

Canterbury Regional Advocate

022 088 7510
03 390 7728
Canterbury@PASAT.org.nz

Kim Raffaele

Kim Raffaele

Otago Regional Advocate

022 088 7512
03 395 6728
Otago@PASAT.org.nz

Safeguarding Adults From Abuse (SAFA) Coordinators

Denise Bethell

Denise Bethell

SAFA Coordinator, Mid-Central and Nationwide

022 473 6193
06 392 5312
Denise.Bethell@PASAT.org.nz

Emma Neilson

Emma Neilson

SAFA Coordinator, Auckland and Nationwide

022 101 4131
Emma.Neilson@PASAT.org.nz

Elizabeth Bennett

Elizabeth Bennett

SAFA Coordinator, Wellington and Nationwide

022 108 1846
Elizabeth.Bennett@PASAT.org.nz

Other Staff

Oliver Halford

Oliver Halford

General Manager

022 088 7429
03 383 7869
advocacy@PASAT.org.nz

Denise Bethell

Denise Bethell

Safeguarding Adults From Abuse Team Leader

022 473 6193
06 392 5312
Denise.Bethell@PASAT.org.nz

Johanna Lloyd

Johanna Lloyd

Administrater

Administrater@PASAT.org.nz

Nicola Green

Nicola Green

Administrater

Administrater@PASAT.org.nz

Erika Butters

Erika Butters

Strategic Advisor

Erika.Butters@PASAT.org.nz