Before starting coaching with Momenta, Amy reflects on how she approached situations.

“I was really shy and didn’t talk to anyone. I stayed away from everyone. Now, I talk to my colleagues. Volunteering has made me more aware of what I do around others and what I shouldn’t do. I have people skills, and my social skills are better,” she explains.

Amy’s newfound confidence has made her a valued team member at the Waipuna Hospice Op Shop, where she volunteers and is now responsible for her own department.  “I love the people here. It’s about the connections and being part of a team that cares,” she shares. She loves her workplace because the people are friendly and she feels part of a team. “Knowing that people believe in me has helped me believe in myself.”

Amy is clear about her goal of gaining paid employment. While she loves her volunteering role and hopes to retain it, securing part-time employment in a role she loves is a future focus. This would allow her to be financially independent. Amy recognises the importance of allowing time for her hobbies, like dancing and swimming. “These activities keep me balanced and happy,” she says.

Looking back on her coaching journey, Amy sees how it’s changed her life. “I wasn’t very confident or happy before. Now, I can start conversations and be myself.” This confidence has helped Amy realise that with her prior experience in paid employment, she can succeed again.

When asked about advice for others who might be considering coaching with Momenta, Amy had the following to say.“Before Momenta, I was shy and couldn’t talk to people. I was stuck in a rut, doing the same boring things. But when I came to Momenta – everything changed. The coaching helped me to be more me. They encourage you to think about your dreams – to make them come true.

Amy concludes by encouraging others to reach out and embrace new opportunities. “There is more out there than you think.”

Navigating the path to employment

A significant objective for many at Momenta is securing meaningful employment, a journey that can often appear daunting. To address this, we introduced the Work Confidence Programme in 2023, and our first group of participants enthusiastically responded.

The Work Confidence Programme is specifically crafted to bolster individuals, offering them the essential skills, mindset, and resources required for a confident transition into the workforce. Through the programme, we guide our clients towards clearer goal setting and understanding the steps necessary for achieving their employment ambitions.

Eligibility for the Work Confidence Programme is determined during the initial coaching sessions, where clients express an interest in or readiness to pursue paid employment.

Building skills for the future

The programme spans 15 weeks  and is facilitated by Life Skills Coach and Connector Beena Rugnathji.  Structured around weekly group sessions, activities are scheduled for two days each week. It covers key areas such as health and safety, workplace etiquette, cultural awareness, teamwork, understanding of workplace rights and responsibilities, and interview techniques.

Also, the program provides students with the chance to gain practical knowledge and enhance their learning. 

This includes visits to local businesses and charities, presentations by guest speakers from various support agencies, and presentations by Momenta team members.

The programme aims to equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of workplace dynamics, expectations, and the skills necessary for job application, interviewing, and employment success.

Celebrating growth and achievement

The programme concludes in a certification ceremony and presentation. This celebration includes sharing kai with the participants’ whanau, support staff, and the Momenta team, acknowledging the achievements and growth of all involved.

If you would like to learn more about any of Momenta’s programmes, please reach out.

Shelley is excited to be moving into a completely different sector and the learning and challenge that this encompasses. The essence of what Momenta does, working with people to pursue their dreams and goals, aligns with her values and commitment to serve the community in which she lives. Shelley has a heartfelt connection to Tauranga, being born here and lived here all her life. She also feels extremely fortunate that her two daughters still live here with her four beautiful grandchildren, which is who she loves to spend as much time as she can with. Welcome to the Momenta whānau Shelley!

Nahau te rourou, naku te rourou ka ora ai te manuhiri. With your basket of knowledge, and my basket of knowledge, the people will prosper.

Tania’s values driven leadership and her relentless focus on creating social impact have been instrumental in the transformation of Momenta. Furthermore, her sector knowledge, connections and reputation have added significant value and helped to transform the lives of the people we support.

Tania leaves Momenta a vastly different organisation from the one she inherited. We are now well positioned to flourish in an Enabling Good Lives (EGL) era, with these principles firmly embedded in our culture, processes, and work practices. We wish Tania all the very best in the next chapter of her professional life and are grateful for the time, energy and passion she invested in making Momenta the organisation it is today. Her legacy will endure for some time into the future.

As a Board we have been so fortunate to have a leader of Tania’s calibre at the helm of this very special organisation and we will miss her sharp mind, warm heart, determinedly innovative spirit, and fantastic sense of humour. We look forward to seeing her grow and thrive in her new role.

And now, as we begin the search for a new leader, we are once again so grateful for the transformation of Momenta under Tania’s leadership and the fulfilling lives our clients are now leading as a result – it is a legacy of which we hope she is incredibly proud.

Through this programme we want people to feel empowered, confident, accepted, connected and self-aware.

More details are under the programme tab on our website. Contact us if you’re interested in finding out more about the Discovery Programme.

Robbie talked to us about how being a leader can be incredibly lonely because it means stepping out into the unknown, journeying into spaces that feel really uncomfortable.

In 2015 Robbie co-founded @The Lucy Foundation (TLF), an Aotearoa-based social enterprise that supports disabled people into training and employment in the global coffee industry. TLF’s first project is based in Oaxaca, Mexico, where they work with locals with and without disabilities to regenerate the environment while developing a culture of disability rights and inclusivity through the production of coffee beans.