A society where all citizens lead good lives.
We are proud that our Principles reflect and endorse the Vision and Principles of Enabling Good Lives.
The Federation’s core Principles are:
Our objective is to provide impartial information and advisory services, through a network of independent community Centres nationwide that operate according to established National Standards.
The Federation holds formal working protocols with the following strategically associated organisations, in order to network and overcome perceived funding and service overlaps.
These relationships also assist in identifying service gaps and opportunities, as does the Federation’s facility of consistent New Zealand wide service statistics.
Collectively, our Centres service over 450,000 client enquiries each year for generic disability information needs.
Lisa is the Director of Complex Care Group, a national organisation. Complex Care Group provides information and support for family's and carers who are provideing an intensive level of care for a disabled child/young adult. Lisa is the proud mother of a 24yr old man with autism and intellectual disability. She has a particular interest in the support needs of those with high and complex needs.
Debbie has been part of the disability sector since 2005. Beginning in Invercargill with the Disability Resource Centre Southland and from 2015 as General Manager of the Disability Information Service Otago. She has spent time over these years in project management roles for the Federation, administering consumer consultation projects for the Ministry of Health. She values and enjoys people, sharing in their stories and journey and helping people source what they need to be informed and make choices that are right for them. Her philosophy is simple, best reflected in these words, he tāngata, he tāngata, he tāngata. It is people, it is people, it is people.
Previously working in accountancy and passionate about people Julie was able to transfer her skills to charity when she started with The Disabled Persons Centre Trust T/A Aspire Canterbury in 2019. Julie says "The New Zealand Federation of Disability Information Centres is extremely important to me. There is strength in having a national footprint, allowing a greater reach for the people we serve to experience information, products and services. An ability to assist all the people that contact us regardless of age, gender, race or disability."
Carol has been involved with the Federation since 2003. She was an Executive Committee Member, serving as Treasurer, Vice-President and President. She has worked in women's health and mental health, and was the General Manager of DRC Southland and DRC Queenstown for 13 years. In 2012 Carol became the Executive Officer for the Federation. Carol is committed to ensuring Federation Members have access to information and resources that they can use to provide high quality services to their communities. In 2016 Carol was made a Life Member of the Federation.
Bron has been the Chief Executive Officer for the Disabilities Resource Centre Trust for the past twenty four years. She has served on the Chamber of Commerce for sixteen years with two tenures as President. A former Federation President and a Life Member, Bron has over 24 years of governance and senior management experience. As a recognised leader she is regularly asked to be an advisor to government on health and disbility matters. Bron is dedicated to supporting and enhancing our Members ability to continue to deliver exceptional services.
Richard has been associated with the Federation for over 15 years, since he was a sponsor of the national conference when he was with Careerforce. His work became even closer to our Federation goals when he joined Aspire and then Independent Living Charitable Trust. Richard is well known as MC for the Federation National Training Conference. His governance experience includes serving on the Methodist Board Of Aotearoa, Porirua Police Museum, Halswell AFC Football Club, Selwyn football club, Wairakei School Board, Springston Community Board and Springston Envirotown.
Carol is a Board member of NorthAble Matapuna Hauora after moving to Northland 4 years ago. Carol has worked at a senior level in government agencies, was appointed as the first Deputy Director General of Disability Support Services in the Ministry of Health. Carol has managed several services in the health, disability, mental health, and addiction sectors. In governance roles, Carol has assisted in establishing Trusts such as Take My Hands Trust and worked alongside Boards to ensure sound governance practices are in place. In Northland, this has included becoming the Chair of the Whangarei Budgeting Service. Carol enjoys working alongside teams to assist them in developing their full potential and ensure that vulnerable families within the community are supported well so they can live their best lives.
Being a Member of the Federation gives you exclusive access to a range of opportunities that will help to enhance your service provision and strengthen your business capabilities.
An affiliate membership with The Federation will enable you to tap into a range of organisations and experience across the country that will allow you to:
