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THE NEWS How long have you been with the CP Society and what is your job? I am a Member Support and Programmes Coordinator. I have been with the Society for two years. What do you love about your job? I enjoy the variety of challenges and exposure I have gained in the Member Support team, and the fact that no two days are the same. One day, I could be supporting members through funding processes, and the next, researching housing options. Our membership is diverse and comes from all walks of life. What makes a successful day at work for you? Success for me is learning while helping. The team and I work with members nationally, which is a great opportunity to understand disability environments in different parts of Aotearoa New Zealand. Helping one member can give us the knowledge to help another. If resources and funds weren’t an issue, what would you like to see our members enjoying? An increase to the amount of funding available to them - funding that empowers members to make their own decisions. If funding resources were unlimited we could do so much more to help our members. Meet our team Theo van de Klundert Each edition we introduce you to a CPS teammember. Kia ora e te whānau Hōkai Nukurangi, Cerebral Palsy Societymembers. I hope that you’ve all had a good summer and enjoyed some quality time with whānau and friends. The Society held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) in October last year, and as a result, we’ve got a great Executive Committee for this current year. The committee members bring a great range of diverse experiences and ideas and I’m looking forward to the rest of the term ahead. I was very grateful to be re-elected to the committee at the AGM, and we welcomed new members Kris Edwards, Tiresa Sio and Murray Waring (who has returned after previously being on the Board from 2022-2024). At the end of last year Mike Bishop also joined the committee. We’re delighted that they have joined myself, Dr Meg Smith, Peter Wynne-Jones and Helena Chan. The Committee members are full of enthusiasm, ideas, experiences and expertise and I am confident that our collective strengths can guide the Society to bring benefits and support to our members. You can read about all the Executive Committee members on our website – www.cerebralpalsy. org.nz/about-us/our-committee Earlier this year, changes to Disability Support Services (DSS) funded supports came into effect. DSS says the changes will make flexible funding easier to use and the process more transparent. All Needs Assessment and Service Coordination (NASC) providers will From the Chair Daniel Clay Chairperson use a single, standardised assessment tool. The changes started from mid-February for people new to DSS. If you already get DSS funded supports, the changes start in April. After all the disruption and stress caused by the funding changes in 2024, I’m hopeful that this will work well for our members and provide the support required. The Society will be monitoring the situation to see how the changes impact you and your whānau. There’s more information here: www.tinyurl.com/4wfym3ev I’m excited about 2026: • The Advocacy Committee is making great progress in terms of meeting with representatives from the various political parties in the lead up to the general elections • We will continue working with government Ministries on specific issues, such as the Disability Strategy Refresh, the Accessibility Work Programme, and making submissions when relevant • We will continue representing Aotearoa New Zealand and the CP community through our international connections – such as our recent membership to the International Cerebral Palsy Society. All the best to you and your whānau. Ngā mihi nui, 4 | THE REVIEW MARCH 2026