Melanie Torkington. Te Waka Founder, Service Manager, Social Worker & Therapist
​

​Who: Mel grew up in Leigh and has long standing connections to the wider Wellsford and Whakapirau area through whakapapa and professional involvement. She has fought to build resources and support services in the area, both in her previous roles and now through filling the gap for at risk youth, with Te Waka youth services.
 
Her passion and life mission is to see young people overcome situational barriers, reach their potential and achieve their own self-determined dreams. Mel aims to facilitate opportunities that foster a holistically healthy community of support in which young people can heal and thrive, in turn, strengthening and nourishing the foundations of the future generations under them. Having spent time working in Statutory and NGO youth and family focused organisations, Mel is well experienced in a number of settings and systems, and has seen a lot about what works well with youth and also why some things don’t.
 
Specialised in Adolescent mental health, suicide prevention and trauma informed practice, one of Mel’s most popular therapeutic approaches is EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitisation Reprocessing), which works to reprocess influencing experiences and is well known to have immediate results in improved sleep, better concentration, better communication and social skills, reduced anxiety, improved mood, improved emotional regulation and anger management, reduction in self harm or suicide ideation and dramatic reduction in all Post Traumatic Stress symptoms. This therapy works amazingly with any kind of experience that is traumatic or led to ‘false learning’, and does not require disclosure or to retell the event, allowing it to be used safely with clients that are non-verbal, shut down or do not wish to discuss the event.
Mel is currently on maternity leave.
 
Qualifications :         Bachelor of Social Work. Honours. Massey University.
                                  Registered Social Worker and Annual Practicing Certificate.
                                  Certified EMDR Therapist.
                                  Certified in EMDR with Children and Adolescents. 
                                  Level 3 practitioner in EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique).
 
Contact:                     027 643 1517
Tewakayouth@gmail.com
Te Waka Youth
Coast to Coast Hauora Trust,
72 School Road,
Wellsford, 0900. 
PO Box 66, 
Wellsford 0940

​

---

He Tangata, He Tangata, He Tangata,

"​If you ask me what is the most important thing in the world...I will tell you this is my answer. He tangata, People. The connections between them and connections with the world around them.
For me, I really do believe we are all in this together. Life can be fun, beautiful, sad and really hard. We are not designed to exist in isolation, without others to prop us up and remind us who we are, when we need it. To remind us of our truth.
I don’t know where I’d be if it hadn’t been for the people that were there for me as a young person, while I was trying to make my way in the world...sometimes in a world that i felt was against me or that I didn’t fit in. Life can get dark sometimes. Sometimes it can be hard to see the stepping stones out. How are you even meant to know that there are stones to step on, or where they are, if no ones showing you?
I believe that everything we go through can lead us to be a victim, a survivor or a conqueror. Sometimes you need to be all three in turn....sometimes it’s ok to just get by and live one day at a time, but when you can take what life has handed you and turn it into a strength or a tool, in which to do better than before and even lead the way out of the dark for other people that are still there, when you can give back....then you have won. You have conquered.
I know how important it is to have someone who is for you, to have a place where you are wanted, accepted and where you feel you belong... I also know how healing and fulfilling it is to be the one to give the pat on the back, to give the time, to be the mentor, to be the one someone opens up to, and give back in whatever way that you can. For your story to have meant something. We all need both of these things at sometime.
Te Waka will be a place for all. Tuakana needs Teina to give purpose and fulfillment as much as Teina needs Tuakana to show them the way.
I can’t wait to start this journey with you. We’re all in this together. Let’s empower our young people to steer the path they need for themselves and future generations.
Get onboard.
He waka eke noa. (We are all in the same boat, without exception)."
- Mel