From clinical to leadership roles in the social sector, the career of Pathway Trust reintegration manager Aland Fish is as varied as the people we work with and the services we offer.
Aland started at the beginning of the year and is settling into what is a demanding yet rewarding role, a challenge he has taken on with gusto!
Originally from the UK, Aland moved to New Zealand with his family in 2004 after initially visiting for a holiday. Being quite taken with this beautiful country of ours, they decided to up sticks and make a fresh start.
A former homoeopath, he gravitated towards social work later in life and gained his qualification at Exeter University in England.
Since then he has worked as a clinician or in leadership roles in areas including youth offending, adult and childrens' mental health, forensic psychiatry, addiction, harmful sexual behaviour and most recently as an advocate for care-experienced young people.
Aland spent six years at Stepping Stone Trust as service manager and while there, founded the New Zealand Youth Recovery College Reframe Wananga, which hosts courses on recovery from clinical and lived-experience perspectives.
He was inspired to apply for the role with Pathway by faith, the immense pride in which Pathway has in its work and the powerful change that has taken place in the lives of many Tū Ora.
"Working in the social services sector can often be very complex, but at the heart of that is belief in others to make change and take leadership of their lives," Aland says.
"As simple as this sounds, it can seem like an insurmountable mountain for some, so a high degree of sensitivity to each person's worldview is an important element of supporting others as we walk alongside them."
"My longer term goals are to enable the growth of the services we provide and to look for new opportunities in how we can support the people we work with."
The breadth and depth of Aland's experience is a huge boon for Pathway and stands us in good stead as we look towards the future shape of our social services, He Kete o te Mana Wāhine and our flagship Navigate Initiative.
Please join us in welcoming Aland to the Pathway family!