Meet the Team

Joe Asghar’s multi-layered experience spans health and government and includes roles at the Royal Society of New Zealand, Diabetes NZ, ACC and Physiotherapy NZ.

Actively involved in a range of community groups and networks, Joe does volunteer work with the homeless, is a Justice of the Peace, chair of Te Awakairangi Health Network, a member of the Pharmacy Council Professional Conduct Committee and General Practice NZ Strategic Council.

He’s also heavily involved with Rotary and the Onslow Community Church in Ngaio, Wellington.

He considers the work of PSC and its amazing team as essential in today’s society where those in need are often overlooked or left alone. Joe is driven by the objects of the organisation to be there for those who need that help and support

In his spare time, Joe enjoys fishing, DIY and going to the movies with his family.

Nicola is the Chief Operating Office for Presbyterian Support Central. In this role she has responsibility for both Enliven and Family Works services.

Originally an Occupational Therapist, Nicola left clinical work in the late 1980s to become Registrar of the Occupational Therapy Board. Since then her career has spanned a range of health management roles, including Quality Manager for the Royal New Zealand College of General Practitioners, Service Manager at Hutt Hospital, Integrated Care Manager and then Older Persons Funding and Planning Manager at Hutt DHB. Nicola joined Presbyterian Support Central in 2006.

Nicola is also on the NZCCSS Older persons policy group and was an Eden in Oz and NZ Board member between 2009 and 2017.

Jonathan joined PSC in 2021, attracted to the organisations values and is passionate about the opportunity to make a positive difference in the lives of those in need and for the communities that we serve. In his spare time, Jonathan enjoys watching Basketball, walks with his Japanese x German Spitz (Evie), and spending quality time with his family.

Andrea joined Presbyterian Support Central in late 2022 and is the Chief Financial Officer.

Anthony joined PSC in 2017 and is part of the senior leadership team at Presbyterian Support Central responsible for the strategic direction of our property portfolio. In his role as General Manager of Property, he is accountable for all property assets, strategic asset management, site development and maintenance.

Sara is a senior practitioner registered social worker, who has an extensive 25-year history working in social services in New Plymouth. Sara also has a Post Graduate Diploma in Health Science, with a specialization in Addiction and Mental Health.  She has been the Team Manager of Family Works Taranaki since June 2022.

Sara has worked in a wide variety of roles in Taranaki, including education, government departments, and NGO’s. She has always had a strong youth emphasis in her roles, with a focus on the prevention of youth offending by addressing many of the negative early life experiences that contribute to the reasons for the offending. It was this passion, and the strong conviction that education was key to lasting change for young people, that led her to form Starfish Group Project, an NGO with the focus being on support and change for rangatahi.

After seven years in her role at Starfish Project, Sara made the change to Family Works. Being a larger NGO and New Zealand wide, Sara firmly believes positive and lasting change can be achieved through this medium for whānau in her community.

MEMBERSHIPS: 
SWRB – Social Work Registration Board 
ANZASW – Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers 
DAPAANZ – Addiction Practitioners’ Association Aotearoa New Zealand 

Taiana has a bi-cultural degree in Social Work and has significant experience in supporting children, families and young people in the community. She is an experienced group facilitator and fully trained professional supervisor. In her spare time Taiana enjoys volunteer work, particularly leadership within the Girls Brigade and other church-based programmes.

Shelly has been with Family Works since 2011 as a Practice Leader and Social Worker. In her role Shelly undertakes counselling, social work and advocacy, and case management. She provides internal supervision to other Family Works staff as well as auditing files and case management.

Shelly is an experienced and accredited Restorative Justice facilitator (including family violence RJ), she is also a Parenting Through Separation and Incredible Years group facilitator.

Shelly holds a Bicultural Bachelor’s Degree in Social Work, as well as certificates for Biculturalism in Practice, Teacher Aide, and Child Protection Studies.

Outside of work Shelly volunteers for local organisations and schools, play softball and manages both softball and rugby teams.

Amanda (“Manda”) is a Registered Social Worker with postgraduate qualifications in counselling. She brings extensive experience providing therapeutic support to children, young people, and adults impacted by domestic and family violence, sexual assault and abuse, trauma, and grief and loss.

Manda has worked closely with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities across Australia, supporting individuals and families affected by abuse, neglect, and transgenerational trauma. Her practice is grounded in cultural humility, respect, and a deep commitment to trauma-informed care.

Throughout her career, Manda has held diverse roles including manager, clinical supervisor, counsellor, and statutory social worker. These experiences have strengthened her leadership capability, clinical expertise, and dedication to ethical, client-centred practice.

Beyond her professional life, Manda is culturally curious and enjoys exploring new places. She also has a keen interest in mineralogy, reflecting her appreciation for the natural world and lifelong learning.

Practice Manager -Social Workers in Schools (SWiS)

Cliff is a registered Social Worker with over 30 years experience since graduating in the UK. He joined Family Works in 2022 as the Senior Social Worker at the Upper Hutt site before moving on to his current role based at Central Office in Porirua two years ago.

The SWiS Team work within 12 local primary and intermediate schools, to provide social work support to individual children and their whanau, also operating different programmes to selected groups of children.

Cliff’s role entails working closely alongside statutory social workers and other community-based NGO’s, in order to best meet the needs of those referred to the SWiS service, this is something that he particularly enjoys.

Outside of the working environment Cliff’s passions are listening to music, travel, reading and sport. He is a keen runner and tennis player and recently took up padel tennis.