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MA, BA, Registered Psychologist Michael is of Samoan descent, and was born and raised in New Zealand. His father, from Faleapuna, and mother, from Vailu'utai, came to Aotearoa with the first generation of Samoan migrants in the 1940s. Michael has a broad range of Pacific community experience gained over 25 years as a practitioner. He has worked as a statutory social worker for Child, Youth and Family Services and the Corrections Department, a community worker, family court counsellor, facilitator for stopping violence and sex offenders, and also in private practice as a counsellor. For the past 11 years, Michael has managed the LDS Family Service, a church-based organisation for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (LDS). His primary role is to manage, supervise and train a team of 20 professional practitioners throughout New Zealand. He also provides training and consultation for ecclesiastical leaders (ministers) in New Zealand and the Pacific region to address sexual and physical abuse, parenting skills and family trauma. In the South Pacific he has implemented counselling services for Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Tahiti. His community work has also involved setting up a registration pathway for Pasifika community workers to become ACC registered. Email Michael |