At Land Information Freehold Education (LIFE) Trust (Charitable Trust Registration: CC6335), we use Toi Whakapapa and personal stories — memories, art, family trees, parents’ homes, kitchens, backyards and letterboxes — to secure tino rangatiratanga (self-determination).

The Toi Whakapapa programme supports people to reconnect with whakapapa, identity and land through personal storytelling and creative practice. It supports Work and Income clients living with the effects of trauma, offering a safe, culturally grounded route to healing and self-determination.

We are currently seeking a qualified Art Therapist to run creative sessions in the Toi Whakapapa Educational Programme, using trauma-informed, mana-enhancing practice that blends clinical art therapy with kaupapa Māori values.

Tasks include:

• Running creative sessions in the Toi Whakapapa Educational Programme
• Supporting clients to explore identity and whakapapa through visual media
• Practising in a trauma-informed, mana-enhancing way

Special Skills Required:

• Recognised art therapy qualifications and clinical practice experience
• Experience working with trauma, identity and cultural wellbeing
• The ability to build kaupapa Māori values into therapeutic practice
• Confidence using everyday business technology, such as email, online meeting platforms and document sharing

Expected Personality: Culturally grounded, trauma-informed and clinically skilled. Passionate about Māori identity, healing and community empowerment. Collaborative.

Days, Hours for Role: Wednesdays from 11:00 to 1:00, with additional independent work. This role runs for several months, for the duration of the initiative.

Training Provided: The LIFE Trust team will provide programme context and kaupapa orientation.