Kia Ora
Ko Tanya toku ingoa
No South Africa ahau
I’m the Practice Manager at the Youth Health Clinic, I have been at the Youth Health Hub since it first opened. I am usually tucked away in the back office supporting everyone in the clinic, from the wonderful welcoming administration team and the highly skilled clinicians who are passionate about supporting rangatahi and their whanau with their health care needs and help support navigating the healthcare system.
My superpowers are my smile, hugs, cups of tea and milo! My other extraordinary powers are in office administration, trouble shooting and problem solving issues & IT computer savvy techy skills! I have huge passion for working in the community and believe everyone should have access to healthcare when they need it. It has been so amazing to be apart of the Youth Health Hub journey as it has grown over the years and continues to support the needs of the community.
Meet Michael Brenndorfer, our dedicated Youth Health Nurse Practitioner who has been a vital part of our clinic since 2017. Michael is passionate about empowering young people to live healthy, happy lives and be their true selves. With expertise in mental health support, sexual health, gender affirming care, chronic health issues, and navigating social stressors, Michael provides compassionate care tailored to each individual’s needs.
Beyond clinical expertise, Michael is deeply connected within our community, ensuring that every young person feels heard and supported. Outside of work, Michael enjoys punk rock music, tattoos, cats, and motorcycles, bringing a vibrant energy to everything they do. Connect with Michael Brenndorfer today and discover personalised care in a welcoming and youth-friendly environment.
Tēna koutou katoa, nau mai haere mai.
Ko Katie Lancaster toku ingoa.
No Heretaunga ahau.
I have been in the North Shore of Auckland since 2006. With my teacher husband and 2 school aged girls I enjoy exploring the beautiful coastal and bush lands of Aotearoa. Our family also volunteers for Blind Low Vision NZ helping raise guide dog puppies. I usually have a cuddly pup come to work with me. I have been practicing in health care settings for over 25 years. I have specialty experience working in mental health services with families, children, adolescents and adults. I am passionate about working collaboratively to support community well-being while advocating for diversity and inclusion. I work two days a week for Te Puna Manawa in the Primary Mental Health Team based at Glenfield. Over the rest of the week I do YHH provider work in the community alongside my private family therapy practice in Albany. I am a NZ Registered Occupational Therapist and have done additional training in Family Therapy.
My name is Rau Junior Atua-Tavai. I am the Youth Development lead and Parenting Coordinator working as part of the primary mental health team at the Youth Hub. A major part of my role is mentoring and facilitating Life skill programmes in schools. I also facilitate parenting programmes for young parents more specifically for young Dads. I love the work that I do and I am passionate about bringing positive change to rangatahi.
I enjoy working at the youth hub because each day brings something new and exciting to keep me on my toes. I enjoy being part of a team that is dynamic, supportive and willing to go the extra mile for our rangatahi, their whanau and community.
I am a registered Social Worker and a full member of Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers. I have three beautiful children and have a miniature poodle that keeps all of us company.
Hey there! Meet Mo, our nurse practitioner who’s been rocking the youth health scene for over 20 years. She’s all about helping young folks and those who care about them unleash their full potential and be their best selves. Mo’s not just experienced, she’s passionate about what she does. She is super connected and always has a can-do attitude. Oh, and don’t let her wrinkles (laughlines!) fool you—she’s young at heart and ready to tackle any physical, emotional, or social health challenge you throw her way.
If Mo can’t fix it herself, she’ll connect you with someone who can. So, whether you need advice, a check-up, or just a friendly ear, Mo’s here for you. Let’s make your health journey awesome together!
My name is Lorraine, and I am the Programme Manager for School Based Health Services (SBHS). This means that I work with the highly skilled nurses and doctors that deliver healthcare in schools in the West Auckland area. I am a Registered Nurse and have a passion for youth health, figuring out ways to ensure that young people achieve their health and wellbeing goals. I have been a nurse for over 25 years working in lots of different specialties. I used to work at Hobsonville Point Secondary School as a School Nurse. Meeting those young people gave me the passion for youth health. I have 3 young people at home as well. It is my pleasure to walk their path with them too.
My name is Heloise (pronounced El-o-ease) and I am the programme manager for Primary Mental Health Services. I am a Registered Nurse with over 30 years experience in Child and Youth Mental Health. Originally from the UK, I moved to Aotearoa in 2002. I am passionate about youth mental health and ensuring young people have access to opportunities to develop their full potential. When not working I enjoy walking my dog, reading, catching up with friends and regularly coming second to last in a local quiz team! My superpowers are my sense of humour and calm approach to most things.
Kia ora! My name is Jodi and my role is the Nurse Educator for School Based Health Services, which basically means I support the nurses who work in high schools, alternative education, teen parent units and kura in the Waitematā region.
I’ve been working in the Youth Health space as a registered nurse for over 20 years and just really love working in this space. There are some amazing people working in this space so it’s awesome to be able to support them to provide the kind of health care that young people deserve. If there’s something we can do better, please let us know!
Fakaalofa lahi atu and Talofa everyone. My name is Jane and I am the Youth Health Senior Administrator at the Youth Health Hub. In my role you will see me at the front desk or floating around our Youth Health clinics in Henderson or Glenfield. I provide IT and administrative support to our fantastic clinicians at the Youth Health clinics and our School Based Health Service teams. I am blessed with an amazing husband and together we have a wonderful 9 year old son. I genuinely care about our people and I am passionate about helping my community and this is why I love working at the Youth Health Hub.
Kia ora, my name is Sammi. I am a Youth Development Worker. I facilitate an environment where our beautiful rangatahi can be heard, seen and understood by enhancing their sense of belonging, self-worth and confidence. I’m passionate about supporting our rangatahi to unlock their full potential by pulling on all pillars of Hauora.
My role consists of many delights one of them being that I develop and deliver a young māmā’s programme in the Henderson area and another that I support both of our west and north clinics for face-to-face sessions. I believe how our rangatahi grow in each development domain depends largely on the resources, opportunities and relationships our environments provide. When we support our rangatahi in identifying their internal and external strengths, we create a golden opportunity that empowers them to thrive in any setting.
Kia ora, I’m Robyn, I have been a nurse for 22 years and have been working in youth health for the last 5 years. I am a community nurse prescriber in the Alternative Education space and I am passionate about ensuring rangatahi have a positive experience navigating the health system. I have 2 kids of my own, 2 dogs and 2 cats and we all live in organised chaos in northwest Auckland!
Kia ora my name is Tauave and I am one of the Primary Mental Health team administrators. I was born in the tiny Island of Kiribati in Micronesia but I come from a large family. I am passionate about primary mental health and the wellbeing of my family, friends and loved ones and hope to help where I can in the wider community. I believe that everyone anywhere regardless of their circumstances should have access to mental health services. We live most of our lives inside our head so let’s make it a nice place to be.
Hello! My name is Anita, and I’m a Nurse Educator with Te Puna Manawa, working within the School Based Health Services to support registered nurses in secondary schools. With nearly 40 years of experience as a registered nurse, my career has spanned diverse clinical settings, including an exciting period as a midwife. My passion for youth health ignited when I had the privilege of caring for a number of young mums during their pregnancies, births, and early motherhood.
This rewarding experience led me to explore working more comprehensively with tamariki and rangatahi. I achieved this when I stepped into a school nursing role, working clinically with our amazing youth for 13 years. During this time, I pursued postgraduate studies in youth health to enhance my expertise and continue providing the best care and support for our young people.
Over time, I found myself becoming more involved in and enjoying supporting nurses who work with our youth. This prompted me to move into the nurse educator space, where I could share my knowledge and experience to help other nurses working in schools. I now have the privilege of working alongside some exceptional youth health nurses, whose dedication and expertise is truly inspiring and making a difference in our rangatahis’ lives and health.
Kia ora ko Catherine Kamo tōku ingoa
E titiro ana āhau ki te maunga tūpuna, ko Mauao,
Me tōna ātārangī e tau mai ki runga o Waimapu,
Ki te whenua o ōku mātua tūpuna, Ngā uri o Ngatī Ruahine,
Ko Tamatea Arikinui te tangata,
I rere ia puta noa i te moana kīkorangi o Te Arawanui,
Ngā mokopuna o Raninui,
Takitimu ki runga, Takitumu ki raro.
Kia ora my name is Catherine my role at Te Puna Manawa is the Choices to Wellbeing Administrator. I have worked in Business Administration and Customer Service with over 15 years of experience in the public and private sector however this is hands down the most rewarding and fulfilling role I have been in. I am passionate about helping and supporting ngā tangata oranga hinengaro me te oranga wairua. I live in the takiwā o Te Wao Nui a Tiriwa (Waitakere Ranges) with my Whānau and love spending time with Whānau and friends.
As a proud Māori wahine, I am proud of who I am and I feel I can make a difference when working in the community. I believe that our lives speak louder than words and that our personal journeys help to shape who we are and what gives us our values. My passion is to see our people reach their potential and to become positive influences within their own whãnau and communities.
“Talofa lava and Kia ora my name is Jenee. I have recently joined the team at The Youth Health Hub as the Youth Health Clinic Receptionist. I’m the friendly face you’ll usually see when you walk into the clinic at both of our sites in Henderson and Glenfield. I help with scheduling, answering phones/queries, and making sure everything runs smoothly at the front desk. I’m passionate about creating a welcoming, judgment-free space where rangatahi feel comfortable and supported while also giving back to my community. Whether you’re here for an appointment or just have a quick question, I’m always happy to help.
I’m Samoan/Maori, born and raised in West Auckland, and proud of where I come from. I’ve been with my high school sweetheart for 10 years, and outside of work you’ll usually find me playing netball or spending time with my whanau & friends.”
Hi, I’m Chev! I bring seven years of diverse nursing experience across a range of clinical settings, which has shaped my holistic approach to healthcare. Currently, I’m proud to work in a dual role with Te Puna Manawa, where I divide my time between the Youth Health Hub and Alternative Education, supporting young people in both clinical and community environments.
I love working in youth health because it gives me the chance to support young people at a pivotal stage in their lives. Helping them navigate challenges, build confidence, and access the care they need is incredibly rewarding. It’s inspiring to be part of their journey and contribute to shaping healthier, more empowered futures.
As a parent to both a young adult son and a teenager, my own experiences have given me a genuine understanding of the challenges our youth face, and I’m committed to supporting and empowering young people to thrive.
Born and raised in West Auckland myself, it is a privilege to be giving back to the community that shaped me.
Kia Ora! My name is Louisa. I’ve been in the health sector for the last 12 years, and have been involved in the Youth Health space for the last 3 years. I am currently working in the Youth Health Hub clinic and in the Alternative Education space with our rangatahi. I love being able to drive positive change, support young people to achieve their goals, and help with breaking down any barriers to their health. My husband and I have a beautiful 1 year old daughter, 2 parrots, and a mischievous dog. I love getting out in nature as often as I can.
Hola! My name is Tamara. I have been a nurse for over four years now. My nursing career started in urgent and primary care. I have always known that I wanted to be a nurse, it is a calling. I love being around people and building relationships with all around me. I was born and raised in Chile and migrated to Auckland in 2008, I speak both Spanish and English fluently. In my free time I am Girl Guide leader, I am part of a Chilean dance group and I love going camping with my small family whenever possible.
Kia ora, my name is Kate. I have been a nurse for over 20 years. I have worked with children and young people in Australia and the Caribbean in settings such as hospitals, schools and youth health clinics. I have speciality experience working in areas of sexual health, eating disorders, substance use and chronic health conditions. In 2025 I relocated to Aotearoa and am excited to continue my nursing journey at the Youth Health Hub. I am passionate about helping young people to reach their health and wellbeing goals in a supportive, caring and safe space. When I am not working I love to explore the outdoors, go to gigs and spend time with my partner and daughter.
