Free Public Advocacy Service

Carol

Carol is the founder of the Free Advocacy Service. Carol has worked in the community sector for a number of years, both in paid and volunteer positions. She is currently Chair for Tauranga Housing Advisory Trust, is on the governance committee for Here to Help U, volunteers for Under the Stars and is also involved with TCC Hub. 

Aside from children and gaining her degree, Carol counts her best days as those working with Mums and children in need, which also incorporated working with grandmothers with grandchildren and foster parents. When she became a welfare officer with the charity she worked with, she kept her role of working with parents, seeing the needs of people growing in numbers over 10 years ago. These people often missed out on entitlements from agencies due to their lack of knowledge, understanding and being pushed from one agency to another, and so the Free Public Advocacy Service was born.

Free Public Advocacy Service meets a real need for free advocacy in the Bay of Plenty that Carol has experienced first-hand through her past work. Both Clients and organisation have welcomed the service we provide. The more foot soldiers, advocates, we gain the more agencies we can set up.

Philippa

Philippa is one of our volunteers. Being at clinics, meeting new clients and helping to progress cases and needs is a highlight of her role.

Philippa is now retired after having had a long academic career in business schools at different universities in NZ and Australia. With her experience and expertise in teaching, writing and research, she is now using her skills to assist and advise those seeking to negotiate policies, processes and requirements of government departments and other organisations. 

Evita Mei

Evita Mei has 17 years of overseas administrative and human resource management experience. As a member of Good Neighbor, she has long provided services for community work. She is also a member of the New Zealand China Friendship Society and has long provided services and support for the association’s major public welfare activities. 

Kohe

Kohe is a founding member and the secretary for the Free Public Advocacy Service, as well as a cultural and care advisor. Her strengths are looking after and making sure her family and the wider public are ok.

Kohe also organised and helped ‘Under the stars’ group get up and running when the homeless situation was becoming a really big issue in Tauranga and the BOP.

Kohe worked as a teacher in childcare facilities in Brisbane and worked a lot with youth while living in Australia, mainly helping them achieve in the sporting arena. She was based in Brisbane for a number of years before returning home once her father fell ill. She adores mokopuna and loves to spend as much time with them as possible.

Kohe saw a need for the Advocacy Service while working (as a volunteer with the homeless). Many of whom could not help themselves in one way or another. As the homeless situation grew out of all proportion, she could see that organisations such as FPAS, JP’s and other similar Agencies became even more necessary.

Gen

Meet Gen, one of our advocates who is also a marvellous help to Carol.

Gen has a passion for advocacy work. This has developed over a lifetime of working with people from all cultures and walks of life.

She initially trained in nursing and worked in the field for five years. After raising her children, Gen studied as an adult student gaining a BA in Sociology which opened her eyes to the world. Since graduating Gen has worked with people in various social service roles for 25 years, most notably, 20 years as a Family Court Co-ordinator, co-ordinating professional services in the Family Court.

Gen offers an empathetic, practical, and empowering model, working with clients to assist them to resolve life’s challenges. 

Paul

Paul is a trustee of FPAS.

Paul’s background is in law and education and he spent a number of years as a welfare advocate for the intellectually disabled. In recent years he has worked as an educational advisor.

Paul supervises our charity and funding applications along with any admin he can help Carol with (a lot in recent times!).

Barry

Meet Barry, one of our volunteers. Barry has been married to Jill for 48 years and they are blessed to have three children and 12 grandchildren. His working life was in the Insurance industry and this has given him business acumen.

Barry has people skills and carries a need to see justice prevail, and a heart to help others.

Jing

With over 15 years of experience as a researcher in international relations, Jing has developed deep expertise and produced a strong record of publications in the field. She is also a trained mediator specializing in the prevention, mitigation, and resolution of armed conflicts.

Jing is an accomplished professional with extensive experience working with international organisations across the United States, Europe, and China. She has successfully managed complex, multi-stakeholder projects, fostered cross-cultural coordination, and led highly diverse teams in fast-paced and challenging environments.

Since relocating to New Zealand in 2024, Jing has been actively contributing to her community through volunteer work with RDA, SPCA, and Waipuna Hospice, reflecting her commitment to service and social impact.