Peer Support
Team
Asian Peer Support Group
Timmy Li
I’m studying Psychology and Education at Victoria University of Wellington and will be finishing my degree soon. I first came to New Zealand from Shenzhen, China when I was 14, and that journey has shaped a lot of how I see identity and belonging. I’m really passionate about mental health and that’s what brought me to Trauma Recovery Aotearoa — I want to learn, connect, and give back where I can.
UPLIFT Peer Support Group
Nik Sala
Good with people, I have found a calling finding work in creative and supportive spaces interfacing with people’s disturbance and suffering towards some kind of amelioration, increased self understanding and agency.
Able to hold space for those living with traumatic disturbance and mental health issues, I have skills and experience working with Tangata Whaiora in creative or therapeutic environments and peer support roles (Vincents Community Arts workshop, Te Whare o Matairangi, Men and Trauma NZ, Whakamatutu), employing art as a tool for personal process and healing.
“In my place of work, I see many people work with tangata whaiora utilising art as a tool for engagement, hope, recovery and health. In comparison, Nik’s work with tangata whaiora is unmatched. The care, passion and love that he delivers through his art not only creates engagement, hope, recovery and health but a sense of humanity that can be lost a lot of the time when working with tangata whaiora.”
– Sara Tamati, Former staff member at Te Whare o Matarangi
Coming from a background in personal trauma amidst unresolved intergenerational traumatic experience in my family and broader society, I am familiar with numerous mental health issues intersecting addiction, alcoholism, sexual abuse, suicide, anger and violence, bullying, divorce and broken families, among others.
