Ciaran Torrington a Counsellor, ACC Sexual Abuse Therapist & Assessor and Teri Stout an Acupuncturist and Energy Healer had both worked within the isolated rural community of Kaitaia to support Maori and Pakeha victims of sexual abuse to heal for nearly two decades.
Survivors of child sexual abuse themselves they both understood the harm and suffering experienced from childhood trauma and the deep loneliness that this suffering invokes. In recent years they recognised the increasing need to step out of their therapy rooms and stand up for the victims of sexual abuse in their community if they were ever to see change in their lifetime.
In 2014 Ciaran began writing and presenting within the community to educate the public about the impact on sexual abuse to change community attitudes to survivors. She won the AMP Dynamics Scholarship in 2016 for efforts. In 2017 Teri joined Ciaran in presenting trauma informed workshops and with the support of NorthTec implemented an annual education program across Northland.
It was both a personal and professional risk to stand up and tell their stories to help other victims to find support and come forward and they faced many challenges and adversity along the way but their determination to bring change began to grow and find momentum as other victims and advocates reached out to them for support.
After 2 years of planning in March 2018 Ciaran Torrington and Teri Stout attended the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations in New York where they presented on the challenges facing rural women in addressing sexual abuse within the community.Inspired by the worldwide fight gathering at CSW against sexual abuse Ciaran formed the idea of developing a charity to fight back against sexual abuse within the Kaitaia Community and Teri equally saw that the journey to New York was the opportunity for a new chapter.
On their return to Kaitaia Teri and Ciaran began having informal meetings developing the concept of a trauma charity and on June 4th they had their first official board meeting with Mary Wikaira-Ewen where the name HEALnz was officially adopted for the charity. The application for charitable status was completed on the 11th September 2018, 5 months after their trip to NY and in honour of 125 years of Women’s Suffrage.