I took on the role of Community Facilitator for the North Shore Chinese Community Network Trust (NZCCNT) a little over 18 months ago. We are a local organisation deeply connected with the local Chinese community for more than two decades to date. We are a platform that aims to educate and connect the Chinese community to better integrate into life in New Zealand and be engaging and contributing citizens of the community.

We host monthly meetings where we bring together leaders from Chinese associations, representatives from Chinese non-profit organisations that educate or offer services to improve quality of life in New Zealand, as well as government representatives, to share information, learn from each other, network, and learn from guest speakers about how things work in New Zealand.
Even though I have lived in New Zealand from primary school to university, and all my working life to date, and despite sitting in a few committees in my past life working at the University of Auckland, I felt like a newborn when it comes to how committees and how non-profit organisations should work as legislated, as well as their roles and responsibilities. As such, I was truly grateful when I was recommended by different contacts, including representatives from Auckland Council and the Devonport-Takapuna Local Board, to look at doing courses ANCAD has on offer so that I can build the necessary foundation required to do my job.

Since completing my first training with them, I have been recommending their training to other community leaders.

Without ANCAD’s programme of learning and support, I would be at a greater loss as I try to navigate the various relevant websites, regulations, took kits, and would have struggled even more to learn how to do my role, let alone support other community leaders on what they should or should not be doing.

In my humble opinion, ANCAD’s training – the LiiFT Aotearoa programme – was like a beacon of light for someone new into the charitable community, and a necessary place for those who have been supporting the community for a long time to continue their professional development and keep themselves up to date with the current best practices and regulations.

ANCAD’s training programme makes a significant contribution to the betterment of our community and provides an essential service for those working in the charitable community.

I thank their staff from the bottom of my heart for all the work that they do to support us, and I look forward to doing more trainings with them, for my own continued education, and so that I can in turn better support and educate those in our network.

Written by Tessie Chen, Community Facilitator, North Shore Chinese Community Network Trust.