Tessa Aranga

Mauri ora! Ko Tessa Aranga ahau. Ko Ngāi Tūhoe me Ngāpuhi ngā iwi. I am a registered social worker with 12 years’ experience across statutory and community organisations, which has enabled me to develop a strong, adaptable practice grounded in the core competencies of the Aotearoa New Zealand Association of Social Workers (ANZASW). My mahi is guided by a commitment to ethical, accountable, and reflective practice, with a focus on upholding the mana, dignity, and self-determination of the whānau I serve. Since 2023, I have been providing professional and cultural supervision, where I support practitioners to strengthen their critical reflection, professional judgement, and culturally responsive practice. I have a particular passion for supporting practitioners working alongside Māori whānau. I am committed to strengthening culturally grounded practice by supporting kaimahi to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi in their mahi, engage in meaningful partnerships, and work in ways that are mana-enhancing and responsive to the aspirations of whānau Māori. I provide dedicated tautoko for those seeking to build their cultural capability, confidence, and understanding, ensuring their practice is both ethically sound and culturally safe. I believe that strong, reflective supervision is essential in sustaining kaimahi to do this important mahi well, particularly when working with whānau experiencing vulnerability, and I am dedicated to walking alongside practitioners as they grow and thrive in their practice.