Jo Voice

Jo is a registered social worker with more than 20 years' experience working alongside tamariki, rangatahi and whānau across child protection, family violence, Family Court, and community development services. As a Voice of Child Practitioner, she believes every child deserves to feel safe, respected and genuinely heard. Jo is committed to creating trusting relationships that enable children to express their views in ways that are meaningful and authentic to them.

She believes every child has the right to be heard and to have their views understood within the context of their unique relationships, culture and lived experiences. Her role is not to influence what children say, but to build trusting relationships that enable them to express themselves in ways that are comfortable and appropriate for them. Jo approaches each child with curiosity, empathy and respect, recognising that every child communicates differently and deserves to feel safe, valued and listened to throughout the Family Dispute Resolution process.

Alongside her Voice of Child work, Jo provides external professional supervision and enjoys supporting practitioners to grow in confidence and reflective practice. She is an Atlantic Institute Fellow, with a particular interest in community-led development and systems change and is currently leading an initiative to strengthen support for grandparents raising mokopuna. Jo also contributes to the profession through published writing and enjoys designing and delivering training and workshops that strengthen reflective practice, leadership and child-centered social work. Outside of work, she enjoys life in Whanganui with her husband, numerous foster children, cat and five chickens.