Kate Walkinshaw

Kate has been a practicing mediator in the area of Family Dispute Resolution for 10 years. She is a registered Social Worker and has a background in the areas of family harm and working alongside tamariki, rangatahi and their whānau in the capacity of supporting mental wellbeing and positive parenting tools and skills for parents/caregivers individually and within group work. 

Kate is passionate about her role as a mediator and enjoys working with parents who have separated and caregivers. Her practice is strengths-based, supporting people to make decisions that are in the best interests of their tamariki and rangatahi. She believes the process enables people to make their own decisions, which are best suited to them and their whānau. She feels privileged to be able to support whānau in making those decisions.

Kate believes the mediation process creates a safe space for parents/caregivers to continue to effectively communicate with one another outside of the mediation process. She believes that mediation can be a positive mechanism for parents/caregivers to create a co-parenting relationship built on effective collaborative communication which is centered around the needs and interests of their tamariki. 

Kate is also a Voice of the Child Practitioner, supporting tamariki and rangatahi to have a voice around decisions regarding them and their whānau in the Family Dispute Resolution process.

Kate was born and raised in Ōtautahi, she is a proud mother of an active boy, she enjoys time outside in the sunshine and loves spending time with her whānau. 

Kate is employed by Presbyterian Support Upper South Island and is the Team Leader within the Family Works Community team. Family Works supports whānau to build safer, more resilient, and connected, families/whānau and communities. Services are tailored to meet the needs of each child, young person, parent and whānau, while building on the strengths they already have. Informed by research and evidence, Family Works support people to reach positive solutions.