I absolutely love working at DCM

Alex Talivai (Te Atiawa) is a Wellingtonian, born and bred.

“My mother lived a transient lifestyle; we moved about a lot. My earliest years were spent in Keneperu. Later we moved in to the city, where I started school. I didn’t really enjoy the time I spent at Newtown School – it’s a concrete environment, no grass or green about.

Later we moved to Taranaki, to New Plymouth where I went to intermediate. I enjoyed it there. Then back to Wellington where I went to Porirua College.”

Family is at the centre of Alex’s life. She is mum to seven children; they currently all live in the Wellington area. And she is a very proud grandmother of 20 mokopuna - the oldest is 24 years old and the youngest three months old, born in May, not long after we came out of lock-down.

Much of her career has been focused on supporting vulnerable families and children. She started working at CYFS in 1996. They were a good employer, offering flexible work around her child-care.

“I also fostered children, then decided to go on to study – social work. Sia and I were at Whitirea together. Classes were three nights a week, and all day Saturday over a two year period.”

Her heart for vulnerable children and young people was also reflected in time at the family home in Strathmore.

Times were not always easy for Alex. “I first came to DCM as taumai; I loved the kaupapa even then. I also saw the dentist in the same space that we now have DCM’s dental service. Later, I had contact with and worked alongside DCM as part of my roles at WINZ.”

From 2004-2016, Alex was working for Work and Income, for many years out at Kilbirnie then towards the end of her time there, back in Wellington. She enjoyed her work, and appreciated having great colleagues, and very good managers.

“But by this time, I was looking for a change. I didn’t want to climb the ladder, but I did want a new challenge. I very seldom got to see the end product of my mahi; it was all very short term. I wanted the connections, to be part of the ongoing journey.”

When Alex heard about a job going at DCM, she knew that it was just what she wanted. But it was 20 years since she had put together a CV or been for an interview.

“Henry was one of our amazing work brokers at Work and Income, so I spoke with him. He supported me, helping me to put together my CV. He role played practice interviews with me; he really was part of me getting the job.”

“I was offered an interview, and I was definitely nervous. I really, really wanted to work here. And then I was offered the job! I was over the moon. Henry was over the moon for me.”

“Back at DCM, it felt just like coming home. Now I could contribute, I could lift up people just as I had been lifted up when I had come to DCM as taumai.”

Alex hasn’t looked back. She is loving the job at DCM every bit as much as she hoped she would. “Every day is different. I love the variety. I love the challenging personalities of our taumai. I enjoy seeing the regulars in the morning, and I absolutely love my colleagues here at DCM.

“I like that DCM and our leaders are all open to change and to kōrero; we can question and discuss things. I have been part of cultures where we cannot question things - it is ‘do it this way, because we said so’. And so I really value this culture at DCM.”

“I enjoy the waiata and karakia in the morning – it really does prepare us for the day – and again at the end of the day. It is cleansing, an opportunity to release the day, not take things home with you.”

“What would I say to anyone thinking about coming to work at DCM? If you have a heart for it, go for it!! You can make a difference to someone’s life. To put it bluntly, you are a fool if you don’t take up an opportunity to be part of this team!”