Supporting whānau towards brighter days

Steady, practical, and deeply relational, Eunice Solomon is the kind of kaimahi whānau turn to when life feels overwhelming and uncertain. Across Barnardos Early Learning Centres in Tāmaki Makaurau, she walks alongside families as a Kaimanaaki Whanaū Worker (Child and Family Practitioner), offering consistent support through some of their most challenging moments.

Born and raised in the Philippines, Eunice moved to Aotearoa in 2006 at the age of 16. Like many young people adjusting to a new country, she was navigating education, identity, and belonging all at once.

“I came here when I was 16. Everything was new,” she says. “But over time, this place became home.”

Eunice went on to study education at the University of Auckland, specialising in teaching. While studying, she worked at a community kindergarten in Ōtara, South Auckland – an experience that would shape the direction of her career.

The journey to Barnardos

Working alongside Pacific and Māori communities, she began to see the wider realities impacting whānau beyond the classroom.

“That was the first time I really understood what some families were going through,” she says. “It wasn’t just about teaching children. It was about understanding the whole whānau.”

Seeing the impact of housing pressure, food insecurity, and limited access to support services shifted her focus. Eunice knew she wanted to work in a space where she could support both children and their whānau in a more holistic way.

That pathway eventually led her to her role as a Kaimanaaki Worker (Child and Family Practitioner) within Barnardos’ Te Korowai Mokopuna service, supporting whānau across Barnardos Early Learning Centres in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland.

“It made so much sense for me,” she says. “My background in education helps me support whānau in practical ways, but also in understanding what they’re going through.”

Her mahi is grounded in relationships and presence. Whether she is on the floor in the centre building trust with tamariki, facilitating parenting programmes, supporting home visits, or attending appointments alongside whānau, Eunice sees every part of her role as connected.

“It’s not just one part of the day. It’s everything. We’re building relationships with children, teachers, and whānau. It’s all connected.”

It’s the small things

One story that stays with her involves supporting a mother navigating family breakdown, overcrowded housing, and the responsibility of caring for extended whānau, including a young relative who had been left in her care. The pressure at home was intense, with limited space, ongoing conflict within the wider whānau network, and the added stress of trying to keep everything together for the children.

Through consistent support, advocacy, and practical assistance, Eunice walked alongside the whānau step by step. This included providing food and petrol vouchers, essential items through donations, and support to help them transition into more stable housing. Through Eunice’s advocacy, the whānau also received furniture and basic household needs, helping them start again in a safer and more settled environment.

For the children, the difference was visible over time. They moved from instability into a space where routines could begin to form again, and their wellbeing at the centre improved as they became more settled. Eunice also supported with school transitions and uniforms, helping reduce barriers so the children could stay connected to education.

“When she messaged to say thank you, it reminded me why I do this,” Eunice says. “It wasn’t one big thing. It was lots of small things at different points that helped them get through.”

For Eunice, the impact wasn’t just in the practical support, but in seeing the whānau slowly regain a sense of stability and confidence to manage day to day life again.

She also sees how important it is for tamariki to feel safe and settled in their learning environments. For some children, the Barnardos Early Learning centre provides consistency, kai, and care that may not always be available elsewhere.

“At times, being here gives tamariki stability and gives parents a chance to breathe. That matters.”

What encourages Eunice in her mahi is seeing change, even when it is gradual. A child attending regularly, a parent gaining confidence to reach out for support, or a whānau feeling ready to step forward on their own.

“When families are ready to close their case but know they can come back anytime, that’s a good place to be,” she says. “It means they’re doing well, and they know we’re still here.”

For Eunice, Te Korowai Mokopuna is more than an approach. It is a space where relationships, trust, and practical support come together to strengthen whānau.

“It’s a special space,” she says. “You don’t often see this kind of in-house support in early learning. It makes a real difference.”