A Day in the Life of Grace – Training & Development Practice Lead

At the heart of my role as Training and Development Practice Lead at Key Assets is strengthening practice that supports safe, compassionate, and trauma-informed care.

I’m a social worker myself, and that lens stays with me in everything I do. My mahi brings together learning, practice, and policy, with the intention of strengthening support for mātua whāngai and creating care environments where mokopuna feel safe, understood, and connected.

Most mornings start much like everyone else’s – working through emails before the day opens into hui, shared kōrero, and development mahi. A big part of my role is keeping our learning and development framework, Rā Matua, moving forward in ways that are intentional and grounded in practice.

I co-design, source, and facilitate learning such as Therapeutic Care of Mokopuna and Positive Behaviour Support, working in partnership with internal teams and external agencies. All learning is underpinned by evidence, lived experience, and Waka Hourua, our strategic plan. For me, learning is relational – it grows through connection, reflection, and curiosity, rather than one-way delivery.

Alongside training, I also review and develop policy and practice guidance, drawing on research evidence, legislation, regulatory frameworks, and frontline experience. My focus is on translating these requirements into guidance that makes sense in practice and genuinely supports kaimahi and mātua whāngai in their day-to-day mahi.

What really stays with me are the moments when learning shows up in practice – when a mātua whāngai shares a new understanding of their mokopuna, or a kaimahi feels more confident navigating challenging situations. Those moments matter.

At its core, my role is about growing capability with compassion – supporting the people who care for mokopuna, and honouring the mana, commitment, and aroha they bring every day.