Age 38
Iwi Ngāi Te Rangi
“I won’t go back to old ways, on the hard days at work, I think about those that have supported me.”
Josh moved to Australia from New Zealand when he was seven years old. He was often confused for another nationality living in Australia. Very few people identified him as Māori correctly.
Josh came into the justice system in Australia as a result of offending underpinned by addiction.
Challenges aside, Josh has always had a desire to work and a good work ethic when he is keeping well. On arrival in New Zealand Josh was determined to work as soon as possible and with the support of PARS was successful in attaining a job in construction where he was encouraged to stay on track
Josh’s greatest motivation is his 12-year-old son who is still in Australia. He wants to be able to bring him to New Zealand for a life where he is connected to his identity and show him the ‘new’ Dad.
He has used work as a way of diverting from these feelings of anxiety and depression about being away from his son, his Mum and his friends in Australia.
He also refers back to the values he has learned doing the DoW+ programme (Tikanga) that PARS, Corrections and his employer supported him in.
+Dynamics of Whanaungatanga