Stephanie Rolinson Stephanie proudly serves as a family representative for the Waitaha Leadership Group. With a background as a Mental Health Clinical Psychologist, she stepped away from clinical practice to provide intensive support for her high-needs children. This personal journey ignited her passion for advocacy, first in education and later in mental health, where she has worked as a family and whānau advisor, combining professional expertise with lived experience. Having firsthand experience of how invaluable communities are in sharing information and supporting one another, Stephanie understands the vital role they play—especially when society doesn’t always provide the support disabled people and their families need. She values the strength of online communities in filling this gap, ensuring that whānau can access the knowledge, connection, and advocacy they need to navigate health, education, and disability services. Dedicated to amplifying the voices of families, Stephanie has contributed to a range of grassroots initiatives that have positively impacted many whānau. She is also an active contributor to Listening to Families, a platform that connects whānau and clinicians through video resources that explore real-world challenges in health, disability, and wellbeing. Passionate about Enabling Good Lives, Stephanie is committed to building a system that empowers disabled people and their whānau to live the lives they choose—supported with dignity, autonomy, and the right resources in place.