“Great Lives. Great Outcomes.”

Who We Are

The Vision Living Charitable Trust Auckland board comprises five people: Jennifer Harkins (Chair), Helen Cussell (Finance), John McLaughlin (Secretary), Geoff Cussell and Christel van Baalen (Trustees), and Chris Eady (Supporter).

Collectively, we are a parent group of young adults each with an intellectual disability. Together, we have formed the Vision Living Charitable Trust Auckland, with a goal of developing a supported living residential model.

Jennifer Harkins (Chair)
Jennifer served as a representative for Auckland families on the New Zealand Down Syndrome Committee for 9 years, 3 of those concurrently as Chairperson for the Auckland Branch (ADSA). Presently, she is the Swimming Manager for Special Olympics Howick-Pakuranga, having volunteered for 17 years for the swimming team. Jenny and her husband ran their own Motel and Insurance assessing business for many years, as well as residential garden maintenance, residential and commercial cleaning. Jenny has two daughters, Jessica who is 39 and Laura who is 31 and has Down syndrome.

Helen Cussell (Finance)
Currently serving on the board of Recreate NZ, Helen has been involved in the financial management of for-purpose entities for nearly 20 years. As a Chartered Accountant, Helen’s insight into the financial requirements of The Trust will serve as a strong foundation for its formation and fiscal success. Helen and Geoff have 3 children, Sophia, Grace and Max. Max is 30 years old and lives with Down syndrome.

John McLaughlin (Secretary)
John has contributed his time and experience to various boards and committees over many years. He currently works as an estimator involving green space tenders throughout New Zealand and occasionally in Australia. John and Carmel have three children and five grandchildren, reside in Clevedon with their daughter Nicole (31), who has Down syndrome

Christel Van Baalen (Trustee)
Christel has been involved with the Down syndrome community since her daughter Renee was pre-birth diagnosed as having Down syndrome in 2001. She became actively involved in the Auckland Down Syndrome Association (ADSA) soon after Renee’s birth and fulfilled various volunteer positions (one of them the establishment of the Buddy Walk in 2005) before taking a paid role as the Community Liaison Officer. She resigned this position after the Leukaemia diagnosis of Renee in 2019. Renee’s older sister Alex passed away in 2016 due to a car accident.

Geoff Cussell (Trustee)
Geoff has decades of IT experience across many industries including Health. Recently he also gained experience in building and structural design. Geoff is a Special Olympics golf coach and has helped son Max gain many skills including carpentry, retail and general DIY.

Chris Eady (Consultant)
Chris has had extensive practical experience in running a building company for 25 years. For the last 15 years he has been involved in compliance management in all types of buildings around New Zealand and an archived senior building surveyor. He has volunteered 9 years as an outdoor skills instructor and coached several sports teams. Chris has a focus & allegiance to enable The Vision Living Charitable Trust to succeed. Outside of work, Chris is an active community volunteer, happily married and the parent of three adult children.

What We Do

01.

— Our Goal

This charitable trust has been formed with the express aim of future-proofing our children’s residential requirements. Whilst our children have many capabilities, their particular disability(ies) mean they are not in a position to take on a task of this nature for themselves.

02.

— The Vision

our vision encompasses an apartment block with up to twelve individual studio dwellings, an interior communal area with kitchen and games/lounge room, and an external communal area with a garden. This building would be located near shops and other amenities and have easy access to public transport. The residence would have sufficient diversity to accommodate persons with different disabilities.

03.

— Bigger Picture

From a holistic viewpoint this is not just a project that starts and finishes with limited stakeholders. There is much to gain for like-minded groups across the country where the model that is in the process of evolving will be able to be replicated. The Vision Living Charitable Trust is breaking ground and inventing a wheel that won’t require re-invention.