About Us
Cambridge Community House is a registered charity, promoting personal, family and community wellbeing in Cambridge, Waipā
We support the people of our Cambridge community. People like you.
Our support can include counselling, supporting your whānau, assisting with family harm incidents, budget advice and other community services.
That’s the big stuff. But, because we walk alongside the people of our community, we offer support for the small stuff too. We find school uniforms for your tamariki. We help you apply for jobs. We support you to meet immediate kai needs. We speak to other organisations on your behalf. We’re on your side.
Cambridge Community House is a safe, warm and supportive place to come for support. Our whare is welcoming, so you will be comfortable here. Through strong ties with people, their families and other organisations, we offer you understanding, encouragement and education.
We are friendly and professional, with everyone. No bias. No discrimination.
Scroll down to meet our team.
Our Team
Our team is here to support, not judge.
We are all experienced and qualified in our specialist areas and ready to help you.
Gabrielle (Gabby) Byrne
General Manager
Gabby became part of the team in March 2022, in the position of General Manager.With previous management experience through working in Waikato Public Health, Sport Waikato and the National Autistic Society (UK) Gabby brings a wealth of both people leadership skills and practical understanding of delivering health and social services into and with communities. Her empathetic leadership style means she loves to see the whole team at the Cambridge Community House flourish, enabling skilled compassionate support and services for the community.
Gabby, a proud New Zealander, together with her whānau have lived in Cambridge for more than 20 years. She enjoys the beautiful outdoor spaces Cambridge and the Waikato offer and values opportunities to keep active and well.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Amy Watkins
Welcomer and Administator
A Cambridge hometown local, Amy started at the Cambridge Community House in July 2021. After working in management at The Warehouse for 20 years, Amy has wealth of people centered customer service experience. Together with her calm and empathetic nature Amy is a supportive and experienced welcomer and administrator.
Amy is also Community Champion for Maniapoto Family Violence Intervention Network and uses the acquired skills tools and recourses from this position to help herself, friends, family, colleagues, and community be informed on family violence and make first steps towards living violence free.
Amy’s key focus at the Community House is to be warm and welcoming to everyone who comes through our doors and help guide them to the support services they need.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Jill Dimond
AOD Practitioner. Counsellor and Counselling Team Leader
Jill has worked at Cambridge Community House for the past 16 years and is qualified as both a general counsellor and alcohol and drug Counsellor. Jill also provides professional supervision and leads our counselling team. Jill brings professional knowledge, wisdom, and skill from her years of experience working with and for tangata whaiora and whānau. Jill is warm, approachable, easy to talk to and works with aroha. Jill acknowledges the importance of working through and resolving issues, and with manāki carefully supporting change to be achieved and mana restored or enhanced.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Dianne Carter
Our Seasoned Counsellor
Dianne has been supporting people as a counsellor for 24 years and has been part of the Cambridge Community House team since 2013. With a Diploma in Counselling and a Graduate Certificate in Supervision, Dianne brings a wealth of knowledge, passion and experience to her role. Working three days a week, Dianne specialises in helping individuals and couples navigate challenges such as family violence, trauma, grief, and general life concerns. Drawing from her own lived experiences with step-parenting, bereavement, and trauma, Dianne understands the power of feeling heard, valued, and respected. She believes that by creating a safe and supportive space, people can heal and grow. Dianne’s counselling approach is grounded in humanistic models and trauma-informed practices, ensuring her work is client-centred, compassionate and empowering. She provides a safe, confidential, and professional space where you can explore goals, concerns, build new skills, and find positive ways to manage life’s changes. Her approach is holistic and strength based, considering your cultural, emotional, mental, and overall well-being.
As this beautiful whakatauki reminds us:
Nāku te rourou
Nāu te rourou
Ka ora ai te iwi
With my food basket and your food basket, the people will prosper.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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James Cuming
Counsellor
James joined the team in July 2020. He is a general counsellor. James is experienced with working with youth and adults. James has experience working a range of issues including depression, anxiety, grief and loss, and trauma. James also works two days a week at Counselling Worx in Hamilton. James is very caring about his clients and works to the best of his ability to help clients achieve solutions that work best for them. James uses a variety of counselling approaches with clients including working towards helping change unhelpful thoughts, emotions, behavior and beliefs in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy; Solution-Focused Therapy to enable clients work towards their 'desired outcomes', and trauma informed approaches such as 'Polyvagal Theory' to enable clients to learn how to manage their nervous system better.
James' favourite quote is: "There is a powerful driving force inside every human being that, once unleashed, can make any vision, dream, or desire a reality." (Anthony Robbins)
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Marilyn Bird
Counsellor
Marilyn is a well-qualified AOD Practitioner/Counsellor - Bachelor of Applied Social Science Counselling and Graduate Certificate in Health Science, Addictions Pathway.
Marilyn has been working in alcohol and drug field for six years and is now also working in general counselling. Marilyn is caring, compassionate and has an optimistic outlook. Marilyn is passionate about health and wellbeing and works alongside clients supporting them to achieve their counselling goals.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Lucy Sheehan
Counsellor
Lucy started at Cambridge Community House in September 2021, having emigrated to Aotearoa in 1999 from England. Lucy works as a general counsellor who is passionate about upholding the principles of partnership, protection and participation in line with Te Tiriti O Waitangi. Lucy works from a narratively informed counselling approach which is based on the idea that throughout life people create narratives or stories to interpret and understand their experiences. Lucy works with tangata wahiora/clients to strengthen and highlight their unique abilities for overcoming problems.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Carolynn Storey
Counsellor
Carolynn joined our team in January 2024. She is a qualified general counsellor, working mostly with youth here at Cambridge Community House. Carolynn has a background in teaching, and Child Centred Play Therapy. She has the ability to connect with people of all ages and backgrounds, valuing every person’s diversity and uniqueness. In her counselling work Carolynn uses a person centred approach, believing that each individual has the innate drive towards being the best version of themselves - but that challenges in life can sometimes get in the way. Counselling provides an opportunity to work through these challenges in a safe and confidential space, with no pressure or expectations. Carolynn aims to ensure her clients feel seen, heard and supported on their journey, offering tools or ideas where appropriate.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Jamie Kerr
Whānau Support Team Leader
Jamie joined the team at Cambridge Community House in February 2023.
Jamie brings into the role a wealth of experience and expertise meaning he is a highly regarded Team Leader. Jamie is motivated by his desire to really make a difference for whānau who are facing life challenges. He brings an array of support and advocacy skills and is able walk alongside whānau in a kind and empathic way. Jamie lives locally with his whānau and really enjoys being part of both the local community and the Community House team.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Katie Phillip
Whānau Support Worker
Joining Cambridge Community House in 2019, Katie is an experienced Whānau Support Worker who provides Cambridge people and their whānau with calm support and guidance. Katie is empathetic and understanding of situations, walking alongside you to meet your goals in a confidential and kind manner. She brings experience in providing advocacy where needed with organisations such as ACC and Work & Income. Katie is a mum of young tamariki and understands the trials of juggling a busy life and would love to support you. There is no charge for appointments
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Emma Sheehan
Whānau Support Worker Emma joined our Whānau Support Team in March 2024. She is a Cambridge local and a mother of 3 and has a long history working in hospitality, meaning she has excellent people skills. Emma came into her role with lived experience within family harm. This allows her to connect well with her clients who have had similar experiences. Going above and beyond and advocating for those in need has always been second nature for Emma. Emma’s strengths include knowledge and understanding of family court proceedings, having a ‘can-do’ approach and walking alongside whānau with aroha as they navigate life challenges. She believes every client has the ability to flourish and live a safe and happy life, sometimes just needing some guidance and support. Emma's role involves empowering clients to regain their confidence and resilience, while she finds fulfilment in celebrating alongside whānau all their wins.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Gina Lowe
Whānau Support Worker
Gina has a background in mental wellness and is a great networker. These skills and experience help her link her clients and their families to the services they need. She combines her networking skills with advocacy, to get the best results for the people and families she works with.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Anne Morrison
Violence Free Waipā Coordinator
Anne has over 20 years' experience working in public health, is a skilled facilitator, networker, and connector, and is passionate about preventing violence and abuse in our Waipā communities. With a focus on prevention, Anne co-ordinates and facilitates the ‘Loves Me Not’ programme in secondary schools. This programme focuses on promoting healthy relationships and preventing abusive behaviour in relationships. She also works alongside other community agencies to support local family violence prevention activities throughout Waipā, that improve outcomes for families/whānau. She believes that working together is key – with the ever-changing environment we live in, we need to be more knowledgeable, feel more aligned and supported, think smarter, and work together for the better good.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Francis Radloff
Community Development
Francis has been involved in the charity sector since 2018 and joined the team here in April 2022. He worked for a London charity running wellbeing and transport projects and managed the response to the first UK Covid related lockdown. Francis is the Community Connector for Cambridge and its local area. The Community Connector Service tries to link people with the appropriate local social service. If the pandemic has affected getting back to normal life, Francis may be able to assist with finding some help, or at least point in the right direction. He is kind, caring and very approachable. The service is free and available to anyone who makes contact, and a plan can be made to meet face to face or by phone.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Nicky Robson
Financial Mentor
Nicky is a qualified financial mentor at the Community House, joining the team in February 2021. She is caring and compassionate towards the people she helps to work through their finances. Providing advocacy with creditors and organisations like Work & Income, she will walk alongside you to reach financial stability.
If it’s just having a chat about your finances or putting a money plan in place, please see Nicky. There is no charge for appointments.
Nicky is also a facilitator for our MoneyMates program.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Sandra Muirhead
Financial Mentor - Team Leader
Sandra is a trained and qualified financial mentor, with over 15 years' experience in the financial mentoring sector. While she is highly skilled and very knowledgeable about setting financial priorities and managing personal finances, she also has a compassionate approach to assisting with these. Sandra is well practiced with insolvency procedures and has a separate role as a Debt Repayment Order Supervisor working for the NZ Insolvency and Trustee Service.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Anna Bodie
Accountant
Anna joined the team at Cambridge Community House in August 2022. After graduating from Otago University with a Bachelor of Commerce, Accounting Major she initially gained work experience in New Zealand and membership of CAANZ, Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. Anna then travelled overseas and gained extensive experience abroad. She is responsible for the entire accounting function and reports to the Board. She loves being part of the professional friendly team at Cambridge Community House and in a role where she can add value to an organisation that adds value to the Community.
Phone: 07 827 5402
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Our Board
Our board is a group of volunteers with diverse experience. They meet monthly to provide oversight and strategic guidance to the operation of Cambridge Community House.
Carolyn Casey - Chair
Mike Steele - Treasurer
Chad Danswan - Trustee
Fiona Adam - Trustee
Te Hiiri Taute - Trustee
Val Hazelden - Trustee
Clare Crickett - Trustee
Governance of the Cambridge Community House Trust
The Cambridge Community House Trust is an incorporated charitable trust;
our number on the Charities Register is CC45448.
Our logo
Our logo forms the shape of a leaf, representing growth. The top part of the leaf is the outline of Maungatautari and represents strength, while the vein of the leaf represents the Waikato River and spirituality. The Awa and Maunga emphasise our strong ties with Cambridge.
Contact us:
Visit us at: 193 Shakespeare Street, Leamington, Cambridge
Phone: 07 827 5402
Email: office@camcomhouse.org.nz
Our hours:
We're open to the public:
Monday to Friday 8.30am-5.00pm