Meet the Team

Health Navigator’s - Kaimanaaki (peer support coach) support the whānau progress towards wellbeing and employment, while also supporting them with their wider health and social needs and facilitating access to health, social and community services and supports as required. Meet the team below.

Phoebe Guile

Programme Coordinator, Whānau Services

Phoebe trained as a nutritionist in Christchurch, and has worked with Quitline for the last 2.5 years. She moved up to Auckland in April 2021, and she loves getting out, exploring the city and all the beautiful hiking tracks that Tāmaki Makaurau has to offer. In her spare time, she is often in the kitchen cooking, baking and creating new recipes. Phoebe is also currently studying towards a certificate in mental health and addictions.

Jessica Netana

Kaimanaaki

Jessica was born and raised in Tamaki Makaurau, of Ngāti Whatua & Ngāti Hine decent and grew up in a little farming settlement called Te Kopuru just out of Dargaville.

Jessica has worked in a number of whānau-focused roles over the years, from helping arrange send-offs for loved ones as a funeral director, or helping victims of crime find a peaceful resolution at Te Pae Oranga (Restorative Justice)

In her spare time you can find her at either of her marae (Orakei / Reweti) helping out in the kitchen or doing Tukutuku. She also enjoys getting out onto the water on one of the Marae boats and going for a dive/fish or going for a ride on one of her motorbikes. Jessica also enjoys spending time with her whānau whether that be going out and doing a whānau activity or relaxing at home watching a movie.

Tahlia Failauga

Kaimanaaki

Tahlia was born in Auckland initially but raised in American Samoa for most of her life.

She has a degree in Paramedicine and worked alongside COVID Healthline for two years. During her university studies, she worked as a support worker with NZCare Disability and volunteered for St John Ambulance.

She has experience in the community and is passionate about achieving better health outcomes for Māori and Pacific communities.

Brandon Tuala

Kaimanaaki

A New Zealand born Samoan, raised in Auckland, Brandon has experience working in a Community Centre Gym as a Fitness Instructor and working with people and community groups of all ages, specifically those with health and medical conditions. He holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Sport and Exercise Science from AUT and has held many volunteer and people facing roles the past.

Brandon has always enjoyed playing sports, keeping fit and active in the gym, and spending time with loved ones. His passion has always been to help people in the community with their health outcomes and building good connections with our Pacific and Māori people.

Vivienne Duffy

Kaimanaaki

Vivienne has lived in Auckland for more than a decade and enjoys the city’s multicultural environment. She has a passion for learning and enjoys helping individuals to achieve their goals both personally and professionally. She has qualifications in career counselling, training and development, and mentoring, and has put these skills to use most recently working in the diabetes community.

In her spare time Vivienne likes to undertake new activities and courses either in-person or online, and enjoys travelling to new places to experience different cultures.  

Te Rarangi Samson

Kaimanaaki

Te Rarangi was born and raised in Auckland in a small town in the Kaipara, lived for a few years in Australia and has now retuned home with a big passion for community health and wellbeing.

Outside of work she has a strong love for health and fitness, and in her spare time you will find her in a CrossFit gym working out or spending time with her two young boys.

Naomi Olive

Kaimanaaki

I am of Samoan descent and was born and raised in Auckland. Having a strong interest in people and culture, I pursued and gained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Pacific Studies from the University of Auckland. Service and empathy are values that were embedded in my upbringing which resulted in my various volunteer and work roles both within church and in the community.

My passion is to assist our most vulnerable communities in improving their health and wellbeing so that they may reach their full potential. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my loved ones, baking and exploring new places both domestically and internationally.

Dhaval Mankad

Work Retention Specialist

Having lived in Auckland for more than a decade, Dhaval loves the diversity that Auckland represents. He has a post-graduate qualification in Human Resource and is passionate about employment relations and resolving issues in the workplace. 

His significant public service experience with MSD has placed community development and welfare at the core of his heart and purpose.

In his free time, he likes spending time with his family, practicing yoga and at times pretending to be a Master Chef by experimenting with new recipes at home.

Cynthia Brown-Mendes

Whānau Services Manager

Cynthia is of Ngāti Whātua decent and has lived in Auckland all her life. Coming from a family that has always been involved in the local community has shaped her career pathway and resulted in all of her roles being community focused. Cynthia has managed for several years and worked within both Government and non-Government agencies.

In her free time, Cynthia enjoys spending time with her family and friends, going for walks, pottering around in the garden, getting outdoors, and participating in community activities.

Fonoti Eddie Muaulama

Team Lead

A New Zealander and Samoan, Eddie has a chief title name Fonoti. He has come from a background working in a hospital team environment in the Intensive Care Unit. Eddie has been involved in volunteering for Red Cross under the refugee programme and is actively involved in his church community programme for healthy eating, and training for his Pacific church family. His passion is to work with the Pacific community to help achieve their goals. He enjoys meeting people of different ethnic backgrounds, and learning more about their culture.

Janine Bycroft

Associate Clinical Director

Janine is extremely passionate about the work that we do at ProCare. She believes we really can make a difference, and that strong primary care is the backbone of a high quality health system.

Outside of work, she is a wife, mother of three and enjoys time with whānau, tramping, learning new things, reading and exploring.