Selina Elkington is a leading Māori addiction practitioner whose mahi is dedicated to improving the impact of systemic inequities on Māori communities.

Selina has spent many years working in the addiction provider arm, including Kaupapa Maori and mainstream services.  During this time, she has seen good and not-so-good changes within the addiction sector, and her commitment is to work to ensure the workforce is at its best to support whanau. Selina currently works at Te Pou in Wellington, where she is the Programme Manager of Addiction, Supporting Workforce Development for the Addiction Sector.

As a Māori wāhine, she has seen the devastating effects that drugs and alcohol can have on people’s lives and the significant role trauma plays in this.  Because of this, she feels privileged to work in a kaupapa that can support and create change. She believes in working with the potential of people to promote whānau ora (family well-being). In doing this, you understand addiction issues, including wider systemic challenges facing whanau and the workforce today.

In her rise as a leader, she has gained a Bachelor of Arts in Addiction and other Drugs studies and a Certification in Supervision from Weltec. Completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Health Sciences endorsed in addictions and co-existing disorders from the National Addiction Centre at Otago University.

Links:

New community-based drug and alcohol service launching in Otago

AOD advisory board, Te Kaika

Roopū Whakahaere

Biculturalism – A clinical and cultural approach to wellness