LIA was established in 1996 as Lalotoa I Aotearoa Community and Social Services Trust.
Today it is known as or trade as LIA Social Solutions. LIA is the acronym for ‘’Lalotoa I Aotearoa’’.
The project founder, Samalaulu Joy Ramsay, established the Trust in her home to fill a gap in the community and respond to the needs of children and families in the Pacific Island community.
Joy believes that every child and family deserves the best possible life, whatever their background.
The vision was shared with the foundation members; Catherine Monnington, the late Tufanua Reid, and the late Sa’u Phillip Ramsay.
In 1997, the foundation and Board members worked together to build the project constitution and its legal status. Trust received its first funding from Community Organisation Grant (COG) later that same year.
In 1998, the project was registered as an Incorporated Charitable Trust.
In 1999 the Trust received its first funding from ASB Community Trust, and in the same year, LIA Policies and Procedures were developed. LIA was then contracted by Child Youth and Family, now known as Oranga Tamariki, to deliver social support services to Pacific Island families.
Over a decade since its inception LIA service provisions contracted under Oranga Tamariki have increased.
In 2006, LIA became an approved provider status from the Ministry of Justice to provide a Court mandated Prevention of Family Violence Programme for Victims.
Present:
LIA continues to enhance its services where possible to provide solutions for families particularly in the Pacific Island community.
Ninety percent of LIA’s work force is tertiary qualified in social services.
Essentially, LIA services the Counties-Manukau area; however services are extended throughout the Auckland area.
Structure:
The structure of LIA includes a Board of Trustees, CEO, Service Manager, Social Workers, Administration Staff, and Volunteers that enable them to carry out the vision and mission of the project.
