Woodford House alumna recognised for contribution to the welfare of families
Libby Robins’ hope is that more Woodford House students go on to understand the importance of infant brain development.
The Woodford House Old Girl, who boarded at the school between 1957 and 1961, received the Tempus Award at a special afternoon tea yesterday, for her lifelong contribution to the welfare of families.
Libby is the founder and patron of non-government organisation Family Help Trust (FHT), which tackles the issue of intergenerational parental abuse and dysfunction.
Having first worked in both residential care and as a private clinical therapist, she grew to understand “that no matter what I could do to help the person sitting in front of me, they would still be going home to the awful situation that they’d come from". "We needed to find a way to influence the family situation," she says.
FHT is a Canterbury-based early-intervention service that is long-term, family-based and child-focused. “There is a huge amount of research that has gone into child brain development, showing how vital the bond between parent and child is in those early years,” says Libby, “and the critical role parents play in their child’s ability to thrive.”
By working with more than 800 families in the Christchurch region long-term, FHT has been able to effect lasting, generational change and break the cycle of abuse. Services include Safer Families, working in families’ homes to change behaviour and protect preschool children, a home-based education programme called HIPPY, which helps parents connect with their children through play, and Mana Ake – providing kaimahi (psychologists, youth workers and other specialists) working with primary school-aged children experiencing anxiety, grief or anger.
“FHT works with very high-risk clients,” says Libby. “These are people who are likely to ‘graduate’ into the prison system without effective intervention. They come from very serious, significant backgrounds comprising alcohol and substance abuse and family violence.”
President Woodford House Old Girls’ Association Mary Sherratt says Libby is a truly deserving recipient of the Tempus Award.
“Every year, the Old Girls’ Association presents the Tempus Award to a former student for her outstanding achievement in her chosen field. Libby exemplifies the qualities we look for. She has displayed an unwavering commitment to and passion for her career and gained external recognition from her peers and the wider community of New Zealand."
In Libby’s case, she was awarded a Winston Churchill Fellowship in 2011 and an ONZM in 2017.
“We are delighted to welcome Libby back to Woodford House to present her with this award, and to learn more about the hugely valuable work she has undertaken in the Christchurch community.”
Woodford House Principal Julie Peterson, Woodford House says Libby’s determination and dedication to effecting change serves as an inspiration to the school’s current student body.
“Libby exemplifies many of the values and strengths we represent at Woodford House – courage, resilience, confidence and perseverance. These are the strengths that have served Libby well – as they have previous recipients of the Tempus Award such as Dame Kate Harcourt, Miranda Smith and Poppy Renton.”
Libby, who recalls being taught by Dame Kate during her years at Woodford House, says the award is a huge surprise, but a very welcome one. “It’s a ‘wow’ moment for me and quite a big deal.”
She says she retired from her day-to-day directorship of FHT earlier this year, going on to consult other health and wellbeing providers requiring guidance and mentorship, and spending more time with her husband on their Hororata olive and hazelnut farm.
But her passion for keeping children safe will always stay with her. “Watching kids bounce from the residential care system to the prison system really sparked a passion in me,” she says.
“I knew I needed to try and prevent this intergenerational issue from occurring and help protect children from maltreatment. Fortunately, many of the girls at Woodford House will never rub up against the issues that Family Help Trust sees every day. But I would hope that they can learn to understand, and one or two may even see a career in helping others make a change in their lives.”
