Based in Melbourne  Victoria, these days Dionne Pia is best known for her contributions and advocacy for youth as a Director of SANCSS Australia.  Dionne’s corporate background and proven track record has been instrumental in achieving outstanding results for her clients and committed to do the same for disadvantaged youth.

When Dionne isn’t busy running an apparel company she co-founded,  you can find her on the SANCSS farm participating in the cultural arts program encouraging disengaged  youth  to discover, create and heal through therapeutic art therapies weaved within cultural learnings.

One key factor identified with maori youth within youth justice is the cultural identity crisis.  The current programs lack understanding from  a “mossie” (Maori Aussie) perspective, NZ youth workers having unrealistic outcomes in a multi cultural setting, further depleting  any self esteem our kids may have. Something had to change….

Dionne founded the organisation  Ko Au Te Huringa, meaning “I Am The Change” which necessitates maori/pasifika  cultural factors and practices on Aussie soil.