What people are saying
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“Peter Thorburn is a leading figure in the Lived Experience sector in Aotearoa. From helping to found DRIVE Consumer Direction Counties Manukau and the Puna Whakataa Residential Service Peter's impact continues to reverberate throughout the community. When you engage with Peter either one-on-one or during his workshops, his lived experience immediately connects you to him. Then, you find yourself in awe of his breadth of knowledge and capacity to draw out the views of others. I wholeheartedly and unreservedly recommend Peter Thorburn as a facilitator, workshop designer, and lived experience advocate. Peter is living proof that we can not only survive, but thrive, and champion a better world for our peers with lived experience.”
- Edith Moore, Senior Network Coordinator
Drive Consumer Direction -
“I have known Peter since 2014. We met when he lead workplace training on brief interventions while I worked in the alcohol and drug harm reduction field. Since then, Peter has been my go-to guy when I need an amazing, animated educator to run workshops on mental health, alcohol and other drugs and how to help people with them. We have worked together on numerous projects and he has never failed to engage people with his charisma, honesty and depth of knowledge. Peter has also become a mentor, and someone I look too for advice and guidance in my own work. He touches hard to reach people in a way few could and is a driving force for change. I would recommend Peter to anyone!”
- Richie Hardcore -
As whanau, communities and organisations try to understand and equip themselves with information and resources to rid our society of addictions and behaviours that threaten life and cause fear and mistrust. One person has made it his mission to turn the tide by being of service with his primary mission to see no more youth entering the criminal system. I had the privilege of working with Peter Thorburn for several years, working in many settings across the health and social sectors, educational, justice, whānau, marae, hapū and community. Peter's compelling stories of hope are spoken through his personal story of drugs and addictions, giving credible meaning to the struggles and providing real solutions, encouragement and hope.
Peter is comfortable in all situations and quickly wins over the audience with his wit, straight talk, depth of knowledge, and weaving of his personal stories that capture people's attention and hearts. I regard Peter as one of Aotearoa's most experienced educators and highly respected counsellors and trainers.
- Shirleyanne Brown, Director
Wot Matters -
"We at the HEART Movement are always thankful when Peter comes into our Tāmaki community. Peter's passion to guide and support people and create real change in their lives is evident in all the trainings he does for us at HEART. Peter's lived-experience and journey resonates with our community members and gives them hope that change is possible. Thank you Peter for being one of the many gems in our commnity! We're lucky to have you! - Josie Ruawhare, Kaiwhakahaere Akoranga (Learning Phase Lead ) HEART Movement."
-Heart Movement -
“This was my first workshop with Peter and I absolutely loved his kaupapa. Peter’s training has helped me better address anger in my life and in my home. What he shares touches your heart and makes you hungry for more knowledge about topics most people bury or push aside. It’s important that we as leaders today change that narrative about such topics and have that conversation. Make it normal to talk about our feelings. I felt extremely blessed to be in that room. Thanks to the HEART team, I look forward to attending more of Peter’s trainings.”
- Heart Movement Participant -
"Thank you HEART for inviting me to Pete's training on Anger Management. I learnt a lot from his training especially around recognising what my triggers were. Never knew that I held onto to so much anger. I'm working on myself to get better so that my kids and wife are happier."
- Sam -
"Pete is an inspiration to me, I can listen to him talk all day! I'm currently doing my social work placement in Tāmaki and connecting with HEART is one of the best things I've done so far. I was introduced to Peter Thorburn and what he does in Tāmaki and now I'm a regular participant! Nga mihi!"
- Heart Movement Participant
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"It takes a lot of guts to stand up and tell everyone your business. I've done it twice now at Pete's training. I have a lot of problems but I'm working on them one step at a time."
- Heart Movement Participant -
“ I have known Peter Thorburn since I first started working in the community doing the mahi I am doing now in 2017. I was captivated immediately by Pete’s lived experience, his raw, real yet very professional approach to using his own experiences and his own training and development to educate and mentor others in this field of peer support and community development work.
Pete has worked with our project since its inception running trainings that have been a key foundation for our team of Hope Navigators that have enabled them to use their lived experience teamed up with their new found knowledge through his trainings to provide an effective model of lived experienced mentoring which has helped to pathway thousands of people to Mauri Ora.
Pete just has a special way about him, he is relatable and non judgemental but isn’t afraid to call people out when needed if it will help with their personal and professional growth. He has an awesome sense of humour and a genuine gift to connect with anyone in a room.
His ability to provide hope and show that the seemingly impossible is possible through his own journey has inspired so many people throughout Aotearoa over many years. My staff now all receive professional supervision through Pete and I know they deeply value his wisdom, ability to empathise and give feedback and guidance to support their practice.
I have huge respect for Pete and would recommend his trainings and his supervision to anyone who requires them but especially in the lived experience field. I also see huge value in Pete working in government spaces to bring a real perspective to the realities of our people in our communities and practical solutions and strategies to work with our diverse communities from an inclusive and culturally respectful approach.
I am grateful to have crossed paths with Pete and look forward to working in collaboration with him for many years to come, I will never forget one of his key pieces of advice “Hold the hope for people until they can hold it for themselves”, it has guided a lot of the mahi I have gone on to do and continue to implement in our community of Manurewa and beyond. “
- Melissa Moore
Founder and General Manager of The Pride Project Charitable Trust