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Support Group Facilitators
Whānau Support Group 2025
Rebecca Pohe
A welcoming online space for those caring for someone within the whānau/family
Meets first Monday of every month from 6pm to 7pm
Our online Whānau Support Group is a safe, peer-led space for those providing care and support to immediate and extended family/whānau members, and close friends, experiencing breast cancer.
The Group is led by Rebecca Pohe. Rebecca has lived experience as a caregiver of someone with breast cancer. Rebecca is a qualified mediator specialising in family dispute resolution, with 30 plus years of experience working alongside diverse family/whānau and community groups.
Rebecca has trained in New Zealand’s Coordinated Incident Management System (CIMS), equipping her to manage emergency situations effectively. She is also a trained responder in Crisis Intervention Stress Management, specialising in group defuse and debriefing, crisis intervention, stress, and trauma support.
As a Draw and Talk counselor, and through her current mahi in mental health and addiction, Rebecca is deeply committed to promoting well-being and fostering meaningful connections across workplaces, with whānau and communities.
Outside of her professional work, Rebecca cherishes reading online to her eight-year-old moko in the UK. She finds joy in spending time with family, being outdoors in nature, watching rugby/rugby league, and immersing herself in a good book.
Cuppa and a Chat 2025
Liz Pennington and Jane Bissell
Online peer facilitated support group
Meets last Tuesday of every month at 11am and 7pm.
Join Jane and Liz for an informal 'cuppa and chat' on Zoom to share our experiences of breast cancer 'over a cuppa', and give and receive support within a confidential and peer-facilitated space.
Liz Pennington lives in the Bay of Plenty with her husband and grand daughter and is in private practice working in the wellbeing consulting space. Liz had breast cancer in 2021, picked up during a routine mammogram. She had surgery and radiotherapy in Wellington where she was living at the time.
She is a registered nurse and has had a lifelong interest in both women's health and mental health, serving on committees and in CE roles at Rural Women NZ and Vitae and Anglican social services. Liz serves on the Board of Cure Our Ovarian Cancer, her local school Board of Trustees, and on the committee of CIMA (Crisis Intervention and Management Australasia) where she can make a contribution to community wellbeing.
Jane Bissell lives in Auckland and has held the position of National Services Coordinator for Breast Cancer Support Aotearoa since 2008. Diagnosed in 2001, Jane began volunteering as a Group Coordinator in 2002 and has been supporting women, men and caregivers in person, online, and over the phone ever since.
Jane is also a writer and writing workshop facilitator, and leads workshops for women wanting to write about their breast cancer experiences. In addition to her work with BCS, Jane has also held roles with Sweet Louise, the Breast Cancer Aotearoa Coalition (BCAC), and Kenzie's Gift.
Jane has her own website which can be visited here.
Christchurch Support Group
Jane Finlayson
Meets every third Sunday of the month for lunch or morning tea at various cafes around Christchurch. Phone 0800 273 222 for meeting information.
"Coordinating our Christchurch Breast Cancer Support and offering support and a listening ear to people at such a scary and unknown time, gives me such an immense sense of satisfaction.
"Being a survivor of breast cancer myself, I think it is so important that newly diagnosed people see that although this is a stressful and overwhelming situation to be in, you can have a positive outcome and it will get better. Our group is full of these women. We share experiences, support and understanding of the uncertainty a diagnosis can bring. We enjoy much needed laughter and celebrate each milestone along the way.
"I’m so proud to have met so many inspiring women and admire and respect the strength each of them brings to others in our group."
