Nicholas Cao

Talofa lava. I am a second-generation New Zealand-born Samoan-Italian. I am married and share three beautiful children with my wife Masha.

I completed all of my studies at the University of Auckland, including a post-graduate diploma in health psychology. Since registering in 2014, I have worked in the primary mental health and addictions sector supporting people in GP practices, and more recently at Middlemore hospital in the Whitiora diabetes service.

I currently work as a Clinical Lead for the Mental Health and Addictions team at Le Va, where much of my work is in workforce development, supporting Pacific Access and Choice services across Aotearoa. Our MHA sector needs more Pacific psychologists to meet the demands of our fast growing and diverse population.

While the road to become a psychologist is long, to work in such spaces is a real privilege. I encourage anyone who has started this journey to stick at it, even if it means taking a break between study years as many people including myself have done. Outside of the aforementioned specialities in psychology, I have a special interest in sport and performance psychology and have supported many athletes with their ambitions and goals related to performance and rehabilitation in private practice.