Articles tagged with Matt Doocey
South Island Needle Exchange Programme Launches to Reduce Substance Harm
2 days ago | 95 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey officially opened the South Island Needle Exchange Programme, New Zealand’s first harm reduction initiative aimed at preventing substance-related harm and reducing blood-borne infections like HIV and hepatitis C. The programme, delivered by the Te Waipounamu Collective, provides not only clean equipment but also health information, overdose prevention, and referral services to support people at all stages of addiction. This initiative complements broader government efforts, including increased investment in substance harm prevention, workforce expansion, and community-based support services, resulting in improved health outcomes and reduced addiction-related harms.
Tags: Matt Doocey South Island Needle Exchange Programme Te Waipounamu Collective Ngā Kete Mātauranga Pounamu Trust He Waka Tapu Poutini Waiora Te Piki Oranga Mental Health Minister HIV preventionNorthland Launches Youth Acute Respite Service and Suicide Prevention Roles
4 days ago | 144 viewsNorthland is receiving improved youth mental health support with the launch of a dedicated Youth Acute Respite Service and three additional Youth Suicide Prevention Coordination roles, backed by $1.7 million in annual funding. This initiative responds to a coroner’s report on the loss of six young people, aiming to provide earlier crisis intervention and reduce hospital admissions by creating a more connected support system. Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey emphasized the government’s commitment to ensuring accessible mental health services nationwide and addressing identified regional needs.
Tags: Matt Doocey Youth Acute Respite Service Youth Suicide Prevention Mental Health Northland Coroner's Report Health New Zealand Suicide Prevention Coordination Mental Health Funding New Zealand GovernmentThe 80s Calling Campaign: Ending HIV Stigma and Discrimination in New Zealand
2 weeks ago | 147 viewsAssociate Health Minister Matt Doocey launched the “The 80s Calling” campaign to eliminate HIV-related stigma and discrimination in New Zealand, targeting especially older generations influenced by outdated fears from the 1980s. Despite progress in reducing HIV infections, nearly three-quarters of New Zealanders still hold some stigma, which hinders the goal of zero transmission by 2030. The campaign, developed with key organizations and supported by new mental health services, will run across multiple media platforms to promote accurate information and inclusivity for people living with HIV.
Tags: Matt Doocey The 80s Calling Burnett Foundation Aotearoa Positive Women Body Positive New Zealand HIV AIDS Gen X Undetectable = UntransmittableNew Peer Support Workers Introduced in Whangārei, Hutt Valley, and Hawke’s Bay EDs
2 weeks ago | 194 viewsWhangārei, Hutt Valley, and Hawke’s Bay hospitals will soon have peer support workers in their emergency departments, joining eight other hospitals already offering this service as part of a $61.6 million funding boost for better mental health crisis response. Peer support workers use their lived experience to help patients feel understood and supported during vulnerable times, improving connection to follow-up care and overall crisis support. This expansion aims to provide faster access to frontline workers and enhance mental health care across New Zealand.
Tags: Whangārei Hutt Valley Hawke’s Bay Matt Doocey Counties Manukau Auckland Waitematā Christchurch Hamilton DunedinNew South Island Crisis Recovery Café Opens in Dunedin for Mental Health Support
3 weeks ago | 263 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey announced the opening of the second South Island Crisis Recovery Café in Dunedin, providing a calm, peer-led, non-clinical space for people experiencing mental distress as an alternative to busy emergency departments. The cafés, operated by the Otago Mental Health Support Trust, will run at two sites in South Dunedin and North East Valley, offering 16 hours of support weekly and connecting individuals to long-term community services. This initiative is part of a broader mental health plan to enhance crisis response through increased peer support workers and faster access to care.
Tags: Matt Doocey Otago Mental Health Support Trust South Island Crisis Recovery Café Dunedin North East Valley peer support mental health crisis recovery addiction challenges emergency departmentsSouth Island’s First Crisis Recovery Café Opens in Christchurch for Mental Health Support
3 weeks ago | 380 viewsSouth Island’s first Crisis Recovery Café has opened in Christchurch, providing a calm, peer-led space for people experiencing mental distress as an alternative to emergency departments. The café, run by local organizations with lived experience in mental health and addiction support, offers immediate access without referrals and connects clients to long-term community services. This initiative is part of a broader mental health plan aimed at faster crisis response, increased frontline workers, and expanded peer support across various settings in New Zealand.
Tags: Crisis Recovery Café Christchurch Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey Purapura Whetu Odyssey House Trust Stepping Stone Trust peer support mental health addiction supportNew Zealand Expands Peer Support and Family Care for Eating Disorders
1 month ago | 311 viewsThe New Zealand Government is enhancing access to eating disorder support by introducing peer support workers across regional services and increasing funding by $4 million annually to reduce wait times and improve early intervention. Peer support workers, who have lived experience with eating disorders, are being implemented to aid recovery, alongside expanded support for families and carers through organizations like Eating Disorders Carer Support and the Eating Disorders Association of New Zealand. This initiative aims to strengthen community support networks and ensure timely, comprehensive care for individuals and their families affected by eating disorders.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand Eating Disorders Mental Health Peer Support Workers Waikato Wellington Eating Disorders Strategy Eating Disorders Association of New Zealand Families and CarersNew Zealand Exceeds Mental Health Workforce Targets, Reduces Wait Times
1 month ago | 306 viewsThe New Zealand Government has exceeded its mental health workforce target, increasing frontline mental health and addiction professionals by over 11%, which has improved access and reduced wait times for support. Key achievements include training 514 new specialists, surpassing targets for clinical psychology interns and psychiatry trainees, and allocating 25% of funding to prevention and early intervention for the first time. As a result, 83% of people receive primary mental health support within one week, and 82% receive specialist support within three weeks, contributing to improved mental health outcomes nationwide.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister Health NZ clinical psychology interns psychiatry trainees occupational therapists social workers registered nurses Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission New Zealand GovernmentNew Child Mental Health Service Opens in Counties Manukau for Faster Youth Support
1 month ago | 304 viewsA new dedicated child mental health service, Te Ooritetanga oo ngaa Ratonga moo ngaa Tamariki, has been launched in Counties Manukau to provide faster access and early intervention for young people up to intermediate school age facing moderate to severe mental health challenges. This specialist team, part of the Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services, includes a range of professionals and aims to support the region's rapidly growing youth population with wraparound care. Funded by an $18.7 million government investment, the initiative is part of a broader plan to expand the mental health workforce and improve crisis response to prevent youth from falling through the cracks.
Tags: Matt Doocey Counties Manukau Te Ooritetanga oo ngaa Ratonga moo ngaa Tamariki ICAMHS child mental health youth suicide New Zealand Mental Health Minister Health NZ whānau workersGovernment Invests $4M in 18 Rural Wellbeing Initiatives Across New Zealand
1 month ago | 328 viewsThe New Zealand Government is supporting rural communities by funding 18 wellbeing initiatives through the Rural Wellbeing Fund, with $4 million allocated over four years by the Ministry for Primary Industries and Health New Zealand. The fund aims to enhance mental health and wellbeing support for farmers and rural residents, focusing on impactful grassroots programs to address service gaps. Key recipients include organizations like Whatever With Wiggy Charitable Trust and the Whanau Ora Community Clinic, receiving significant funding to help rural people thrive.
Tags: Todd McClay Matt Doocey Rural Wellbeing Fund New Zealand Government Ministry for Primary Industries Health New Zealand Farmstrong Charitable Trust NZ Federation of Young Farmers Seafood Sector Support Network Whanau Ora Community ClinicMental Health Innovation Fund Round Three Expands Access Across New Zealand
1 month ago | 287 viewsThe Mental Health and Addiction Innovation Fund in New Zealand has entered its third round with changes to increase access, including revising the requirement for an independent Social Return on Investment (SROI) report to a more flexible proposal-based approach. These adjustments respond to sector feedback by lowering barriers such as matched-funding thresholds and allowing community organizations to better demonstrate outcomes while maintaining robust evaluation. With $20 million allocated over two years, the Fund aims to support grassroots initiatives that improve timely access to mental health and addiction services, protect public specialist services, and deliver scalable, evidence-based solutions.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister New Zealand Mental Health Addiction Innovation Fund Women’s Refuge Social Return on Investment Grassroots Organisations Mental Health Workforce Crisis ResponseNew Zealand Invests $20M to Support Families and Prevent Addiction Harm by 2029
1 month ago | 277 viewsThe New Zealand government is investing nearly $20 million annually in a new Action Plan to improve addiction support, focusing on early intervention, expanded pregnancy and parenting services, and community-based follow-up for those affected by substance use. Emphasizing the critical first 1000 days of a child's life, the plan aims to prevent harm through early identification and enhanced support for families experiencing alcohol or drug issues. Progress includes a growing addiction workforce and reduced counselor vacancies, reflecting the government's commitment to addressing addiction comprehensively across all stages.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand addiction substance harm mental health fetal alcohol spectrum disorder methamphetamine parenting support drug and alcohol counsellors Action PlanNew Rural Training Hub in Wairoa Boosts Frontline Health Workforce
1 month ago | 352 viewsA Rural Training Hub will be established in the Wairoa District to grow and retain frontline health workers by coordinating clinical placements, training, and support locally. This initiative, the second of four nationwide, aims to improve access to quality healthcare for rural New Zealanders by bringing education and work opportunities closer to home. The hubs will be co-designed with local communities and provide dedicated coordinators to help health workers settle and connect with local services, enhancing the rural health workforce.
Tags: Matt Doocey Wairoa District Rural Training Hub New Zealand rural health workforce South Taranaki University of Waikato Rural Medical Immersion Programme frontline health workers health worker educationWānaka Now Offers Publicly Funded X-Ray and Ultrasound Services Locally
2 months ago | 441 viewsPublicly funded X-ray and ultrasound services are now available locally in Wānaka, eliminating the need for patients to travel outside the area for routine diagnostic imaging. This expansion, expected to provide around 2,900 imaging tests over 18 months, responds to community feedback and aims to improve timely access to healthcare for rural residents. The new service operates through outsourcing arrangements and requires referrals via the Community Referred Radiology Programme, while urgent imaging remains at Dunstan Hospital in Clyde.
Tags: Wānaka Simeon Brown Matt Doocey diagnostic imaging ultrasound rural health Central Otago Community Referred Radiology Programme Dunstan HospitalNew Collective Agreement Secures Salary Increase for Health NZ Dietitians
2 months ago | 496 viewsAssociate Health Minister Matt Doocey has welcomed the ratification of a new collective agreement for Health New Zealand dietitians, resulting from a successful APEX vote. The 24-month agreement includes salary increases of 2.5% in the first year and 2% in the second, along with enhanced professional membership contributions and improved terms. This agreement follows recent approvals for other health sector workforce agreements, highlighting ongoing progress in settling employment conditions.
Tags: Matt Doocey Health New Zealand dietitians Association of Professional and Executive Employees APEX collective agreement salary increase workforce agreements public health union representatives