Articles tagged with Support
Whakatāne’s Resilience Café Receives Government Funding Boost for Extended Hours and Capacity
1 week ago | 107 viewsMinister for Mental Health Matt Doocey announced additional funding for Whakatāne’s Resilience Café during the Rural Health Roadshow's final stop. The funding will extend the café's hours, increase staff capacity, and support the expansion of peer support services. This initiative is part of the government's plan to enhance mental health support, including the establishment of six new Crisis Recovery Cafes by June 2026.
Tags: Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey Whakatāne Resilience Café Government peer support specialists New Zealand crisis recovery cafes mental health plan Rural Health RoadshowGovernment's Efficient School Property Investment: $100M for New Classrooms
2 weeks ago | 114 viewsThe Government's focus on efficiency in school property has freed up $100 million for reinvestment in new classrooms. By utilizing offsite manufacturing and repeatable designs, the cost of delivering new classrooms has been halved. This investment includes new classrooms and learning support spaces in various schools, as well as funding for repairs and upgrades in schools nationwide.
Tags: Erica Stanford Education Minister school property classrooms new school learning support classrooms infrastructure efficiency value for money fundingGovernment Progresses in Tackling Unemployment Despite Economic Challenges
2 weeks ago | 123 viewsMinister Louise Upston highlights the Government's progress in reducing unemployment despite economic challenges, with a 6% increase in beneficiaries finding work in the June 2025 quarter, totaling 20,775 individuals transitioning into employment. The data also shows a 6.9% rise in work exits from Jobseeker Support and a decrease in young people receiving this support. The Government's initiatives, such as frontline investments, phone-based case management, and Kōrero Mahi seminars, aim to support jobseekers, emphasizing the importance of providing practical assistance during the job search process to help individuals gain independence and improve their lives.
Tags: Minister Social Development Employment Louise Upston Government unemployment MSD stats Jobseeker Support New Zealanders Kōrero MahiPeer Support Workers Enhance Mental Health Crisis Response in Auckland Hospitals
3 weeks ago | 152 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey celebrates the inclusion of peer support workers in North Shore Hospital's Emergency Department, marking the completion of the service's implementation in all major Auckland hospitals. The initiative aims to provide timely and tailored support for individuals in mental distress, enhancing their experience in busy emergency settings. The positive impact of peer support specialists is recognized nationwide, leading to plans for expanding the service across the country to improve mental health outcomes and crisis responses.
Tags: Matt Doocey Mental Health Minister peer support workers North Shore Hospital Emergency Department Auckland hospitals mental distress peer support specialist mental health crisis New Zealand's first Minister for Mental HealthAsk Groov: NZ's AI Wellbeing Guide for Mental Health Support
3 weeks ago | 164 viewsMinister for Mental Health Matt Doocey and Sir John Kirwan launched Ask Groov, Health New Zealand’s endorsed AI wellbeing guide, to provide 24/7 mental health support. The tool aims to make support more accessible, practical, and personalized, aligning with the government's plan for faster access to mental health services and crisis response. Ask Groov offers safe, evidence-based guidance for managing mild to moderate mental health challenges, complementing professional care and ensuring users can escalate to human services if needed.
Tags: Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey Sir John Kirwan Ask Groov Health New Zealand AI wellbeing guide mental health support innovative tools mental health planMinister Celebrates Peer Support Workers in Dunedin Hospital to Enhance Mental Health Crisis Care
3 weeks ago | 137 viewsMinister for Mental Health Matt Doocey visited Dunedin Hospital to celebrate the addition of peer support workers in the Emergency Department, emphasizing the benefits of having individuals with lived experience to support those in mental health crisis. The service, already implemented in five other major hospitals, aims to provide individuals with a sense of connection, support, and improved access to ongoing care. The expansion of peer support services across New Zealand is part of the government's commitment to strengthening the mental health workforce and improving crisis response for individuals seeking help.
Tags: Minister for Mental Health Matt Doocey peer support workers Dunedin Hospital Emergency Department Life Matters Suicide Trust mental health crisis peer support specialist community services mental health systemMSD's Proactive Approach Enhances Job Seekers' Employment Readiness and Success
3 weeks ago | 109 viewsMinister Louise Upston praises MSD's focus on frontline partnerships to better prepare jobseekers for employment, citing the success of the 'Into Work' regional workshops for employers. MSD's proactive engagement with job seekers has led to a significant increase in appointments and successful job placements, with tailored seminars providing practical job readiness support. Despite economic challenges, there has been a notable rise in Jobseeker work exits, highlighting the positive impact of prompt employment assistance on individuals, families, communities, and the economy.
Tags: Minister Social Development Employment Louise Upston MSD jobseekers employers proactive engagement Kōrero Mahi seminars Jobseeker SupportGovernment Launches Nurse Practitioner Training Scheme to Empower Nurses for Advanced Primary Care Roles
3 weeks ago | 142 viewsOver 340 nurses have shown interest in the government's plan to support 120 registered nurses annually in becoming nurse practitioners in primary care, with applications now open, according to Health Minister Simeon Brown. Nurse practitioners are skilled professionals who can assess, diagnose, treat patients, prescribe medications, manage chronic conditions, and provide preventive care, playing a crucial role in delivering quality care in primary and community settings. The Nurse Practitioner Training and Support Scheme (NPTSS) will assist nurses in completing their Master of Nursing qualification and transitioning into nurse practitioner roles, providing comprehensive support such as education costs, mentoring, and employer engagement to enhance the nursing workforce and patient outcomes in New Zealand.
Tags: nurse practitioners primary care Health Minister Simeon Brown Nurse Practitioner Training and Support Scheme nursing workforce advanced training registered nurses primary care advanced roles New Zealand.OECD TALIS 2024 Report: New Teachers Lack Confidence in Classroom Preparation
4 weeks ago | 170 viewsThe latest OECD TALIS 2024 report reveals that a majority of graduate teachers lack confidence in teaching content and pedagogical approaches across all subjects. Education Minister Erica Stanford expresses concern over the insufficient support provided through initial teacher training, emphasizing the need to equip teachers with the necessary skills and confidence to thrive in the classroom. The report also highlights teachers' satisfaction with using digital technology, salary improvements, and the increasing proportion of students with learning support needs in schools, with ongoing government investments aimed at supporting teachers and improving education quality.
Tags: Education Minister Erica Stanford TALIS ITE teachers classroom training curriculum changes digital technology AI learning support.Empowering Sexual Harassment Complainants in Public Service: Strengthened Support and Dignity Standards Released by Minister Judith Collins
1 month ago | 211 viewsPublic Service Minister Judith Collins announces strengthened standards to support sexual harassment complainants in the public service, emphasizing dignity and rights. The new guidelines, titled "Your Complaint, Your Rights," outline the support and rights available to complainants when reporting harassment. The improvements aim to enhance the handling of complaints and ensure that individuals who come forward are treated with dignity, respect, and fairness, drawing on feedback from the Public Service Commission and the recent Public Service Census.
Tags: sexual harassment public service standards Judith Collins complainants dignity support bullying discrimination speaking upHealth Minister Announces $20 Million Boost to Emergency Departments Nationwide
1 month ago | 190 viewsHealth Minister Simeon Brown has announced a $20 million boost for emergency departments nationwide to increase frontline staffing over the next nine months, aiming to reduce wait times and improve patient care. The investment will allow hospitals to recruit more doctors, nurses, and support staff, with a focus on hospitals facing the greatest challenges. This initiative is part of a broader effort to strengthen healthcare services, improve workforce capacity, and enhance patient access to timely and quality care.
Tags: Emergency departments frontline staffing hospitals Health Minister Simeon Brown New Zealanders doctors nurses support staff Health New Zealand patient careNew Zealand's Push for Suicide Prevention: Construction Industry Wellbeing Survey Launch
1 month ago | 267 viewsMental Health Minister Matt Doocey participated in the launch of the Construction Industry Wellbeing Survey on World Suicide Prevention Day, emphasizing the importance of changing the narrative on suicide to reduce stigma and encourage seeking help. New Zealand faces high suicide rates, with 617 suspected suicides last year, leading to increased investment of $16 million per year in the new Suicide Prevention Action Plan, which includes various health and cross-agency actions to enhance access to support and prevention services. The government is committed to providing timely support for those at risk of suicide, promoting wellbeing campaigns, establishing crisis recovery cafes, and funding peer support workers in emergency departments to strengthen suicide prevention efforts in New Zealand.
Tags: Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey Suicide Prevention Construction Industry Wellbeing Survey New Zealand Suicide Prevention Action Plan Suicide Rates SupportGovernment Initiative: Learning Support Coordinators to Benefit 101,000 Year 1-8 Students and Teachers
2 months ago | 254 viewsStarting from Term 1, 461 schools will benefit from a new Learning Support Coordinator (LSC) staffing entitlement, part of the Government's $192 million Budget 2025 investment to ensure all primary and intermediate schools have access to LSC support over the next three years. LSCs will provide direct support to both staff and students, focusing on neurodiverse students and those with additional learning needs, while also helping schools and families navigate specialist support when necessary. The phased rollout over three years aims to address inequities in LSC access across regions, benefiting close to 300,000 students in 1131 schools by 2028.
Tags: Education Minister Erica Stanford LSC Learning Support Coordinator students teachers parents schools Government training literacyNew Zealand Launches Refreshed Eating Disorder Strategy with $4M Boost
2 months ago | 330 viewsNew Zealand's Mental Health Minister, Matt Doocey, launched a refreshed strategic approach to eating disorders, with a significant funding increase of over $4 million annually, totaling over $23 million. The strategy emphasizes a full continuum of care, including prevention, primary health care, early intervention, community services, and specialist and inpatient services. The funding package includes initiatives such as peer support, community-based support for families, capacity increase for specialist services, and expansion of prevention and early intervention support to better support those battling eating disorders.
Tags: Matt Doocey New Zealand eating disorders mental health funding strategy support services community preventionEmpowering Choice & Control: New Flexible Funding System for Disabled Community
2 months ago | 243 viewsImprovements to the disability support system will provide disabled individuals, families, and carers with more choice and control over flexible funding starting early next year. The changes aim to address feedback for greater autonomy in decision-making and to create a more transparent and sustainable system. These adjustments, informed by extensive community consultations, will standardize assessment processes, develop personalized support plans through NASCs, and offer more clarity and certainty to users of flexible funding.
Tags: Disabled people families carers flexible funding disability support system Minister for Disability Issues Louise Upston Independent Review NASCs Enabling Good Lives