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Mana Ake Celebrates 2nd Birthday Mana Ake began in 15 schools in April 2018, and now, two years later, its available in all schools in Canterbury catering for children to the end of Year 8. Mana Ake is very different from any other resource available, as the people using it designed it. There has always been an inclusive co-design process from the ground up, which has included a wide range of people from across the health, education and social sectors. The wealth of experience of so many voices and ideas coming together means Mana Ake has gone from strength to strength during the past twelve months. The programme works because it’s designed to meet the needs of Canterbury children – whatever those needs might be. The Kaimahi (worker) helps address concerns such as anxiety, emotional regulation, school avoidance, self-harm as well as intervening early to promote resilience and self esteem. Kaimahi work alongside teachers and this helps free them up to focus on teaching, while well-being and other issues are worked on in a variety of ways. There are a range of support options available ranging from one on one support with a child and their family, to group programmes and class activities |
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The Loft
Leading Canterbury social service agencies Aviva (family and sexual violence services) and Family Help Trust (supporting children under-five born into high-risk environments) have partnered with other prominent NGOs and an Integrated Health Service Centre led by Linwood Medical Centre, to form a child, family and community wellbeing centre – The Loft - in Christchurch’s Eastern Suburbs.
Having lost their premises in the 2010/2011 earthquakes, several NGOs decided to seek long term accommodation that was beyond business as usual – to take the opportunity to create a more integrated and purposeful approach to working together, by co-locating. Their ultimate goal has been to significantly remove complexity in service seeking and, in doing so, to enhance outcomes for children, families and communities.
Whilst looking for premises to develop and support service integration and partnership, they learned that Better Health was intending to move their medical services into Eastgate and create a ‘health hub’. Eastgate Shopping Centre was heavily damaged in the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and had been rebuilt and strengthened. Through further talks, it was realised that together health services and social services could provide an even more comprehensive co-located range of support than either group could do alone. Bringing together services from the social service, health and wellbeing sectors makes this a unique proposition in New Zealand.
The opportunity to place health and wellbeing services within the Centre supported the desire of Eastgate’s owners to make the Shopping Centre a centre for their community as well. Eastgate is also practically ideal as it is serviced by good public transport links from a range of locations across Christchurch and offers plenty of free parking for clients and staff. It is close to multiple primary and secondary schools and the Nga Hau E Wha National Marae.
The community and social wellbeing centre side is also available as a community space. A large meeting room within this side of The Loft can be made available at a low cost to community groups for meetings or training, and wellbeing activities such as exercise classes or anti-natal groups could potentially also use the space.
For co-locating social service agencies, The Loft brings opportunities for significant efficiencies in a number of day-to-day organisational business management processes through utilising scale and collective procurement contracts.
The social service group has raised the capital required for their fit-out up front, to ensure ongoing sustainable rent.
Leading Canterbury social service agencies Aviva (family and sexual violence services) and Family Help Trust (supporting children under-five born into high-risk environments) have partnered with other prominent NGOs and an Integrated Health Service Centre led by Linwood Medical Centre, to form a child, family and community wellbeing centre – The Loft - in Christchurch’s Eastern Suburbs.
Having lost their premises in the 2010/2011 earthquakes, several NGOs decided to seek long term accommodation that was beyond business as usual – to take the opportunity to create a more integrated and purposeful approach to working together, by co-locating. Their ultimate goal has been to significantly remove complexity in service seeking and, in doing so, to enhance outcomes for children, families and communities.
Whilst looking for premises to develop and support service integration and partnership, they learned that Better Health was intending to move their medical services into Eastgate and create a ‘health hub’. Eastgate Shopping Centre was heavily damaged in the 2011 Canterbury earthquakes and had been rebuilt and strengthened. Through further talks, it was realised that together health services and social services could provide an even more comprehensive co-located range of support than either group could do alone. Bringing together services from the social service, health and wellbeing sectors makes this a unique proposition in New Zealand.
The opportunity to place health and wellbeing services within the Centre supported the desire of Eastgate’s owners to make the Shopping Centre a centre for their community as well. Eastgate is also practically ideal as it is serviced by good public transport links from a range of locations across Christchurch and offers plenty of free parking for clients and staff. It is close to multiple primary and secondary schools and the Nga Hau E Wha National Marae.
The community and social wellbeing centre side is also available as a community space. A large meeting room within this side of The Loft can be made available at a low cost to community groups for meetings or training, and wellbeing activities such as exercise classes or anti-natal groups could potentially also use the space.
For co-locating social service agencies, The Loft brings opportunities for significant efficiencies in a number of day-to-day organisational business management processes through utilising scale and collective procurement contracts.
The social service group has raised the capital required for their fit-out up front, to ensure ongoing sustainable rent.