Whānau Ora gets green light
Our Whānau Ora team
After 15 years as a pilot programme, Whānau Ora has become one of Vaka Tautua’s main services.
It’s a New Zealand support programme that helps families (whānau) set their own goals and get the services they need to achieve them.
Instead of focusing only on helping individuals (for health care or housing).
Team Lead and Social Worker Suzanne Joseph says it’s a great impact knowing there is a programme dedicated to looking after all family members.
“We will be building relationships with aiga (families) and providing the services that we know they are eligible for, or giving them access to other providers.”
Whānau Ora looks at the whole family’s wellbeing – physical, mental, cultural, social, and financial – and works alongside them to create a plan for a better future.
It’s run through Māori and Pacific community organisations who understand the culture, so the support is more personal, respectful, and empowering.
Vaka Tautua’s new nine-member team brings together a mix of Pacific ethnicities, offering culturally diverse support for Pacific families in need.
Navigator Marion Faleafa says this will be key to making sure we are able to communicate with those families.
Navigator Marion Faleafa says this will be key to connecting with kāinga (families).
“It’s (Whānau Ora) faith-based, it’s ethnic-specific, with old and new delivery partners – Vaka Tautua being one of them.”
The programme to help Pacific families has been adopted by Tātou Collective.
The Tātou Collective is a newly established Pacific commissioning agency based in Auckland, created to lead the next phase of Whānau Ora – New Zealand’s holistic, family-centred wellbeing initiative.
The way the programme aims to work at Vaka Tautua is that if a family makes contact for support – such as help with managing finances – they can be referred to the free Tupe Wise financial capability programme.
It’s also available to Pacific families who have no immigration status.
For more information on the service and how to contact us: CLICK HERE
Interview requests are available by contacting aaron.ryan@vakatautua.co.nz / 0221006951