People with mental health and addiction needs will have
better access to COVID-19 vaccinations, other immunisations
and health checks thanks to grants from a $2 million fund,
the National Director of Te Whatu Ora – Health New
Zealand’s National Public Health Service, Dr Nick
Chamberlain has announced.
The COVID-19 Vaccine and
Immunisation Peer Support Fund has awarded 14 grants to 19
Peer Support organisations across Aotearoa New Zealand. Peer
support workers have lived experience of mental health needs
and addiction, helping them build connections with people
experiencing mental health and addiction needs and their
whānau.
“People with mental health and addiction
needs have a higher risk of getting seriously sick from
COVID-19, and it is important they are able to easily access
vaccinations to protect themselves and their whānau,”
says Dr Chamberlain.
“As well as focusing on
increasing the uptake of COVID-19 vaccinations, the funding
also enables a holistic approach to each person’s health
and wellbeing needs, supporting access to other preventative
services such as health checks and influenza
vaccinations.
“Significant work has already been
done to ensure the vaccination rollout meets the needs of
these communities, including setting up vaccination centres
with low sensory options, providing support for people with
anxiety and needle phobia, and organising accessible
transport.
“However, there is still work to be done.
These grants will strengthen some of the vital community and
sector-led Peer Support services that have proven effective
through the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The grants will be
used for a range of initiatives, including setting up
helplines, establishing new community outreach programmes,
and providing transport to get people to vaccination
clinics.
“I want to acknowledge and thank the mental
health and addiction sector for their efforts supporting
vaccinations for this important group,” says Dr
Chamberlain.
The Ministry of Health worked with the
Mental Health and Addictions sector to establish the new
fund, with particular support from Platform Trust, the
Equally Well collective and Te Pou.
The fund’s focus
on initiatives involving Peer Support workers follows a key
recommendation of He Ara Oranga: The Report of the
Government Enquiry into Mental Health and Addiction. He Ara
Oranga recommended strengthening the role that can be played
in the sector by people with lived experience of mental
health and addiction issues.
The COVID-19 Vaccine and
Immunisation Peer Support Fund has awarded grants to the
following organisations:
| Organisation | Location | Programme |
| Arataki Ministries (in conjunction with Te Tai Tokerau Tāngata Whai Ora Network) |
Based in Whangārei and serving Te Tai Tokerau |
Peer Support services to their community to support them in accessing the COVID-19 vaccine, as well as other health promotion services. Their service will include setting up a phoneline and delivering promotional communications to their community. |
| Auckland City Mission |
Based in Tāmaki Makaurau |
Recruiting and training two new full-time Peer Support workers, who will support those they work with to access COVID-19 vaccinations, as well as other immunisations and health promotion services. |
| Consortium application: Whakaoranga Whānau Recovery Hub, Whakamana Tangata, Waipuna Ora and Odyssey Auckland |
Serving mid- to Whakaoranga Whānau Recovery Hub based in Whakamana Tangata based in Waipuna Ora based in Odyssey based in Tāmaki |
Building capacity of current Peer Odyssey has also been selected |
| Emerge (Mind and Body Consultants Ltd) |
Based in Tāmaki Makaurau. Also delivers services in Wellington and Christchurch and nationally through the 1737 Peer helpline. |
Emerge Emerge (Mind and Body) will also take |
| Te Kupenga Net Trust and Manaaki Ora |
Te Kupenga Net Trust is based in Manaaki Ora is based in |
Employing two Peer Support workers to Te Kupenga Net |
| Centre 401 |
Hamilton | Funding will be used to fine-tune tools Centre 401 already has in place and to implement health self-management resources for their community. Funding will be used to improve clients’ access to health and wellbeing services, such as COVID-19 vaccinations. |
| Balance Aotearoa |
Whanganui |
Providing local Peer Balance will also provide support to local |
| Whatever It Takes Trust |
Hawke’s Bay | Will leverage off their current vaccination programme and recruit an additional Peer Support worker to connect with communities and hold educational and health promotion hui, particularly with Māori and Pacific communities. |
| Amigos Peer Support Group |
Wellington and Hutt Valley |
Recruiting paid staff members to support Amigos’ current wellbeing programmes and run a series of health promotion-related talks and question and answer sessions. |
| Odyssey Christchurch |
Christchurch |
Broadening Odyssey |
| Otago Mental Health Support Trust |
Otago and Southland |
Peer Support staff will be recruited to work across the lower South Island and work in partnership with local organisations and Te Whatu Ora (HealthNZ) Districts to support their communities through the COVID-19 vaccination journey. They will also train staff to provide broader support in areas such as improving health literacy and supporting people through decision-making and receiving vaccinations more widely. |
| Health Action Trust |
Nelson | Will be expanding their existing COMPASS programme team to support those they work with in their region in their COVID-19 vaccination and broader wellbeing journey. This will include linking those they work with to telehealth and GP services, providing support to attend health and vaccination appointments and providing appropriate health promotion information, particularly around vaccination. |
| Comcare | Canterbury | Will be funded to establish the Connect Project. This project will provide health promotion education, particularly around vaccination, to those Comcare supports and will help to address information and connect Comcare’s community with digital devices to support them to use online health resources such as My COVID Record. Comcare will also deliver Peer Health Coaching and work together with a range of mental health, AOD and health and wellbeing organisations in the region. |
| Needle Exchange Services Trust |
West Coast | Will be running a Peer-led outreach model to support tāngata whai ora in their community to access a COVID-19 vaccination. |
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