Consumers Working in the Mental Health Sector

The National Mental Health Sector Standards state that mental health services must involve consumers in the planning, implementation and evaluation of services. This along with current mental health workforce shortages has provided opportunities for people with mental illness to use their expertise as mental health service users. Kites promotes the employment of consumers in the sector and has run workshops for mental health staff on working alongside consumers as colleagues.

Taking the First Step - Second Edition

Kites has now published a second edition of Taking the First Step in association with Like Minds - Like Mine, Regional Public Health, and Hutt Valley DHB, click on the title to downoad this resource. Thanks to Regional Public Health 4,000 copies have been made available free to people in the Wellington region. If you would like a printed copy, contact admin@kites.org.nz

Employment Opportunities

In 2000, a survey in the Wellington region sought the views of people who experience mental illness on employment. Findings showed people clearly wanted work, or to increase the number of hours they were working. However, many respondents had not applied for a job in the previous six months, indicating significant barriers were preventing people from achieving their employment goals. In response to these findings, Kites has supported the establishment of the following:

Temp Solutions

Temp Solutions is a recruitment and temping agency that places people with experience of mental illness in short-term and casual employment within the community and mental health sector.

See the Temp Solutions page for more information.

Valley Transitionz

This is New Zealand’s first example of a transitional employment model and is based in the Hutt Valley. People are provided with six to nine months paid work placement following a period of structured voluntary work. For more information contact:
Phone: (04) 560 3164
Fax: (04) 560 3123

Work-link

A supported employment service where individuals are supported to find work with a skilled employment consultant.

For more information contact:

Hutt Valley Phone:(04) 560 3164 Fax: (04) 560 3123

Wellington Phone:(04) 801 8500 Fax: (04) 801 8509 E-mail: worklink@xtra.co.nz