Vocational services

Akiaki Ora provides skill based programmes that support people with mental health and addiction challenges to build life skills, connect with their communities, and prepare for employment.

 We deliver a range of programmes focused on wellness, self-development, and pre employment skills. Our approach is guided by the Strengths Model principles, with a focus on recognising individual strengths and supporting people to set achievable goals that reflect their needs and aspirations.

We support people through group based programmes from 16 years of age, with individual support available up to 65 years. Support is tailored to individual learning needs and delivered in ways that encourage participation, confidence, and connection within local communities.

You can refer yourself to Akiaki Ora. Information is collected as part of the referral process to confirm eligibility and meet funder requirements. Missing information may delay access to the service.

Ember Employment supports people with mental health and addiction challenges to find and retain work. Our dedicated mobile teams of employment consultants serve the greater Auckland area from our North Shore, South Auckland and Papakura hubs.

We work alongside people through the key stages of their employment journey. Our consultants focus on understanding interests and aspirations, reducing barriers to work, and identifying realistic pathways into employment. They build practical relationships with employers to support people into work and to help them stay there.

Our consultants work in their local communities and come from diverse backgrounds and ethnicities. They focus on building confidence, trust and capability, particularly where previous employment experiences have been challenging.

IPS supports people with mental health and addiction challenges who want to get and keep paid work. The service is delivered in the Rodney area through a partnership between Ember and Health New Zealand and is funded by New Zealand government departments.

We use the evidence based IPS model, which is integrated with mental health care and treatment. Our employment specialists work closely with people and their treatment or support teams to move quickly into mainstream, competitive employment. Jobs are real roles that anyone can apply for, pay at least the minimum wage, and are based on individual preferences, strengths and choices. Support continues for as long as it is needed.

We support people who may experience multiple barriers to employment. No one is excluded based on diagnosis, symptoms, substance use history, hospital admissions, housing situation, level of disability or criminal history. Our employment specialists actively engage with employers to match individual interests. We begin job searches promptly once someone decides they want to work.

For more information contact: [email protected]

Peer Employment Training supports people with mental health and addiction challenges to develop skills grounded in their own lived experience and is based on peer to peer learning.

 We provide structured training that equips people with the skills needed to work in peer support roles across a range of settings. The training focuses on wellbeing, mutual learning, empowerment, and hope, and supports people to use their lived experience in purposeful and professional ways. The programme runs over 11 full days and there are no course fees.

The programme is for people living in Counties Manukau who have completed Wellness Recovery Action Plan training. The training is for people who want to build peer support skills and use them in paid or voluntary roles working with others who have similar lived experience.

For more information contact: [email protected]