Akiaki Ora

The Personal Focus, Community Participation service offers customised one on one support for people who want to overcome barriers to education, employment and/or participation in the wider community.

Our model of facilitation is adapted from the Enabling Good Lives principles

• Self-determination – participants are in control of their lives.
• Person-centred – participants have supports that are tailored to their individual needs and goals.
• Ordinary life outcomes – participants are supported to live an everyday life in everyday places; and are regarded as citizens with opportunities for learning, employment, having a home and family, and social participation
• Mainstream first – participants are supported to access mainstream services before specialist Mental Health services.
• Mana enhancing – the abilities and contributions of participants and their families are recognised and respected.
• Easy to use – support is easily accessible and flexible.
• Relationship building – supports, builds and strengthens relationships between participants, their whānau and community.

Individual goal plans are developed in partnership with a Facilitator.

The focus of the work undertaken is:

• Participation and inclusion in the participants wider community. Participants will explore options to support greater involvement in their community. This may include joining social activities, sports/recreation, interest groups etc.
• Further Education /Training. Participants explore and connect with training or study options based on career planning. This may include tertiary study or short courses/workshops.
• Confidence Building for Work. Participants develop skills to enhance their confidence to *prepare for job seeking. This may include support into volunteer work.

*Akiaki Ora does not support people into employment. However, when participants express a desire to find employment they may choose to be referred to Ember Employment