Frequently Asked Questions
Kia ora ake Frequently Asked Questions
What is Kia Ora Ake?
Kia Ora Ake provides support to children / tamariki in Counties Manukau, from when they start primary school, to the end of the intermediate years. It aims to promote wellbeing, improve hinengaro and provide a range of interventions for positive mental health at the earliest opportunity.
Who is providing it?
Kia Ora Ake is a network of providers covering the whole Counties Manukau District. Providers are a mix of kaupapa Maaori, Pacific, Asian and mainstream agencies. Kia Ora Ake providers employ both kaiaarahi (registered health professionals) and kaimanaaki (non-health professionals), to support your school in terms of hinengaro wellbeing. This is done via the following approaches:
• Whole of school / whole of year group/s programmes;
• Small group programmes;
• Individual work for tamariki and whaanau. This is most likely to comprise of engagement, gathering information, helping to determine what service(s) may be of assistance and helping this come to fruition.
How are they providing it?
Your Kia Ora Ake provider will be introduced to you by your Ministry of Education Service Manager. They will work in partnership with you, and with the SENCo, RTLB, Learning Support, nursing and other staff with pastoral care roles. This configuration is different for each school, and you will be able to determine how your Kia Ora Ake Provider complements what is already in place in your school, with the aim of enhancing tamariki hinengaro wellbeing. Kia Ora Ake does not want to duplicate what is already in place within your school. It is helpful if your Kia Ora Ake Provider has one key point of contact / liaison within the school to make regular contact with.
How do we introduce (refer) tamariki and whaanau?
School staff can introduce tamariki to Kia Ora Ake. It's expected that this introduction might generally be by the school pastoral / health care staff, or specialist teaching staff such as SENCo, RTLB or learning support. Whaanau can also contact Kia Ora Ake agencies and ask for support for tamariki. This includes whaanau who are home-schooling, or who have tamariki using correspondence, or whose tamariki are not enrolled with any school but live in the district.
What about consent?
Download the linked consent document below.
Our Model of Care
Learn about our Model of Care below.
Referral Form
Download to make a referral
Get in Touch
Kia Ora Ake
Counties Manukau
Pamela.Hewlett@middlemore.co.nz
Do you need help?
For free medical advice call Healthline 0800 611 116
1737 – Need to talk? Is a Free national counselling service. Call or text 1737 any time for support from a trained Counsellor