Te Whare kaimahi walk alongside wahine whaiora who are recovering from drug and alcohol use. Wahine have bravely commenced recovery hikoi and engaged in our service and kaimahi at Te whare to support them to navigate the justice system (Oranga Tamariki, Probation Officers, lawyers, Police). Whaiora aspire to a new life and restoration for themselves and their whānau (tamaiti). The constant, consistent stress and emotional upheaval in negotiating all of the above agencies is a real risk to their mental health and can be a barrier to maintaining sobriety. Te Whare piloted a series of four rāranga wānanga this year with local rāranga kaiako. The aspiration and hope is to help reduce the life stress for wahine and enable them to focus on a positive activity for one day and a create a life tool for their kete.
The wānanga is a Puna Ora (safe place) for whaiora to connect through whanaungatanga, pūrakāu and kai, all of which are a conveyer of culture, connection and hauora. Māori cultural principles, values and models of care increase the cultural capability for both whaiora and kaimahi within the addictions workforce. Our completed series of wānanga have evidenced this. As an Iwi Kaupapa AOD Service there are a range of roles that are unique to kaupapa Māori. All of the kaimahi have life experience that resonates with whaiora, and are clinically competent, culturally safe and passionate about supporting the sustainable growth of whaiora and a Māori AOD workforce.
