Twenty years of employment as a health intervention in Tāmaki Makaurau

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On Tuesday 27 October, around 30 people gathered at Harakeke House in Manukau to mark 20 years since Workwise employment support was integrated into Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand community mental health and addiction teams in Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland.

It was a humble celebration, but a meaningful one. Clinical leaders, guests from across the region, kaimahi, employers and tāngata whai ora came together to look back on two decades of partnership and hear what it has meant for the people at the centre of it.

A belief that hasn’t changed

Workwise chief executive Tyron Pini reflected on how the work has evolved since the partnership began in 2006.

“While there’s been changes in locations, contracts and team members, and the labour market has gone up and down, one thing has never changed: our belief that employment is a health intervention.”

The milestone, Tyron said, reflects the strength of partnerships between people with lived experience, Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora, regional Work and Income, employers, other government agencies and the wider community.

A partnership built to last

Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau general manager, mental health and addictions, Suzanne Kerruish, who was manager of Māori mental health and integrated services when the partnership began, said the relationship has stood out over two decades.

“Over that entire 20-year period, our partnership with Workwise has remained incredibly strong. I can’t say that about a lot of other relationships… I’m really thrilled that this is a long-term partnership, and I imagine it will be for another 20 years.”

Suzanne also thanked the people behind the work: “The leaders, the employment consultants, the people behind the scenes who support everything that you do. We really appreciate it.”

What it looks like in practice

The most powerful moment of the morning was hearing from tangata whai ora, Levi. After years on heavy medication, Levi had stopped believing work was possible. He shared what life looked like before meeting Workwise.

“I basically gave up on the idea of working. I basically accepted being on the benefit as my lot, you know, and just be thankful. I forgot that I had something to offer.”

Then came a change.

“I felt listened to and respected, and goal setting became a thing, which I’d forgotten about. My employment consultant helped me build my CV, he helped me with interview tips, what to expect, and he helped me digitise my efforts of finding a job, which I found really helpful.”

Levi is clear that the benefits go beyond the job search itself.

“I’m a lot more optimistic about the future. I get up in the morning, and I want to get up… Even having meetings once a week, every fortnight, helps fill up my day, gives me a focus, and I can project something into the future. I can make a plan. I’m yet to have secured a job from it, but I’ve learnt how to interview. I’ve learned heaps.”

Working alongside employers

Employer Ronald (Ronnie) of GigaCivil described what the partnership looks like from the other side. When there’s an issue, he said, one call to the Workwise employment consultant he holds the relationship with is all it takes.

“As an employer, that has taken up the headache we usually have with HR as well. If he takes care of that, then life is easy for me. I want to get more guys from Workwise.”

“We don’t have to go looking for people, they come to us and we try to fit them wherever we can… Some of them, they really try hard as well. You can see they really want to work”.

Ronnie also created a discount flyer specifically for the event, a sign of the relationship the employment consultant has built with him.

Looking ahead

Workwise general manager James Scarlett closed the morning with a look to the future.

“While 20 years is certainly something to be proud of, there’s just as much reason to be excited about what’s ahead. The need for meaningful employment as a health intervention hasn’t gone away. If anything, the opportunity for us to continue changing lives, strengthening communities and making a real difference has never been more important.”

Ngā mihi nui to our employment consultants, team leaders past and present, partners, employers and tāngata whai ora, and to everyone who has been part of the journey so far.

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Photo: Workwise leaders with Te Whatu Ora | Health New Zealand Auckland senior leadership team members, clinical leads and Individual Placement and Support (IPS) coordinators.