THE STORY OF WHANAKE YOUTH
We are a small team of friendly healthcare professionals who are passionate about the health and wellbeing of the youth in our community. We are excited to see positive change in the lives of our local youth and offer a non-judgmental space to nurture and develop their health and wellbeing.
Whanake means to rise up to the sky,
to move onwards, to spring up,
develop and to grow...
Our space on Stoke- Whanake, Nelson offers a warm, safe and friendly space for local youth aged 13-25 to come and hang out, get creative and find answers and support for any general concerns or health worries.
Our goal is to raise the quality of care for young people across the district, from Nelson through Tasman, by providing youth services such as holistic healthcare, advice, support, a safe space and an inspiring place, watched over by knowledgeable, trained professionals who deeply care about our community and how the youth are raised.
About
The Youth Health and Wellbeing Charitable Trust was formed in March 2017 and we proudly call ourselves: Whanake Youth.
Whanake means to rise up to the sky, to move onwards, to spring up, develop and to grow. We believe that this name resonates with our mission.
Mission
To empower rangatahi to participate and lead their journey from adolescence to adulthood with the support of community and whanau.
Vision
To ensure all rangatahi/young people in the Nelson, Tasman and Marlborough region have timely and youth appropriate access to health and wellbeing services.
In April 2017, as a direct result of consulting with over 3000 young people in the Nelson Tasman Marlborough area in 2016 and after several community meetings, the Youth Health and Wellbeing Trust was formed.
Our working name is Whanake Youth.
Our name was chosen in consultation with Te Piki Oranga,
young people and the Board of Trustees.
Principles
Youth Centred
Youth and their whanau remain central and empowered to participate in all aspects of health and wellbeing.
Culturally Safe
Cultural safety is accepted and maintained as an essential component of all care.
Efficient
Learning and adopting existing best practice examples of youth development health care and management while avoiding duplicated services.
Effective
Establishing appropriate, measurable indicators that will provide useful feedback about achieved health and wellbeing improvements.
Equitable
Focussed on reducing health disparities in the community.
Enabling
Health sector professionals will be enabled to maximise their delivery of quality care across community and relevant services.
Board
Congratulations to the following people who were voted as the new Whanake Youth Board for 2019/2020. We look forward to more exciting news from the Board as Whanake Youth continues to grow.
Debbie Hollebon-Chairperson
Debbie Bright-Treasurer
Petra Dunlop-Youth rep
Esther Walters-Youth rep
Jacob Wealleans-Youth rep
Charlie Parfitt-Board member
Jaqueline Bone-Board member
Lee-ann O'Brien-Board Member
Staff
Lee-ann O'Brien - Manager
Ruth Rogers - Youth Health Nurse
Gwyneth Barr - Youth Health Nurse
Tania Wright - Youth Health Nurse
Jess van Arendonk - Youth Project lead
Robyn Fenselau - Social Worker
Kerry Budge - Business Support Manager
Joanne Bradley - Counsellor student (NMIT)
Margaret Martin-Board Secretary (Volunteer)
Youth Team
Esther Walters
Jacob Wealleans
Jayvin Waters
Kiana Shutkowski
Ruby Vidgen