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The Mana Ake SLC under CCN was disestablished in December 2023. The activity of the group has been transitioned to the Community and Public Health | Te Mana Ora.

Mana Ake - Stronger for Tomorrow provides mental health and wellbeing support for children aged five to 12 years old across Canterbury.

Mana Ake kaimahi are employed by one of 12 providers and work with schools to support teachers, families and whānau when children are experiencing issues that impact their wellbeing such as managing emotions, friendships and bullying, parental separation and grief and loss.

Kaimahi have a diverse range of skills and include psychologists, social workers, counsellors, teachers and youth workers. Kaimahi can work with children and their families at school, in the community or at home and with groups of children in schools. They provide advice, guidance and support for teachers and family/ whānau.

You can talk to your local school to find out about what is being offered by the Mana Ake team.

If you're concerned about your child’s wellbeing or mental health, you should talk to their child's teacher, or a member of the school staff, to check if Mana Ake is the right service to support your child. If your child does not currently attend a school, you can request support directly from Mana Ake via manaakefeedback@cdhb.health.nz

Mana Ake team leaders (kaiarahi) support geographic teams of kaimahi. If you have a query about Mana Ake you can contact the kaiarahi for your area (phone numbers to the right).

See the links under the Related Pages heading to find out more about supporting a child’s wellbeing. This list includes the Mana Ake website

Mana Ake karakia read by Karaitiana Tickell

E atawhai ana mātou

Te whakatōkia o ngā kakano i ruia mai

E nga māhuri tōtara e tipu ana mō āpōpō.

Nā tātou katoa hei awhi te kaupapa,

Hei mana ake te tū tauira tonu ai.

Haumi ē, Hui ē, Tāiki ē.

 

We nurture and protect

the seeds sown near and far,

so that they may grow into mighty totara for a not so distant tomorrow.

We embrace our responsibility,

To encourage students on a path of lifelong learning.

Unified, Together, Strong.

Latest news
05Apr

New kaimahi join Mana Ake whānau

05 Apr, 2019 | Return|

The Mana Ake – Stronger for Tomorrow initiative achieved a special milestone this week when they welcomed 19 new team members, marking the final scheduled intake of dedicated wellbeing and mental health workers to support Canterbury’s five to 12 year olds.

Hector Matthews led the welcome for the new workers (kaimahi) at a Mihi Whakatau, held at the Canterbury District Health Board’s Design Lab on 1 April.

Clare Shepherd introduced the new kaimahi to Maia, the hypothetical child that Mana Ake holds central to everything they do. “The work we do focuses on supporting Maia to grow and be as strong and well-grounded as she can be, in the context of her whānau and community.”

She stressed the important part that each person in the health, education and social system plays in achieving the best possible outcomes for Maia.

“Alliancing is really important to the way we work in ensuring resources across the system are accessed at the right time so Maia learns, grows and is supported socially and emotionally,” said Clare. 

“As new kaimahi coming into the Mana Ake whānau you will play an important part in development of the way we work, as your colleagues before you have. You will see new opportunities along the way which will help us enrich this service.”

Mana Ake was established in March 2018 to promote wellbeing and deliver dedicated wellbeing and mental health support to children in school years 1-8 across Canterbury. It was first rolled out to schools in the Tamai and Uru Mānuka Kāhui Ako (Communities of Learning) on 23 April 2018.

Sir John Hansen, Independent Chair of the Canterbury Clinical Network and the Mana Ake service level alliance echoed the welcome and acknowledged the hard work that's gone into getting the service up and running so quickly.

“It’s been said of the initiative, that we’re designing and building a ship while sailing it through the storm and it’s true that this has been a very fast-paced implementation. I can’t think of anything else that’s been rolled out in this sort of timeframe and that is due to the level of cooperation between partners.

“It’s been an amazing achievement that’s in large part due to the work of the project team and, importantly, the work that you have all done on the frontline.”

The 19 new workers will have a three-week induction before starting work in 54 schools across seven clusters, as well as the 8 private schools not in existing clusters, next term (29 April). They’ll provide support when children are experiencing ongoing issues that impact their wellbeing such as anxiety, social isolation, parental separation, grief and loss, and managing emotions.

Kaimahi have a diverse range of skills and include social workers, counsellors, teachers, youth workers and psychologists. They can work with individual children and their families at school, in the community or at home; and with groups of children in schools. They also provide advice, guidance and support for teachers and family/ whānau.

Canterbury Clinical Network is responsible for leading the design and delivery of this initiative, which is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, Canterbury DHB, Police, non-government organisations and consumers. To find out more, download the flyer or visit the CCN website > Focus Areas > Mana Ake – Stronger for Tomorrow.

About the Author

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Useful resources

Mana Ake website

A new website designed to share information and resources with whānau.

Information flyer

Explains what Mana Ake is and how to access it.

Young one starting school?

A book for parents explaining how to support your child starting a new school.

Work Plan 2020-21

For Mana Ake SLA. Read full CCN work plan.