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DRIVE Consumer Direction Counties Manukau
Mental Health Service, Addiction
Today
Description
DRIVE is a network for people who have lived or living experience of mental distress or harm from alcohol or other drugs. All staff have lived experience. We support our people in their personal and professional development. Whatever stage of your recovery journey you're at, we can walk alongside you to identify what is available.
Staff
All DRIVE staff have lived experience. DRIVE is led by Zoë Collins who has a rich and varied history of lived experience to draw from as well as a solid foundation as a Senior Peer Support Specialist, and leader in her former role. She is supported by Ruth Cheeseman who has worked in the sector in a lived experience role since 2006 and was one of the first people trained by Counties Manukau Health. Ruth also facilitates Peer Employment Training. The third staff member is Andrew Blackburn who comes to DRIVE after many years working at Te Whatu Ora Waitemata.
Ages
Adult / Pakeke
How do I access this service?
Anyone can access, Make an appointment, Website / App, Contact us
Fees and Charges Categorisation
Free
Fees and Charges Description
We are fully funded by Te Whatu Ora Counties Manukau.
Hours
| Mon – Fri | 8:30 AM – 5:00 PM |
|---|
We are a mobile service
- Please make an appointment with a coordinator before coming to the office
- Contact us by text, email or use social media platforms.
Public Holidays: Closed Waitangi Day (6 Feb), Good Friday (18 Apr), Easter Sunday (20 Apr), Easter Monday (21 Apr), ANZAC Day (25 Apr), King's Birthday (2 Jun), Matariki (20 Jun), Labour Day (27 Oct).
Christmas: Open 23 Dec — 24 Dec. Closed 25 Dec — 26 Dec. Open 27 Dec. Closed 28 Dec — 29 Dec. Open 30 Dec — 31 Dec. Closed 1 Jan — 2 Jan. Open 3 Jan. Closed 4 Jan — 5 Jan. Open 6 Jan — 10 Jan.
Languages Spoken
English
Programmes
DRIVE is a network for people with lived, or living, experience of mental distress or harm from alcohol or other drugs and their whānau. All DRIVE staff are in recovery. Everything we do is free. The number one thing we do is navigate for our people. They might want to access counselling, an addiction service, a peer support group, or help with housing or Work and Income NZ. They might want to pursue a career or become a volunteer. We sit in the middle and let them know what's out there. In response to our peers' requests, we created a shared Google calendar because sometimes, they just want to keep busy and be surrounded by others who can relate to what they're going through. We also have two scholarships for our Recovery Camp and the Cutting Edge Conference. DRIVE's Recovery Camp is held every year in mid-March, we take forty network members to the Chosen Valley Christian Camp in Ararimu for a weekend of connection, fun and confidence-building. It is the highlight of our year. People arrive anxious and leave with at least one solid new friendship, if not several. And stories that they will be sharing for years. Campers are a mixture of people still engaged with services and people working in lived experience roles. We are all peers supporting each other at camp. Our other scholarship is to the Cutting Edge Conference. Cutting Edge is the annual get-together for people working in the addiction sector in Aotearoa. If people are interested in working in the sector, we recommend they apply. You will be inspired by the passion, intrigued by the innovation, and warmed by the enthusiasm for lived experience in the sector. Our list of events is here. We are constantly updating this list, so we ask that our people save it on their browser and check it regularly to see if there's anything they're interested in joining. Click the title of the event you want to attend to be taken to a Google form where you will learn more about it and fill out an expression of interest. We will be in contact to let you know if you are registered, as some of our events fill up quickly.
DRIVE is a network for people with lived, or living, experience of mental distress or harm from alcohol or other drugs and their whānau. All DRIVE staff are in recovery. Everything we do is free. The number one thing we do is navigate for our people. They might want to access counselling, an addiction service, a peer support group, or help with housing or Work and Income NZ. They might want to pursue a career or become a volunteer. We sit in the middle and let them know what's out there. In response to our peers' requests, we created a shared Google calendar because sometimes, they just want to keep busy and be surrounded by others who can relate to what they're going through. We also have two scholarships for our Recovery Camp and the Cutting Edge Conference. DRIVE's Recovery Camp is held every year in mid-March, we take forty network members to the Chosen Valley Christian Camp in Ararimu for a weekend of connection, fun and confidence-building. It is the highlight of our year. People arrive anxious and leave with at least one solid new friendship, if not several. And stories that they will be sharing for years. Campers are a mixture of people still engaged with services and people working in lived experience roles. We are all peers supporting each other at camp. Our other scholarship is to the Cutting Edge Conference. Cutting Edge is the annual get-together for people working in the addiction sector in Aotearoa. If people are interested in working in the sector, we recommend they apply. You will be inspired by the passion, intrigued by the innovation, and warmed by the enthusiasm for lived experience in the sector. Our list of events is here. We are constantly updating this list, so we ask that our people save it on their browser and check it regularly to see if there's anything they're interested in joining. Click the title of the event you want to attend to be taken to a Google form where you will learn more about it and fill out an expression of interest. We will be in contact to let you know if you are registered, as some of our events fill up quickly.
- Programme Areas
Mental health, Addictions - drug & alcohol
- Programme Type
Peer support (AOD), Community / social support (AOD), Peer / advocacy / group / family whānau support, Community based support - mental health
- Regions
South Auckland, East Auckland
- Age Groups
Adult / Pakeke
- Referral Types
Self referral
Referral Process
We are a network not a service so people connect with us, they are not referred. Most people connect directly, others are brought to us by their support workers or whaanau. We are funded to provide support to people who:
- have lived experience of mental distress or harm from alcohol or other drugs - and their whaanau,
- are aged 18-65 years
- live in the Counties Manukau region. Here is the map of the region or see below for more about this.
You live within the Counties Manukau region if you are sent to one of these hospitals by your GP.
- Middlemore Hospital
- Manukau Superclinic
- Botany Superclinic
- Franklin Memorial Hospital
- Pukekohe Hospital
- Kidz First Children's Hospital
Please make an appointment to meet with a coordinator. There are only three of us and on any given day we could be in Pukekohe, Māngere or Howick. We prefer to meet at a location within your suburb such as a local cafe or we can secure a private room in a community venue such as a library.
Description
The number one thing we do is navigate for our people. They might want to access counselling, an addiction service, a peer support group, or help with housing or Work and Income NZ. They might want to pursue a career or become a volunteer.
We sit in the middle and let them know what's out there.
In response to our peers' requests, we created a shared Google calendar because sometimes, they just want to keep busy and be surrounded by others who can relate to what they're going through.
We also have two scholarships for our Recovery Camp and the Cutting Edge Conference. DRIVE's Recovery Camp is held every year in mid-March, we take forty network members to the Chosen Valley Christian Camp in Ararimu for a weekend of connection, fun and confidence-building. It is the highlight of our year.
People arrive anxious and leave with at least one solid new friendship, if not several. And stories that they will be sharing for years. Campers are a mixture of people still engaged with services and people working in lived experience roles. We are all peers supporting each other at camp.
Our list of events is here. We are constantly updating this list, so we ask that our people save it on their browser and check it regularly to see if there's anything they're interested in joining.
Recovery College provides peer-led education on recovery from mental distress or harm from alcohol or other drugs. Most workshops are 3 hours long from 10am to 1pm. We can also bring brief (1-hour) versions of workshops to community or residential services. For example, we have delivered to The Bridge Program (Salvation Army), Tiaho Mai, Tupu Ake, The Pride Project Aotearoa, Higher Ground Residential Treatment, WINGS Trust and The Phoenix Centre (Emerge Aotearoa). Our list of workshops available to organisations is here. Our current event schedule is here.
Recovery College provides peer-led education on recovery from mental distress or harm from alcohol or other drugs. Most workshops are 3 hours long from 10am to 1pm. We can also bring brief (1-hour) versions of workshops to community or residential services. For example, we have delivered to The Bridge Program (Salvation Army), Tiaho Mai, Tupu Ake, The Pride Project Aotearoa, Higher Ground Residential Treatment, WINGS Trust and The Phoenix Centre (Emerge Aotearoa). Our list of workshops available to organisations is here. Our current event schedule is here.
- Programme Areas
Mental health, Addictions - drug & alcohol
- Programme Type
Training - AOD, Training - mental health
- Regions
South Auckland, East Auckland
- Age Groups
Adult / Pakeke
- Referral Types
Self referral
Referral Process
We are a network not a service so people connect with us, they are not referred. Most people express their interest in attending workshops by filing out our google form. We are also happy for support workers and whaanau to register people who are interested. These workshops are available to anyone aged 18-65 years who lives or works in the Counties Manukau region. You do not need to have lived experience to attend.
Here is the map of the region or if you, or your whānau, need secondary medical care and are sent to one of these Hospitals or Clinics, you live in the Counties Manukau region.
- Middlemore Hospital
- Manukau Superclinic
- Botany Superclinic
- Franklin Memorial Hospital
- Pukekohe Hospital
- Kidz First Children's Hospital
Description
Recovery College provides peer-led education on recovery from mental distress or harm from alcohol or other drugs. Most workshops are 3 hours long from 10am to 1pm. We can also bring brief (1-hour) versions of workshops to community or residential services. For example, we have delivered to The Bridge Program (Salvation Army), Tiaho Mai, Tupu Ake, The Pride Project Aotearoa, Higher Ground Residential Treatment, WINGS Trust and The Phoenix Centre (Emerge Aotearoa).
Our list of workshops available to organisations is here. Our current event schedule is here.
Disability Assistance
Wheelchair access, Mobility parking space, Wheelchair accessible toilet, Quiet, low sensory environment, A longer appointment time, Support to make decisions, Assistance to move around, More space to move around, NZ sign language interpreter
Additional Details
Phone, Speak with women / wahine, Child / Tamariki friendly, LGBTQIA+ friendly, Online / virtual / app
Public Transport
The Ōtāhuhu train station is 13 minutes' walk away. We are 8 minutes' walk from the bus stop (33 bus).
Parking
Parking is available on site. If Peer Employment Training is in session the carpark quickly fills up on Wednesdays and Thursdays.
Website
Contact Details
51 Huia Road, Ōtāhuhu, Auckland
South Auckland
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Phone
(09) 263 6508
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Mobile
021 921 738
Email
Website
51 Huia Road
Ōtāhuhu
Auckland
Street Address
51 Huia Road
Ōtāhuhu
Auckland
Postal Address
DRIVE Consumer Direction Counties Manukau
C/o Ember Korowai Takitini
P.O. Box 22424,
Ōtāhuhu 1062,
Auckland, New Zealand
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This page was last updated at 12:10PM on June 26, 2024. This information is reviewed and edited by DRIVE Consumer Direction Counties Manukau.