Whāraurau

Whāraurau Whāraurau is a national centre for infant, child and youth mental health and addiction workforce development in Aotearoa New Zealand

Whāraurau is a nationally and internationally recognised centre of excellence focused on improving infant, child and adolescent mental health, and wellbeing in Aotearoa New Zealand through teaching, research, development, advocacy and by actively supporting those who provide services to children and their families. It is a research and teaching centre in the Dept. of Psychological Medicine, Facult

y of Medical and Health Sciences at the University of Auckland. It is contracted by the Ministries of Health and Social Development, through Auckland UniServices Ltd, to undertake workforce development within the infant, child and adolescent mental health and addictions sector. Please note that we do not provide psychological counselling nor treatments. For any mental health issues, please seek professional help.

🎧✨ New episode alert!Episode 18 of Holding space is now live!This week, we kōrero w/ Whāraurau Principal Advisor Lisa Ma...
26/05/2026

🎧✨ New episode alert!

Episode 18 of Holding space is now live!

This week, we kōrero w/ Whāraurau Principal Advisor Lisa Maughan about the parenting programmes Triple P & Incredible Years. Lisa shares how these programmes support parents, caregivers, teachers, and whānau – and the role Whāraurau plays in strengthening workforce training and delivery across Aotearoa

Listen now 👇

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4pYpV3SidOHcLR4DYEBY2X
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/an-introduction-to-the-triple-p-and/id1830922007?i=1000769517527

New resource: Supporting wellbeing, resilience & effective leadership in Aotearoa | A toolkit for team leaders 💚This pra...
19/05/2026

New resource: Supporting wellbeing, resilience & effective leadership in Aotearoa | A toolkit for team leaders 💚

This practical toolkit is for leaders working across the infant, child, and adolescent mental health sector to support team wellbeing, lead confidently through change, and strengthen resilience in themselves and their kaimahi.

Designed for everyday use, it can support team hui, one-on-one conversations, or end-of-day reflection in busy environments.

The toolkit was developed collaboratively by Dr Bronwyn Dunnachie from Whāraurau and Wendy Donaldson from Te Pou

Interested in using this in your mahi? Access here: https://www.wharaurau.org.nz/all-resources/supporting-wellbeing-resilience-effective-leadership-in-aotearoa-a-toolkit-for-team-leaders

We have not one, but TWO sessions of Lunchtime learning sessions coming up this June! 👏Introduction to Mentalisation Bas...
14/05/2026

We have not one, but TWO sessions of Lunchtime learning sessions coming up this June! 👏

Introduction to Mentalisation Based Therapy for Adolescents (MBT-A)

3 June | 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Join Dr Mark Dangerfield for this online session, which offers a clear introduction to MBT-A, focusing on its relevance for everyday clinical work with rangatahi.

Register 👉 https://www.wharaurau.org.nz/all-resources/lunchtime-learning-introduction-to-mentalisation-based-therapy-for-adolescents-mbt-a-03062026

Substance use and harm reduction: Volatile substances, practical tools, & current trends

4 June | 12:00pm – 1:00pm

Join Spencer Dietrich and Melanie Saxton from NZ Drug Foundation for this online session exploring current substance use trends and harm reduction.

Register 👉 https://www.wharaurau.org.nz/all-resources/lunchtime-learning-substance-use-harm-reduction-volatile-substances-practical-tools-current-trends-04062026

🎙 Episode 17 of Holding space is now live!  In this episode, we talk w/ Professor Vanessa Cobham about how parents and c...
12/05/2026

🎙 Episode 17 of Holding space is now live! In this episode, we talk w/ Professor Vanessa Cobham about how parents and caregivers can navigate tough conversations with children following traumatic experiences.

Vanessa shares practical advice on finding the balance between over-discussing and under-discussing difficult topics, and why staying silent or “letting sleeping dogs lie” can sometimes do more harm than good for tamariki in the long run.

Listen now 👇

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/talking-through-trauma-finding-the-right-balance-with-kids/id1830922007?i=1000767230491
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1JAqZ3J6jEtL3q07IVy2eV

Consultation is still open on the draft Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy from Ministry of Health New Zealand.If you ha...
05/05/2026

Consultation is still open on the draft Mental Health & Wellbeing Strategy from Ministry of Health New Zealand.

If you have lived and living experience, are part of whānau or communities, work in services, or support others – your perspective is important.

Make a submission by Monday, 18 May 2026. ⏳👇

We’re halfway through consultation — there’s still time to have your say.
Public consultation is open on the draft Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy, which will guide how mental health and wellbeing are supported in Aotearoa New Zealand over the next 10 years.

Whether you have lived or living experience, are part of a whānau or community, or support others — your perspective matters.

💬 Take part by making a submission or signing up for one of our online consultation sessions.
🗓️ Consultation open until 18 May 2026

More information below (links in comments).

🎧 New episode of Holding Space is live!In this episode, Peter Thorburn shares practical insights on how we can better su...
29/04/2026

🎧 New episode of Holding Space is live!

In this episode, Peter Thorburn shares practical insights on how we can better support rangatahi navigating mental health and addiction challenges, with a focus on connection, understanding, and recovery.

Listen now:

Spotify 👉 open.spotify.com/episode/5LYa2x1Zd5k9rtwzqxNidV
Apple Podcasts 👉 podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/supporting-rangatahi-through-addiction-and-recovery/id1830922007?i=1000763842672

22/04/2026

✨ Whāraurau just released a new video on the Choice and Partnership Approach (CAPA) philosophy! 🎥

It brings together Māori, Pacific, and youth perspectives, with insights from our Youth Mentor & Consumer Advisor Eden Grimwood on how the CAPA philosophy, when done properly, creates services that are respectful, flexible, and able to meet young people’s needs.

👉 You can watch the full video here: https://www.wharaurau.org.nz/all-resources/the-choice-and-partnership-approach-philosophy-video

What is CAPA?

The Choice and Partnership Approach (CAPA) is a clinical system and continuous improvement model used by CAMHs services. It focuses on personalised care and genuine collaboration with service users and their whānau.

👉 To learn more about CAPA, and the resources available to you, visit our website: https://www.wharaurau.org.nz/all-resources/introduction-to-the-choice-and-partnership-approach-capa

Keen to grow your confidence in using data in the mental health and addiction sector? Join us at 12:00pm on Thursday, 7 ...
21/04/2026

Keen to grow your confidence in using data in the mental health and addiction sector?

Join us at 12:00pm on Thursday, 7 May for the upcoming edition of Lunchtime learning: Beyond the dashboard | Understanding child & youth MHA data. 👩‍💻

In this one-hour, online session, Abigail McDonald and Eden Grimwood will introduce you to the KPI Programme with a focus on child and youth services.

Expect a practical, accessible overview designed to build understanding, spark curiosity, and support you to engage more confidently with data, all while keeping young people at the centre of your practice.

Register now 👉 https://www.wharaurau.org.nz/all-resources/lunchtime-learning-beyond-the-dashboard-understanding-child-youth-mha-data-07052026

The April edition of Pānui, our bimonthly newsletter, is out now. 📩This edition covers a range of sector updates, includ...
17/04/2026

The April edition of Pānui, our bimonthly newsletter, is out now. 📩

This edition covers a range of sector updates, including a recent Triple P event at Parliament and an insightful study on Māori experiences of eating disorders.

It also highlights a new mental health and addiction tool, alongside other key initiatives across the ICAMHs sector in Aotearoa.

Read it here 👉 https://mailchi.mp/b415214e90d3/pnui-april-2026-triple-p-at-parliament-maori-eating-disorders-review-new-mha-data-tool-and-more

🎙️Episode 15 of Holding space is live!This episode features Jessica Apanui, and explores the importance of lived experie...
14/04/2026

🎙️Episode 15 of Holding space is live!

This episode features Jessica Apanui, and explores the importance of lived experience roles in the mental health and addiction workforce. Jess also shares insights from her work on the Mana Over M**h Kura Kaupapa programme, along with practical guidance for practitioners and whānau supporting rangatahi navigating addiction.

🎧 Listen now:

Spotify 👉 https://open.spotify.com/episode/1LJzZFnhvf5ADMX3FSXEAj
Apple Podcasts 👉 https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/the-value-of-lived-experience/id1830922007?i=1000761138605

Registrations are now open for Ki Te Ao Mārama: Understanding trauma-informed approaches and pathways to healing | Works...
10/04/2026

Registrations are now open for Ki Te Ao Mārama: Understanding trauma-informed approaches and pathways to healing | Workshop 3

🗓️ Wednesday 20 May
⏰ 9:00 am – 1:00 pm
📍 Online

This is the final workshop in this series, delivered in collaboration with Te Pou, Le Va, and Whāraurau.

This session, Understanding leadership and the organisational aspects of implementing a trauma-informed approach, will explore:

▪️How collective leadership contributes to a trauma-informed culture
▪️Strategies for embedding trauma-informed principles across your work
▪️How to align formal processes with the wellbeing of kaimahi

Keen to join? Learn more and register 👉 https://www.wharaurau.org.nz/all-resources/ki-te-ao-marama-understanding-trauma-informed-approaches-pathways-to-healing-workshop-3-20260520

Address

Millennium Centre, 600 Great South Road
Auckland
1051

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 5pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 5pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 5pm
Thursday 8:30am - 5pm
Friday 8:30am - 5pm

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