Wellbeing Centre
During the past financial year, the Wellbeing Centre delivered over 4500 counselling sessions, supporting individuals and whānau facing anxiety, depression, relationship breakdowns, trauma, issues relating to neurodiversity, and sexual abuse. We expanded our reach through key partnerships and contracts, including the Bupa Foundation (supporting elderly clients) and the ACC Sensitive Claims Contract, secured in December 2024 for four years with a potential two-year extension.
Significant growth occurred across multiple areas. We onboarded two new contractors and an occupational therapist to support ACC clients and partnered with Active Plus to extend allied services. Other staffing changes included the graduation of three interns – two now employed, and one continuing as a volunteer. We replaced our counselling administrator and re-engaged a former male counsellor as an ACC contractor.
We also received funding from Auckland Council to provide one-on-one counselling to those impacted by the January 2023 Auckland floods. Subsequent Council funding enabled us to launch a 12-week group programme – Calm Before the Storm – the focus of this group being around psychoeducation relating to anxiety and teaching participants practices for managing anxiety, using DBT skills (Dialectical Behaviour Therapy).
Our Counselling in Schools Programme entered its fourth year, now serving six schools through four dedicated interns. In May 2024, we welcomed an educational psychologist to support the rising number of neurodiverse clients and their families and, under the Aoake Te Rā contract, two counsellors were engaged to work with clients bereaved by suicide.
Demand for services continues to grow. We’ve seen an increase in walk-in clients, after-hours sessions, and family therapy. Referrals have expanded geographically, with new clients from Mount Roskill and flood-affected teachers accessing support through our Flood Fund. The use of wraparound services has also increased through our ACC contractors, and our school programme.
In times where our mental health is challenged by historic traumas, cost of living, relational breakdown, and weather anxiety, the Wellbeing Centre team offers a place of quiet support where the challenges exerienced by whānau can be heard, and worked on together.
Despite these hurdles, securing the ACC Sensitive Claims Contract and continued funding for flood-impacted communities stand out as deeply rewarding milestones. These achievements reflect the Visionwest Wellbeing Centre’s commitment to responsive, inclusive, and transformative care for all who seek support.
Rising client numbers include notable increases in the number of neurodiverse and elderly clients. We also continue to provide help to flood impacted children and families.
The ACC Sensitive Claims Contract helping those who have experienced sexual abuse was a big win for the Wellbeing Centre and will enable us to provide vital support.
