Across Capital, Coast and Hutt Valley, five amazing community health providers The 502, Vibe, KYS - Kāpiti Youth Support, Evolve and Tū Ora Compass, offer a range of primary health and social services to rangatahi/young people aged 10-24 years. The goal is to support rangatahi to thrive by connecting them to timely, accessible and engaging health, wellbeing and social support services in the community and some schools.
On Thursday 23 May, Youth One Stop Shop (YOSS), The 502 in Porirua hosted ‘Get Your Biz On’ to showcase small businesses run by rangatahi (under 25 years of age) and to inspire youth.
Engagement Team Lead, Nella Hakeagaiki says the 502 has around 700 enrolled rangatahi with the goal to reach 1000.
“Our name was chosen by local rangatahi and is the postcode for Porirua. We offer a welcoming space for rangatahi to access primary health, social and youth development services. They tell us their top concerns are housing, mental health and talking to a trusted health professional.
The ‘Get Your Biz On’ event is the start of a youth mentoring series we have planned. Pania, Laynah, Amanda and Lincoln in my team are the legends for pulling it all together at the City Hub. We had a steady stream of visitors including college students wanting to check out the local businesses and our famous sausage sizzle,” says Nella.
Pania Tu'uga, Nella Hakeagaiki and Ruby Sei on the BBQ
Lincoln Patelesio, Youth Worker at The 502, has a side business called SLAPP, creating custom designs on shoes, inspired by the symbols people like or have meaning to them. The name SLAPP was created from the initials of his siblings. Lincoln is keen to mentor and inspire rangatahi to reach their goals.
Vibe, a Youth One Stop Shop (YOSS) in Lower Hutt also held a drop in event on Thursday for rangatahi to join in for fun games, challenges, crafts, and of course food.
Vibe has a community hub and provides Nurse, Nurse Practitioner and Doctor Clinics in ten schools/education settings in the Hutt Valley. Services include health promotion and education activities, youth coaches and a youth development programme.
Maraea Savaiinaea, Clinical Manager and Registered Nurse (RN) at Vibe says,
“We aim for our services to be accessible to young people. This means that our services are youth and whanau friendly, in accessible locations, free and confidential. It has been a privilege to be a part of this important mahi, its development and evolution.”
Primary health team leader and RN Cheri Hoffman and new graduate RN Tyla Cavangh at Lyriks Activity Centre school clinic.
For more information
To find out more about the community health providers in your area check out their websites below. ·
Healthline
GP
Afterhours
Hospital ED