Health & Wellness Centre

We provide a range of free health and social services to our students. Students can self-refer to any of our services, just walk in and ask our friendly receptionist.

Health and Wellness Centre Team

Our team consists of:

  • 3 Nurses – Daily
  • 1 Doctor – Tuesday and Thursday
  • 2 Social workers – Daily
  • 1 Psychologist – 1 day a week
  • 2 Receptionists – Job share
  • 1 Physiotherapist – Monday and Wednesday
  • 2 Counsellors and 1 trainee Counsellor – Daily

We work in conjunction with services outside of school, to provide a holistic health approach to our students. These services include:

  • XXM dental services
  • Asthma bus
  • District / public nurses who do bipenicillin for students with rheumatic fever.
  • Stand up-drug and alcohol programme
  • ADHB Immunisation nurses

Guidance

He aha te mea nui o tea ao? / What is the most important thing in the world?
He tangata, he tangata, he tangata. / It is people, it is people, it is people.

Our Otahuhu College Counsellor, Inez Taufa is a trained Counsellor with experience supporting rangatahi and their whānau through both everyday and complex challenges. She is committed to fostering  a safe, non-judgemental environment where young people can explore and unpack their thoughts, feelings, experiences and where they can realise and develop their full potential.

Inez takes a client-led approach, tailoring her methods to each student’s unique needs and circumstances. She draws on therapeutic approaches including Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Narrative Therapy and Drawing Therapy. She works alongside the Health Centre team and wider multidisciplinary team to support young people, build self-esteem and develop healthy coping strategies to navigate challenges at school. Inez’s aim is to empower young people to effect positive changes in their lives and to support them throughout their personal growth and healing journeys.

Students might seek counselling for a variety of reasons:

Low self esteem Trauma
Bullying Depression
Anxiety Stress Management
Lack of motivation, including to study Anger Management
Abuse Aggressive Behaviour
Grief and loss Alcohol and drug issues
Gender diversity and identity issues Neurodiversity
Self-harm/suicide ideation

All sessions are confidential. The right measures will be taken to ensure student’s wellbeing when safety risks are involved and a safety plan will be discussed with the student and/or their family where appropriate.

  • Referrals are welcome from students (self-referral), parents and from staff.
  • Counselling sessions can be individual or in group.
  • Inez can assist with mediation and Restorative Justice.

Parents can contact Inez on 09 9634025 or via email on Itaufa@otahuhucollege.school.nz

Free Support Phone Lines

Youthline – support for young people facing crisis – also phone 0800 37 66 33 or Free TXT 234 or email talk@youthline.co.nz

Whatsup – a counselling phone line for 5 – 18 yrs, available 1pm to 11pm, seven days a week, 7 days a week, with trained counsellors taking the calls.

Kidsline – info and telephone counselling for children age 9 to 13 years old

http://www.leva.co.nz/suicide-prevention/what-le-va-does/BRAVE – this is a video clip that is useful for young people

http://www.auntydee.co.nz/ an interactive on line programme for kids to access help

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