Wise Group

17/08/2026

What makes a service a place where a young person can feel they are seen and heard?

In this episode of Holding Space, Eden Grimwood, Youth Mentor and Consumer Advisor at Whāraurau, talks with mental health consultant Chloe Guinaudie about what it actually takes to build services that get it right for young people. Real talk about what makes our taiohi feel heard, supported and welcomed.

Holding Space is a podcast from Whāraurau, part of our Wise Group whānau, where people who work in youth mental health kōrero about the mahi and what it really takes to show up for tamariki and rangatahi.

Give it a listen: https://vimeo.com/1206631858

What do youth-friendly services really look like? 🤔

In episode 21 of Holding space, our Youth Mentor & Consumer Advisor Eden Grimwood sits down with Chloe Guinaudie to talk about youth mental health, lived experience, and what it takes to create services where young people feel heard, supported, and welcome.

Listen now 🎧

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5uH15ki8pYehiDGVXOO1PK
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/nz/podcast/creating-services-that-work-for-young-people/id1830922007?i=1000775680212

11/08/2026

Physical health takes centre stage in this edition of Harikoa, Pathways' whānau magazine.

Pathways, part of our Wise Group whānau, shares stories from around the motu, including the Pathways and Real IronMāori journey, a taiohi half marathon challenge, and inspiring personal wellbeing journeys.

Catch up on the latest edition of Harikoa:
https://www.pathways.co.nz/support/harikoa-magazine

Harikoa Issue 2 , our whānau magazine, has landed! 🎉

This issue focuses on physical health and is packed with inspiring stories from around the motu.

❤️ The Pathways and Real IronMāori journey
🚴 Bikes, scooters and Backyard Olympics in Manawatū
👟 A taiohi taking on a half marathon challenge
🏡 People achieving their goal of independent living
💪 Inspiring personal wellbeing journeys
Grab a cuppa and enjoy the latest edition of Harikoa: https://www.pathways.co.nz/support/harikoa-magazine

We'd love to hear which story resonates most with you. 💙

To stay connected and receive future editions of Harikoa, you can sign up here: https://www.pathways.co.nz/sign-up-to-our-mailing-list

10/08/2026

Huge congratulations to the Wise Group kaimahi team who've taken out the Waikato leg of the Aotearoa AI Hackathon Festival.

Over two days, the team created an AI-powered prototype designed to help Workwise employment consultants spend less time on admin and more time supporting tāngata whai ora.

Workwise, part of the Wise Group whānau, is one of New Zealand's largest providers of Individual Placement and Support (IPS) - an evidence-based approach that helps people with mental health and addiction challenges into meaningful, sustainable work.

The team’s winning prototype is designed to help consultants build relationships with potential employers and match job seekers to the right opportunities.

"We had to pinch ourselves. Some of the teams we were up against had postgraduate qualifications in AI. We'd been running on adrenaline for a day and a half, so it was a moment to take a breath and congratulate each other on the journey,” says team member Michael Tayler.

The team now heads into the running for a spot in the national finals at the AI Forum NZ Aotearoa AI Summit in Wellington this September - watch this space.

05/08/2026

From welcoming Work Counts to the Te Pou and Blueprint for Learning whānau to updated CPLSE competencies, there's plenty to read in the latest Te Pou bulletin.

In this edition, you will find upcoming education and training opportunities, news from across the workforce centres, and the latest from the wider sector.

Te Pou and Blueprint are part of our Wise Group whānau, supporting and strengthening the mental health and addiction workforce.

Take a look: https://mailchi.mp/tepou/july-2026-e-bulletin

In our July e-bulletin, we celebrate a significant milestone, share the updated CPSLE competencies, and have an opportunity to contribute to whānau workforce development.

• Work Counts welcomed into our Te Pou and Blueprint for Learning whānau, strengthening leadership in Individual Placement and Support (IPS) for employment support across Aotearoa.

• Updated competencies are now available for the consumer, peer support, and lived experience (CPSLE) workforce. Learn how the competencies can support your mahi at the online launch on 12 August.

• Help shape the future of the whānau workforce across the mental health and addiction sector. Express your interest in joining the advisory group by 20 August.

Read about the latest news and resources, and register for upcoming training.

👉https://mailchi.mp/tepou/july-2026-e-bulletin

26/07/2026

Two new free online courses are now available through Just a Thought: Coping with Stress and Just a Pause – Intro to Mindfulness.

When stress takes over, it's easy to feel stuck with no way out, or to drift through life on autopilot, disconnected from the things that bring you joy and purpose.

The Coping with Stress course gives you practical tools to understand how you respond to stress and develop skills to manage life's challenges.

The Just a Pause – Intro to Mindfulness course shows you how mindfulness can support you to feel more grounded and calmer, by connecting you to the present moment instead of getting caught up in thoughts.

Getting support shouldn't feel overwhelming. These courses are free and available to access wherever and whenever it suits you.

To find out more or sign up, go to:
https://www.justathought.co.nz/courses/coping-with-stress
https://www.justathought.co.nz/courses/mindfulness

13/07/2026

Whāraurau's insight survey closes this Friday, 17 July.

They're running a short survey to understand how the sector looks for training and resources so they can keep shaping how they support your mahi.

Whāraurau supports the infant, child and adolescent mental health and addiction workforce, and has recently joined the Wise Group whānau, working alongside Te Pou, Blueprint for Learning and Le Va.

The survey only takes 5 minutes and is completely anonymous.

Take the survey: https://lnkd.in/eZrVDHaK

Give us your perspective!

We’re committed to continually improving how we support you and your mahi. So, we’d like your perspective on how you look for training, and resources.

Our insights survey only takes 5 minutes, is anonymous, and helps shape how we support you.

It closes on Friday, 17 July at 5:00pm.

Take the survey: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/WharaurauInsightsSurvey2026

09/07/2026

Kia whakatiketiketia te marewanga ake o Matariki, o Puanga, o Atutahi i te paerangi!
He tohu rā! He tohu rā!
Kua pahemo te tau o mua
Kua tau mai te mātahi o te tau
Haere ngā mate ki tua o pae mahara. Haere koutou! Koutou ki a koutou
Tātou, te hunga ora ki a tātou e kūwata nei ki a rātou
Tēnā koutou, tēnā koutou, tēnā huihui mai anō tātou katoa

As the Matariki stars rise, our Wise Group whānau pauses to reflect on the year gone by and look ahead to what's next. Across our teams, entities and wider communities, we are taking time to acknowledge this celebration together.
We invite you to gather with whānau and community, share kai, and celebrate what connects us as one. Manawatia a Matariki

To learn more about Matariki, visit: https://www.matariki.com/about

07/07/2026

Blueprint for Learning's new Trauma 101 workshop comes to Auckland this July and rolls out across Aotearoa in the coming months.

Trauma is more common than many realise, and it can affect communication, behaviour, performance, and relationships – both in the workplace and in everyday life.

Trauma 101, from our whānau at Blueprint for Learning, offers a structured, evidence-informed approach to understanding trauma and how it shows up. Participants build practical skills to strengthen psychological safety, support confident leadership, and respond with care when people are experiencing distress. Sometimes the hardest part is simply knowing what to say or do.

Ngā mihi to the Blueprint team for developing and sharing this important mahi.

Visit Blueprint for learning to learn more and register: https://www.blueprint.co.nz/workshops/trauma-101/

We recently welcomed twelve people to our inaugural Trauma 101 workshop in Wellington, and the feedback was everything we hoped it would be 💙

Trauma is more common than many realise, and its impacts can influence communication, behaviour, and relationships, both at work and in everyday life. Blueprint for Learning’s one-day Trauma 101 workshop gives you a practical foundation for understanding trauma, building trauma-informed capability, strengthening psychological safety, and leading with greater confidence.

Our next workshop is in Auckland on 17 July, and places are still available. Register today for yourself or for your team via the link in our bio to secure your spot.

01/07/2026

The latest e-news from Le Va is out. This edition celebrates Pacific leadership and innovation in mental health and wellbeing. You'll find recognition of Dr Jack Scanlan, the first Pacific person in Aotearoa New Zealand to receive a Doctor of Social Work degree. Community leaders also share their lived experience and wisdom on identity, belonging and wellbeing, alongside an update on how Aunty Dee and Le Va are exploring AI to support Pacific communities.

Take a look: https://mailchi.mp/leva/enews-june2026?e=3992ebd28f

Le Va is part of the Wise Group whānau of charitable organisations, working to support people of the moana to unleash their full potential

Talanoa, connection and community – from Māngere to Ōtepoti and beyond

28/05/2026

Exciting news from our whānau at Just a Thought – they've launched a newly refreshed website and it’s worth a look!

Just a Thought offers free, mental health online courses and resources for everyone in Aotearoa. Whether you or a loved one is navigating life's challenges, there's something here for you.

You can access support on your own terms, and they teach you practical skills and strategies to move forward. The new website is welcoming, easy to navigate, and built with people in mind. Because everyone deserves access to support, and now it's easier to find than ever.

Explore their new website: https://www.justathought.co.nz/

🎉 Big news – we've got a brand-new beautiful website!

Everything you need is still there, we've just given it a fresh new look that better reflects who we are. Go take a look around! www.justathought.co.nz

And to celebrate, we're running a little competition...

We've hidden a couple of sneaky photos of our boss posing with one of our brand new, special edition Tote bags somewhere on the site – your mission is to find them! Find the bag, win the bag. (The tote bag. Not the boss. 😄)

We're giving away 20 bags (and a couple of little extras) across Facebook and Instagram. Entering is easy:
✅ Like this post ✅ Find the hidden images on our new site ✅ Send us a DM telling us where at least one of them are. That's it - you'll in the draw! Good luck!

*Competition closes Friday, 27 May at 4.30pm.