Help that feels like home

It can be hard to find sensitive support in times of crisis, but one centre in West
Auckland is reaching out to those in need. Joanna Davies explains.

David and Tania Armstrong sit in the shade of a pear tree in the back garden.
"It feels like you're at someone's home here," says Mrs Armstrong. "That's why we find so much support here."
The garden is at HealthWest's new community health centre, Te Puna Manawa, a place in Henderson where high needs families can arrange health care, social services and seek help.
The Armstrong family is among those who benefit by finding everything they need in one place. After going through a traumatic incident involving their teenage daughter, the family found it was falling apart.
"We tried to get help but every agency we contacted passed us on to someone else," says Mr Armstrong.
"Our health deteriorated, our relationship with our daughter did because we didn't know the best way to talk with her about what she was going through, and it was very hard on all of us."
After four years, the Armstrongs heard about HealthWest's community services scheme, and are now rebuilding their lives.
Mrs Armstrong says the centre is a blessing. "My daughter has started studying at university after missing several years of school, and our health is improving. We can start looking forward to things again."
Te Puna Manawa is a service with a whanau ora - healthy family approach. Team leader Gaylene Sharman believes building trust is the best way to work with west Aucklanders.
"You can't treat health and clinical issues in isolation, because social issues have a huge impact on that," she says. "This is a unique service because people can come here and we can help them with employment matters or housing matters.
"If people don't have a car to get to their doctor's appointment, we can drive them there, and we will follow up to make sure their family is okay."
The new centre is in a big converted house on Lincoln Rd. Youth health doctor John Newman says the setting appeals to people who would not feel comfortable visiting social service offices or a doctor's surgery.
"It's very West Auckland. It feels much more like home, especially for younger people," he says. "Yesterday, all of my appointments turned up. Internationally, the rate is between 60 and 70 per cent, and that's because people feel comfortable."
HealthWest, a West Auckland primary health organisation, opened the centre last month.
Chief executive Aroha Hudson says it is open to everyone who needs it, not just Maori and Pacific Islanders.
"There is a lot of need for this around here and we want to be welcoming for everyone who needs a bit more help," she says.
Mrs Armstrong says the service has been invaluable for her family. "People should just come here and ask for help, everyone has been amazing. They shouldn't be afraid to reach out when they need support and, here, they make you feel so welcome. It's really changed our lives."
Kia ora
Te Puna Manawa provides free community health services and links with many social services. For more information about its work, phone 839 7480 or drop in at 18 Lincoln Rd, Henderson.