When severe weather events happen, it is normal to have an emotional response, whether you’re directly or indirectly affected. These emotions affect people of all ages, in different ways. They can occur immediately, later, or even long after the event has passed. People may experience thoughts, feelings, physical reactions, or behaviours that are intense, confusing, and frightening. Autistic children are no exception to this rule, and in times of crisis may react in ways neurotypical people might not expect.  Autistic children experience the world differently from typically developing chi ..read more

Extra support to ease any anxiety of disabled and autistic people wanting to get vaccinated for COVID-19 is now available, thanks to a partnership between Explore and the Ministry of Health. Many, including disabled and autistic people, may show signs of anxiety and distress when it comes to injections and needles; now a range of support is available to help alleviate their fears. This ranges from online learning tools for carers and whānau, to one-on-one telehealth support via phone and video conferencing for disabled and autistic people, their families, and their support people. Identifying ..read more

Testimonial from Explore’s Frontline Health Heroes service In April 2020, during Level 4 lockdown, HealthCare New Zealand stepped up and pulled together resources to develop a new support service – for all frontline health workers nationwide, continuing their vital work while dealing with the threat of COVID-19. As part of the Ministry of Health’s COVID-19 National Psychosocial Campaign, we delivered free psychological support to hundreds of frontline health workers, later extending this support to Māori Wardens and Fire and Emergency services. The feedback we received was powerful, and dem ..read more

Hon Michael Wood, Minister of Workplace Relations and Safety; Josephine Gagan, Group Chief Executive of New Zealand Health Group Today it was our pleasure to welcome the Hon Michael Wood, Minister for Employment Relations, to our premises for his landmark announcement on Fair Pay Agreement legislation.    Likewise, the New Zealand Health Group welcomes the news of Fair Pay Agreements, and a commitment of increased investment by this Government. We take great pride in the positive relationships we have with our unions, and I assure you that our Group’s operating entities – Geneva ..read more

If you’re feeling overwhelmed, disconnected, mentally drained or just need to talk some things through, we are here for you. Our team of Registered Psychologists have put together 9 mental wellbeing tips to support our country’s frontline healthcare staff as they continue to work throughout the Covid-19 pandemic. Mental wellbeing tips for healthcare workers: Open up – Discuss with colleagues, friends, and whānau, about any frustrations or challenges you may be facing. Reassure yourself – Remember that you’re working a crucial role and doing your best with the resources available. Bu ..read more

Having a Freedom Medical Alarm gives you access to expert emergency medical attention quickly, even if you can’t access your phone. It’s all thanks to a discreet pendant that can be worn around your neck, on your wrist, or attached to a brooch, belt, or wheelchair. Jane Edwards, a busy 82-year-old kuia living in Porirua, wears hers on her wrist all the time. “It was easy to talk with Linda at Freedom Medical Alarms, to check out what type of alarm would be best for me,” says Jane. “We talked about the things I do… the kaumatua support I participate in across our community, and the activities I ..read more

The gap between healthcare experiences and outcomes of Māori and non-Māori was again highlighted by Health Minister Andrew Little in a recent speech preceding the announcement of radical public health reform. He stated that “We have to accept that the way our system presently delivers for Māori is inadequate. … Iwi and Māori communities are frequently consulted, but often in an advisory rather than decision-making capacity. … We must ensure partnership and effective iwi and Māori leadership at all levels.” The New Zealand Health Group fully endorses this position, and continues to invest resou ..read more

The New Zealand Health Group is proud to announce its sponsorship of three new undergraduate Māori health scholarships in 2021, in partnership with Whitireia New Zealand and its charitable trust for scholarships, the Whitireia Foundation.    The New Zealand Health Group (NZHG) Limited is the country’s largest provider of Home and Community services, rehabilitation and behavioural support, health staffing and training, with a highly trained, multicultural workforce and offices nationwide. Through its companies, Geneva Healthcare, HealthCare New Zealand, Solora, NZ Care and Explore, th ..read more

We’re kiwis. We love to be independent and get out and about. That’s why a Freedom Medical Alarm is such a good idea for those of us getting on in years or for anyone with an ongoing medical condition. Freedom alarms deliver on-call, emergency medical support and that bit of confidence people need to keep enjoying life to the full. And, depending on how outgoing you like to be, we provide different plans. All of our emergency alarms come with a sleek touch-button, either as a medical alarm pendant or wristband. In home, you will have a base unit and a neck or wrist pendant that operates from t ..read more

In 2016, myself and a colleague delivered a seminar on behalf of HealthCare NZ’s Explore team to the ASID NZ Conference, in which our key message was to explain how the fundamental aim of Positive Behaviour Support is to improve the quality of the person’s life and for those around them. When Carr et al. (2002) first developed a description of Positive Behaviour Support, they emphasised an approach focused on preventing challenging behaviours by making them inefficient or ineffective when compared to helpful and desired behaviours. Our presentation supported this position, however we also emph ..read more