Disability
Whai kaha
Te Pou is a hub of workforce and leadership development for disabled people, whānau and the disability workforce.
Social justice, inclusion and healthy communities
Te Pou believes in social justice, inclusion and building healthy communities.
We collaborate with disabled people, whānau and the workforce to invest in skill and leadership development and to create resources that build the values, knowledge and skills we all need to uphold the rights of disabled people in accordance with:
- the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD)
- the Enabling Good Lives principles and the associated Transformation of the Disability Support System.
Te Pou also manages grant funding for disabled people, whānau and the workforce, to build skills, networks and knowledge that support self-determination, partnership, and citizenship.
Our work at Te Pou recognises and is underpinned by our obligations to Māori as identified in Te Tiriti o Waitangi. It is informed and shaped by Māori and reflects Māori worldviews and perspectives. It promotes actions to achieve equitable health outcomes for Māori.
Also central to our work is our active commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion across the whole population. The commitment is formalised within Te Pou through our Kanorau Charter, which provides guiding principles for our work.
Importantly, our work is informed and co-designed by people with lived experience of accessing disability services. People who have experienced disability develop many skills, knowledge, talents and attributes through those experiences.
Disability grants
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Disability grants are available to enhance skills, develop leadership and strengthen the workforce of people providing supports to disabled people and their whānau. Te Pou grants are made available by Whaikaha Ministry of Disabled People, who set the priority areas for funding.
Meaningful mahi
Te Pou has created an exciting multimedia campaign, called Meaningful Mahi, that tells new stories about disabled people - and disability support work - to inspire a new generation of diverse young people to explore this opportunity.
This campaign showcases young people, especially Māori and Pasifika young people, and presents disability support work in a fresh, exciting way.
The campaign features three spectacular real-life ‘support work matches’, each diverse pair made up of a disabled person and someone who supports them to live a great life. These matches are profiled in the campaign through stories about their unique connections, stunning photography, and an ‘FAQ’ video section.
Learning opportunities
Kia Noho Rangatira Ai Tātou is a unique education programme developed by Te Pou and the Disabled Persons Assembly that puts human rights for disabled people and the Disability Convention into a New Zealand cultural context. There are a range of option available depending on the number of participants in your group.
Ātea - Disability 101 is a workshop facilitated by people with experience of disability. It is interactive, with most topics involving small group activities and discussion. It aims to raise the knowledge and confidence in non-disabled population so that they can provide a better service/experience for disabled people.
Sign up to receive updates
You can sign up to our disability distribution list to receive updates and news about our disability mahi, events and resources.
