Leadership resources
Strong leadership is vital to creating the conditions in which the consumer, peer support, and lived experience (CPSLE) workforce can thrive. These resources equip leaders with practical guidance, frameworks, and learning opportunities to build culturally responsive, values-based organisations; support kaimahi wellbeing and development; strengthen lived experience leadership; and translate shared commitments into meaningful improvements for tāngata whai ora, whānau, and communities.
Te Pou resources for CPSLE leaders
CPSLE competencies 2026
Consumer Peer Support and Lived Experience competencies are the expectations or capabilities that guide consumer, peer support, and lived experience workers in their roles. They help clarify what effective, ethical, values-based, and culturally responsive practice looks like across the CPSLE workforce.
CPSLE strategy and action plan 2026-2031
The CPSLE strategy and action plan 2026-2031 sets out the vision, priorities, and workforce development needs of the consumer, peer support, and lived experience (CPSLE) sector for 2026–2031. The strategy describes the long-term direction for strengthening lived experience leadership, growing a sustainable workforce, and supporting services to value CPSLE roles. The action plan identifies the practical steps, shared responsibilities, and partnerships needed across the mental health and addiction sector to put that vision into practice.
CPSLE workforce guide
The CPSLE workforce guide provides an overview of the consumer, peer support, and lived experience (CPSLE) workforce in Aotearoa New Zealand’s mental health and addiction sector. It explains the roles, values, and unique contributions of people with lived experience, and outlines how organisations can effectively recruit, support, and develop this workforce. The document also highlights key principles, benefits, challenges, and practical strategies to help create inclusive, recovery-focused, and culturally responsive services.
Wisdom in Action- CPSLE governance guide
Wisdom in Action supports consumer, peer support, and lived experience workforce members in Aotearoa New Zealand to contribute effectively on boards and committees. It promotes lived experience perspectives in governance, grounded in Te Tiriti o Waitangi, values-based practice, Māori representation, inclusive language, and co-design. The guide addresses responsibilities, skills, dual roles, misconceptions, wellbeing, self-care, and advocacy, while offering practical advice for chairs and members to strengthen inclusive, equitable decision-making.
Guides for reflective CPSLE workers, practitioners, and managers
This set of guides has been developed to support the mātau ā-wheako CPSLE workforce to engage in reflective practice. It provides an overview of reflective practice for the mātau ā-wheako CPSLE workforce, including different approaches, key elements of effective reflective practice, and benefits to mātau ā-wheako CPSLE workers. It also highlights culturally safe and responsive practice.
The suite of reflective practice guides includes one each for mātau ā-wheako CPSLE workers, reflective practitioners, and kaiwhakahaere/managers. Each guide includes the same information in part one, followed by information specific to the audience in part two
Tupuranga reflective practice framework
Tupuranga: a place to grow is a reflective practice framework for the consumer, peer support, and lived experience (CPSLE) workforce. It supports learning and development through three connected domains: experiential knowledge, relational focus, and attention to power. By encouraging reflection on these areas, Tupuranga helps guide conversations, deepen understanding of lived experience work, and strengthen practice, relationships, and wellbeing across the mental health and addiction workforce.
Training
The CPSLE training directory and addiction education and training pathways help people explore learning options and career development across mental health and addiction services. They outline foundation, further training, Te Tiriti o Waitangi learning, addiction practice development, and ways to grow specialist knowledge. Together, they support kaimahi, managers, and people with lived experience to identify training that strengthens skills, confidence, and progression in CPSLE and addiction roles.
Training
The CPSLE training directory and addiction education and training pathways help people explore learning options and career development across mental health and addiction services. They outline foundation, further training, Te Tiriti o Waitangi learning, addiction practice development, and ways to grow specialist knowledge. Together, they support kaimahi, managers, and people with lived experience to identify training that strengthens skills, confidence, and progression in CPSLE and addiction roles.
Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika resources
Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika describes the values, attitudes, knowledge, and skills required for working effectively alongside tāngata whai ora and whānau experiencing addiction and/or mental health challenges. The framework reflects the Aotearoa New Zealand context and contemporary best practice. It complements professional competency frameworks and provides a foundational approach for all health workers, including kaimahi who are not guided by a professional competency framework.
Arataki
Arataki presents a leadership approach relevant to leaders across Aotearoa New Zealand, grounded in Māori leadership thinking from Ella Henry and Rachel Wolfgramm. Its tools and resources focus on three interconnected elements: ways of being, ways of knowing, and ways of doing. These support leaders to reflect on identity, culture, relationships, knowledge, and action, and can be applied to leading self, teams, and services.
Trauma-informed approaches - a resource for leaders
Trauma-informed approaches are most effective when embedded across an organisation, with all kaimahi working in ways that reduce the risk of further trauma. Leaders play a key role in supporting culture change, workforce development, and sustained practice. This resource helps leaders plan, implement, and maintain an organisation-wide trauma-informed approach that complements everyday practice and strengthens safer, more responsive services.
Mental Health and Addiction KPI programme
The Mental Health and Addiction Key Performance Indicator (KPI) Programme is a sector-informed and sector-led initiative that supports continuous quality improvement in mental health and addiction services across Aotearoa New Zealand through the practice of benchmarking.
The KPI Programme provides the people working in both inpatient and community settings with information about their services through six indicator dashboards, which can be used to benchmark (compare) and take action to drive continuous service improvement for tāngata whai ora, whānau, and communities.
Te Pou e-learnings
There are a range of free e-learnings from Te Pou designed to support the mental health and addiction sector in Aotearoa New Zealand. These are available on the Te Pou e-learning platform, Pūkoro, accessible via the Te Pou website. If you do not have an existing Pūkoro account, you will need to create one to access the e-learnings. Topics include:
- reflective practice
- Keeping it Real | Kia Pono te Tika (modules include working with people, whānau, Māori, communities)
- outcome measures
- support worker training
- Mental Health Act guidelines.
Podcasts and media resources
These podcasts and media resources bring together lived experience stories, leadership journeys, workforce kōrero, Māori perspectives, youth-informed insights, and commentary on mental health and addiction in Aotearoa. They offer leaders an accessible way to learn from people’s experiences, consider different approaches to leadership and practice, and stay connected to the issues shaping the sector. Listening to and engaging with these voices can prompt reflection, challenge assumptions, and support leadership that is authentic, culturally grounded, and responsive to the communities it serves.
Take It From Us podcast
Take It From Us is a podcast that features the voice of lived experience. It includes real people sharing honest stories about mental health, addiction, trauma and recovery - straight from their own journeys.
They'll tell you what worked for them, what didn't, and what they wish they'd known sooner.
Host Kent Johns is a former broadcaster-turned-health-coach who believes everyone has a story to tell if people take the time to really listen.
Authentic Leadership podcast
The Authenticity Studio podcast centres around authentic leadership focusing on those who quietly embody leadership from within — individuals who continue to shine even when no one is watching.
They are not defined by accolades or applause, but by something much deeper: a quiet courage to stay true to themselves, especially during the early, uncertain stages of their metamorphosis — a time often marked by being undervalued, unseen, and deeply challenged.
To us, true leaders are like fireflies. They glow from within - not because someone asked them to, but because it’s simply who they are. They keep showing up, again and again, to illuminate the darkness.
So, welcome to the Authentic Leadership Podcast. Here, we honour those who lead not through role or recognition, but through essence — by having the courage to be themselves, fully and unapologetically.
The Difference podcast
The Difference is a podcast by and for support workers in Aotearoa New Zealand's mental health and addiction sector. Each episode, hosted by Te Pou project lead Alexia Black, features authentic kōrero with a diverse range of guests - support workers, leaders, and those with lived experience - discussing the challenges and rewards of the role.
From worker wellbeing and vicarious trauma to leadership, reflective practice, and whānau support, The Difference explores the realities of support work with candour and hope.
This podcast is about connection, empowerment, and making a difference. Whether you're already in the workforce, managing a team, or considering a career in support work, these conversations will resonate, inspire, and remind you why this mahi matters.
Tune in for uplifting, insightful, and sometimes hilarious conversations that celebrate the incredible people making a difference every day in our workforce. On Spotify, Apple Podcasts and YouTube.
100 Māori Leaders podcast series
The Toitū Hauora podcast series is a digital extension of the Toitū Hauora Māori Health Leadership Conference, created to support and amplify Māori health leadership. The series brings together current and emerging leaders to share their journeys, insights, and innovations in improving Māori wellbeing. Grounded in the kaupapa of prioritising the health of the people, it reflects the guiding message of Kiingi Tuheitia that the wellbeing of the iwi must always come first.
Hosted by Riki Nia Nia, each episode features influential voices across health, community leadership, and culture, including clinicians, advocates, and changemakers. Through personal stories, the podcasts explore resilience, equity, identity, and leadership within Māori contexts. Topics such as mental health, wairuatanga, and whānau wellbeing are central, highlighting holistic approaches to hauora.
Overall, the series creates an accessible space for learning, connection, and inspiration, enabling listeners everywhere to engage with Māori leadership and aspirations for a healthier future.
Holding Space
Whāraurau is the national centre for workforce development for the infant, child, and adolescent mental health and addictions sector. Their work is evidence-based, and informed by national and international subject matter experts, including clinical, cultural and youth-lived experience. They have a podcast series called Holding Space.
