Foreword

Tēnā koutou. 

Welcome to the Let’s get real refresh. 

The New Zealand Health Strategy highlights the importance of working differently to meet our changing population health needs and to support New Zealanders to live well, stay well and get well. Everyone has a role in promoting and maintaining mental health and the wellbeing of people and our communities. Let’s get real is an important foundation document for the workforce. Since its launch in 2008, it has been used widely and this refresh has made it more relevant than ever. Let’s get real is relevant for anyone who is working with people who are experiencing mental health and addiction needs, irrelevant of the setting. An increased emphasis on tikanga Māori throughout the refreshed framework, places a greater focus on relationships with whānau, parents, tamariki and a stronger acknowledgement that partnerships between services and sectors are crucial in supporting people who access these services.

This Let’s get real refresh aligns with the New Zealand Health Strategy of ‘one team’ where a collective team approach across our social, justice, health and disability systems works to ensure people are thriving, live well, stay well and get well. I would also like to acknowledge our workforce centre, Te Pou, on the continued implementation of the framework for the last 10 years and for leading the refresh of the Let’s get real framework on the Ministry’s behalf. 

Ngā mihi nui 

Dr John Crawshaw, 2018 

Director of Mental Health 
Chief Advisor, Mental Health