Te Pou to lead Dual Disability project

Te Pou is excited to announce that it is leading a Dual Disability project (on behalf of the Ministry of Health) that aims to strengthen the knowledge and skills of the health and disability workforces through the development of a national knowledge and skills framework.

Evidence shows that people with learning disabilities or autism are much more likely to experience mental distress than the general population. However, this is not reflected in the way assessments, funding, support, training, and services are provided in Aotearoa New Zealand. Rather, policy making, funding, training and service provision is largely siloed between disability and mental health (and each being generally separate from mainstream primary and secondary healthcare). This presents huge challenges for people and whānau to access what they need, when they need it, from the people best skilled to provide it.

The overarching aim of the Dual Disability project is to identify options for strengthening the workforce to support tāngata whaikaha and their whānau. Specifically, the project is developing a national knowledge and skills framework for mental health and addiction and disability workforces. Along with this, there will recommendations for further actions to contribute to better outcomes for tāngata whaikaha and whānau.

Find out more about the project, the team, the project governance, approach and engagement on the Dual Disability initiative page.