Wednesday 15 November, 2017
Organisations join forces to help jobseekers with health issues
Helping Western Bay residents find and keep jobs while they work through health concerns is the goal behind a new
partnership agreement.
A Memorandum of Understanding between the Western Bay of Plenty Primary Health Organisation (WBoP PHO) and employment
organisation Workwise, signed on Monday 13 November, aims to help people recover wellness through employment.
“Research shows that having a job you enjoy improves your health and wellbeing,” said Workwise Chief Executive Warren
Elwin. “It gives most people a sense of purpose, financial independence and a sense of belonging to the community.
The new service named Journey to Wellness, is funded by the Ministry of Social Development. It has been created for
Western Bay of Plenty patients who receive a Work and Income benefit, have a diagnosed health condition and want to
return to work. Mr Elwin added that people voluntarily take part in the service.
“As well as employment support our team can help you to understand how working will affect benefits, usually in a
positive way, and can support people to meet their Work and Income obligations,” he said.
WBoP PHO Health and Wellness staff were looking forward to working closely with Workwise and their clients, said WBoP
PHO Services Leader Philippa Jones.
“The partnership will help support improved health and enable a greater number of people to get back to work, as
employment is so supportive of good health,” she said.
Workwise employment consultants work with patients and their health professionals to understand health history, and
together create a plan to best support their health needs while finding a job. All services are free and confidential.
The service support will continue for up to 12 months once people have found a job, to help them adjust to new roles and
working lives.
To utilise the service people can speak to reception staff or health professionals at their GP clinic, their case
manager at Work and Income, or contact Workwise directly on 0508 TO WORK (0508 86 9675) or visit www.workwise.org.nz.
The initiative is the latest of a number (including partnerships with NGO’s such as Salvation Army and the Tauranga
Homeless Shelter as well as the Department of Corrections) in which the WBoP PHO Health and Wellness Service is
involved.
ends