2020 Annual Review Arotake ā-tau - Together it's possible - Odyssey

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2020 Annual Review Arotake ā-tau - Together it's possible - Odyssey
Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us

Annual Review
Arotake ā-tau
2020
Together it’s possible

          Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 1
2020 Annual Review Arotake ā-tau - Together it's possible - Odyssey
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                              Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us

                                                                                                Kia ora e hoa mā
                   Ngā Take | Contents                                                          Hello friends,
                                                                                                2020. Where do we start? Such an unforeseen and
                   Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us                                               02
                                                                                                demanding year, a year that has required so much of us
                   Te Tumu Whakarae | Message from the Chair                               04
                                                                                                all on so many levels – as individuals and employees, and
                                                                                                within our whānau, communities and workplaces. Yet also
                   Nā te Tumuaki | CEO update                                              06   a year that has provided unexpected opportunities for
                                                                                                time with others, for appreciation of people and things
                   He Whakarāpopoto | Odyssey in 2020: Data overview                       08   that may have been unavailable to us in the past.
                                                                                                In whatever way this year may have landed for you, we hope that
                   Titiro mai | A closer look: Recovery capital at Odyssey                 10   the positives have outweighed the challenges, and that 2021 brings
                                                                                                good things.
                   Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us                                          13   Odyssey entered this year reflecting on how we might mark our 40th
                                                                                                year. We wanted to gather together and acknowledge the many
                     In this together: Talitha, Family Centre                              14   people who have connected with us over this time, the people who
                                                                                                have stayed with us or accessed our services elsewhere, worked with
                     A new sense of identity and place: Melody, Youth INtact               17
                                                                                                us or partnered with us. As the year unfolded, it sadly became clear
                     Focusing on the now: Fred, Youth Residence                            20   that the gathering part was not a viable option, but we do still want
                                                                                                to take this opportunity to acknowledge everyone who has been part
                     Supporting access and connection: Laura, Pasifika Clinical Practice   23   of our journey over the last 40 years. It has been a privilege and we
                                                                                                know we are only possible, because of you.
                     Putting the pieces back together: Josh, Te Wairua North               26
                                                                                                In this special 40th anniversary Annual Review, we look back at some
                                                                                                of our milestones as an organisation and share personal stories from
                     Sharing what matters: Darrell, Haven and Auckland DTP                 29
                                                                                                current tāngata whai ora (people seeking wellness) and kaimahi
                     Te ao Māori made all the difference: Andre, Youth Services            32   about their journeys with us.
                                                                                                Thank you for being part of our story and best wishes for the
                   He Whakamānawa | A big thank you                                        34   coming year.

                                                                                                                 “Odyssey feels like a whānau. People are
                                                                                                                 supported and valued for who they are and
                                                                                                                 what they do. It is acknowledged that it takes
                                                                                                                 everyone to create real change.”
                                                                                                                 – Kōrero during the Odyssey ‘Why’ Workshops, 2018-19

2 | Together it’s possible                                                                                                                              Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 01
2020 Annual Review Arotake ā-tau - Together it's possible - Odyssey
Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us

              Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us
              “Hope is something I haven’t           Since 1980, we have supported
              had for a long time, and I’m           tens of thousands of New

                                                                                         “I have learned
                                                     Zealanders whose lives are
              starting to have it now. Hope
                                                     affected by drug, alcohol or
              for myself, and for my kids.”          other addiction challenges and

                                                                                         so much here. It’s
              - A resident at Odyssey’s              we are known for providing
              Te Wairua service                      effective, evidence-based
                                                     services that support wellbeing.

                                                                                         unbelievable. I feel
              This is our ‘why’.                     We do this in partnership with
              We wholeheartedly believe that         tāngata whai ora and their
              everyone living in New Zealand         whānau, working together to

                                                                                         confident that I can
              should have the opportunity            build the lives they want.
              to live life to the fullest, to feel   Today, our 180+ kaimahi support
              hopeful about their future, and

                                                                                         take what I’ve learned
                                                     around 4000 tāngata whai ora
              to have meaningful relationships
                                                     each year – in ways that work for
              with friends and whānau.
                                                     them and in settings that work

                                                                                         from here and take that
              Many people that we                    for them.
              support have endured
                                                     From our bases in Auckland,
              stigma, discrimination, or
                                                     Whangarei and Hamilton, we

                                                                                         out into the community
              social exclusion. Similarly,
                                                     support people from throughout
              they may have experienced
                                                     Aotearoa in residential,
              disadvantages in education,
                                                     community, school, custodial

                                                                                         and with a completely
              housing, employment or access
                                                     and other settings. We support
              to social services, as well
                                                     parents to access residential
              as being disproportionately
                                                     services with their children and

                                                                                         different me.”
              affected by structural and
                                                     we support adults who are living
              historic barriers that hinder their
                                                     with mental health challenges.
              ability to exercise their rights
              to good health.                        We work closely with whānau
                                                     and we partner with a wide
              None of these factors are
              supportive of sustained recovery,
                                                     range of agencies to provide
                                                     support options for tāngata whai
                                                                                         – Joshua, Te Wairua North
              nor do they nurture strong
                                                     ora and rangatahi to build on
              whānau and communities.
                                                     their existing strengths and move
              We want to change this.                forward in their lives.

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2020 Annual Review Arotake ā-tau - Together it's possible - Odyssey
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                Te Tumu Whakarae | Message from the Chair

         Te Tumu Whakarae
         Message from the Chair
         Greetings,                                                                    and would like to especially         2022). This review prompted
                                                                                       acknowledge the contribution         some structural changes within
         In reflecting on our 2020                                                     and commitment of two Board          the organisation which I believe
         financial year and the six                                                    members who have retired recently    will position us well for the new
                                                                                       – Robyn Reynolds, who retires from   environment we now work in – an
         months since, I would firstly
                                                                                       the Board after 22 years’ service,   environment where the ability to
         like to acknowledge the                                                       and Dr Ann Hood, who has served      be agile in how we support service
         efforts of Odyssey staff                                                      on the Board since May 2012. We      users and in how we attract and
         and leadership this year,                                                     wish you both well.                  grow our staff is paramount.
         in adapting to new ways                                                       It is with pleasure that I welcome   In closing, I wish you and
         of working so quickly and                                                     Manu Sione (Ngāti Whātua, Te         your families the very best
         generously, and also in the                                                   Taou, Te Uri o Hau, Samoan and       for the year ahead.
         many new ways that you                                                        Cook Islands-Pukapuka) as a
                                                                                       Board member. Manu joined us in
         supported our service users                                                   July 2020. We look forward to his
         and each other, during                                                        knowledge and expertise within
                                                                                                                            Regards,
         two lockdowns and over                                                        the public and NGO sectors to
         the ensuing months. Your                                                      support our ongoing commitment
         flexibility and resilience             4000 New Zealanders for the            to delivering equitable outcomes
                                                year to 30 June 2020 (just a slight    for everyone who accesses
         have been outstanding.                                                        our services.
                                                decrease on 2019 and largely due
         On behalf of the Trust,                to the defunding of a prison-based
                                                                                       We have spent time this year
         I thank you.                           brief intervention service in 2019).   reviewing and recommitting to        Allen Bollard
                                                Over the same period, we were          our current Strategic Plan (2019-    Chair, Odyssey Trust
         I would also like to extend my         fortunate to increase operating
         gratitude to our funders who acted     revenue modestly by around 8%
         quickly and pragmatically to ensure    to $21.8m. The majority of this
         that we were able to operate within    increase is a result of the 2019
         a stable funding environment in        Wellbeing Budget uplift by District
         these uncertain times. Your trust in   Health Boards for residential
         us means a great deal.                 addiction services, to address
                                                historic funding disparities.
         I am pleased to report that despite
         the challenges this year has           I would like to thank my fellow
         presented, we were able to provide     Board members for their continued
         services and support to almost         dedication to Odyssey this year

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2020 Annual Review Arotake ā-tau - Together it's possible - Odyssey
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                 Nā te Tumuaki | CEO update

         Nā te Tumuaki | CEO update
                                                                                       placing a strong emphasis              Recognition needs to also go to the
         Tēna koutou,                                                                  on whānau connection and               Government, the Ministry of Health
                                                                                       involvement, and cultural identity.    and DHBs throughout the country
         What a year it has been.
                                                                                                                              who provided an uplift in funding
         It has certainly been a year                                                  Another highlight in FY2020 was
                                                                                                                              to residential providers to ensure
         to reflect on what matters and                                                the establishment of the Odyssey
                                                                                                                              sustainability of these services
         to be grateful for the special                                                Café kai garden work training
                                                                                                                              within the 2019 Wellbeing Budget.
                                                                                       programme. Based at our main
         people and everyday things                                                    adult residence, the kai garden
                                                                                                                              Thank you to all our funders for your
         that nurture and support us                                                                                          continued commitment to our work
                                                                                       provides food for our residence
                                                                                                                              in 2020 and beyond.
         in what have been difficult                                                   and also for our Café in New Lynn
         months for many.                                                              and was developed to provide an        I would like to acknowledge
                                                                                       additional learning and vocational     everyone working in the mental
         I am especially thankful for our                                              pathway for adults staying with us.    health and addictions sector this
         wonderful team at Odyssey this                                                                                       year. It has been rewarding to work
         year. At a time when the world                                                I’m also pleased to note that          with you all and encouraging to
         changed dramatically and we                                                   following the successful pilot of      see how we have come together
         were all looking inwards to protect                                           the Citizenship Programme (a           to support each other and share
         ourselves and our whānau, our         peer-led service that operates after-   partnership with Emerge Aotearoa       knowledge and ideas in this
         kaimahi looked out. They looked       hours and offers a drop-in support      and Mind + Body) in 2019, we have      challenging year.
         out for their colleagues and for      space on Karangahape Road for           received funding from Te Pou to
         tāngata whai ora in our services.     people who may be experiencing          deliver the programme in central       Finally, our 40th year has not
         Their compassion and dedication       distress from substance use. It is      Auckland in 2021 to support inner-     evolved quite as we expected, but
         enabled us to continue to offer       designed for people who may             city Auckland populations who may      I have been so proud to see the
         hopeful and safe spaces for people    need a safe, warm space to ease         be experiencing multiple barriers      way we have pivoted and adapted
         coming to us for support. Thanks to   an immediate crisis, or to feel         to community membership and            to support people in different
         them, we were able to support 2387    less isolated. Haven recorded           social inclusion.                      ways, in what were unexpected
         adults and 1425 young people in the   almost 9500 visits in total over the                                           circumstances. I am confident
                                               weekends it was able to be open         In all of our work, I continue to be   that we are well positioned for
         2020 financial year (FY2020).
                                               during its first year of operation.     incredibly grateful for the advice,    the next 40.
         We also established several new                                               guidance and support of our
         services during the year. These       We also launched our ‘Te Ngāhere’       kaumatua and kaukuia at Ngāti          Ngā manaakitanga, with very
         services allowed us to support        strengths-based, intensive              Whātua o Ōrākei, and especially        best wishes
         populations that may have been        treatment programmes at Spring          to Uncle Bob and Arohanui Hawke.
         hard to reach in the past, and to     Hill and Auckland Region Women’s        Ngā mihi nui kia kōrua.
         develop more tailored responses       Corrections Facilities, which
                                               supported 56 participants in the        Many thanks also to our Board. It
         for others.
                                               eight months to 30 June 2020.           has been heartwarming to have
         In October 2019, we opened            Aligned with Hokai Rangi (the           your support this year and to work
         the doors at Haven, an exciting       Department of Corrections Strategy      with you as we refine our services
         partnership with Lifewise, Mind +     2019-2024), Te Ngāhere seeks to         and structure to operate in a post-    Fiona Trevelyan
         Body and Auckland DHB. Haven is a     humanise the prison experience,         COVID world.                           CEO, Tumuaki Rangatira

06 | Together it’s possible                                                                                                                    Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 07
2020 Annual Review Arotake ā-tau - Together it's possible - Odyssey
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                                                                             Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us

He Whakarāpopoto                                                                                                             Operational Revenue                                              Drugs of concern
Odyssey in 2020: Data overview
                                                                                                                                                                                         % of adults surveyed who ranked these drugs
                                                                                                                                                                                           as one of their top three drugs of concern
                                                                                                                        25

                                                                                                                                                                                                                 Alcohol
                                                                                                                                                                   $ 21.8m
                                                                                                                                                         $20.2m
The final quarter of FY2020 included almost seven weeks when the country was in                                         20                      $19.7m
Levels 3 and 4 lockdown. Odyssey’s residences remained open and we were also able
to offer telehealth and other remote support options to remain in contact with people                                                  $16.5m                                                         2019 62%       2020 60%
                                                                                                                        15
who would normally access our services via community hubs. Our services in schools,                                           $14.5m

corrections facilities and our Odyssey Café work training programmes, including our                                                                                                                        Amphetamine
kai garden programme were unavailable during this time.                                                                 10

                                                                                                                                                                                                    2019 58%                2020 70%

                                                                                                                         5
                                                                                                                                                                                                               Cannabis

                                                       189
                                                                                                                        0
                                                                                                                                                                                                                           2020 49%

                                                                                            2387
                                                                                                                              2016     2017     2018      2019     2020                            2019 49%

          1425                                  employees                                                                                                In Northland, our two Pou Whānau Connectors supported 230
                                                                                                                                                         people to access appropriate treatment options as part of the Te
                                                                                                                                         230             Ara Oranga methamphetamine harm reduction partnership led
                                                                                                                                                         by Northland DHB and NZ Police. They also ran 10 Choice one-day
                                                                                                                                                         methamphetamine workshops for Te Ara Oranga participants.

     Rangatahi | youth
                                                                                         pakeke | adults                                                 455 people participated in Odyssey drug treatment programmes
                                                                                                                                         455             at Auckland Prison, and Spring Hill and Auckland Region Women’s
                                                                                                                                                         Corrections Facilities in FY2020.

                         Ethnicity of people we supported
                                                                                                                                         304             304 adults stayed with us across our five adult residential
                                                                                                                                                         programmes in Auckland and Whangarei.

                                Māori 46%
                                                                                                                                                         180 people participated in Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua
                           European 34%                                                                                                  180             (The house that lifts the spirit) | The Alcohol and Other Drug
                                                                                                                                                         Treatment Court (AODTC)
                               Pasifika 22%

                                   Asian 3%                                                                                                              We ran more than 160 SMART* Recovery and BE SMART support

                              Not stated 8%
                                                                                                                                         160             groups at our community hubs in Auckland and Whangarei.
                                                                                                                                                         *SMART = Self-Management And Recovery Training

                                   Other 2%
                                                                                                                                                         575 rangatahi participated in Stand Up! and Amplify services
                                                                                                                                                         in schools or alternative education in South Auckland and 559
                Unless otherwise stated all data refer to Odyssey’s 2020 financial year, 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020.                    1134            rangatahi accessed school or community-based services in
                       To view our full financial statements, please visit our website, www.odyssey.org.nz                                               Waikato through Youth INtact.

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2020 Annual Review Arotake ā-tau - Together it's possible - Odyssey
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                                        Titiro mai | A closer look

         Titiro mai | A closer look:
                                                                                                             “REC-CAP helped me make my hopes a reality...
         Recovery capital at Odyssey                                                                         My life is busy and fulfilling. I have value and have
                                                                                                             meaning. I am my own hope now!”
         Odyssey has been working with              existing and develop new strengths,                      – Ted, Te Wairua graduate
         Professor David Best (Derby                capabilities and connections as part
                                                    of a personalised recovery care plan.
         University) and PhD candidate
         Zeddy Chaudhry since June                  We are now piloting the use of REC-
         2019 to support tāngata whai               CAP in our prison-based services,                the elements of my life that I either     specifics to set goals around. The
                                                    and hope to offer it at Te Wairua                took for granted or dismissed as not      results speak for themselves. I now
         ora at our Auckland residences
                                                    North in 2021. Our early experiences             relevant. It highlighted those parts      lead a full, healthy, balanced life in
         build on their strengths with              with the tool have been encouraging,             I was determined not to look at. By       recovery with numerous interests and
         the REC-CAP assessment and                 and feedback from tāngata whai                   identifying what was important to         connections; all adding value to me
         planning tool.                             ora has been overwhelmingly                      me and what was lacking, I was able       as a person. REC-CAP helped me
                                                    positive. But don’t just take our word           to, with support, start building up the   make my hopes a reality. And for that
         The tool, developed by Professor Best,
                                                    for it. Ted, a recent graduate from              various parts of my life that needed      I am grateful.
         supports a strengths-based approach
                                                    Te Wairua, shared the following                  work. Eventually I created a more
         to recovery, shifting away from                                                                                                       Thank you for showing me that life is
                                                    reflections on the value of REC-CAP              complete and robust whole – a life
         former approaches which applied a                                                                                                     there for the grasping, I just needed
                                                    in supporting his recovery:                      full of interest and meaning.
         problem-based or deficits lens. REC-                                                                                                  help to look in the right places. I now
         CAP measures progress in building          “The REC-CAP tool is incredibly                  Wellbeing and recovery need to be         have a catalogue of reasons to get
         up personal, social and community          helpful. In addiction it’s easy to lose          safe and fun and attainable. REC-         up every morning. My life is busy
         recovery capital. It encourages            sight of the many things that wellness           CAP assisted me in this, highlighting     and fulfilling. I have value and have
         tāngata whai ora to draw on                entails. REC-CAP shone a light on                achievable areas and adding               meaning. I am my own hope now!”

                   Recovery
                    Capital
               Definition: the breadth and depth
               of internal and external resources
                                                                    Personal                              Social                                     Community
               that can be drawn upon to initiate                    Recovery Capital                  Recovery Capital                                  Recovery Capital
                      and sustain recovery                       Communication skills, coping             Social networks,                               Housing, employment,
                     (Granfield and Cloud, 2009)                 skills, resilience, self-efficacy         social identity                              community based assets
                                                                          and self-esteem

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2020 Annual Review Arotake ā-tau - Together it's possible - Odyssey
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                   Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us

                                       Ngā Kōrerorero
                                       Stories of Odyssey
                                       We are exceptionally privileged at Odyssey
                                       to share in so many journeys each year,
                                       journeys of acceptance and growth, of
                                       aroha and connection.
                                       For many people, connecting with Odyssey
                                       is a turning point in their lives. Accessing our
                                       services provides the space and opportunity
                                       for reflection and discovery, for learning and
                                       practicing new skills, for working towards
                                       goals that support wellbeing.
                                       This is true for tāngata whai ora and also
                                       for kaimahi.
                                       Together, we learn, grow and challenge
                                       ourselves to move forward - with tika |
                                       trust, pono | honesty, kaitiaki | responsibility,
                                       manaaki | concern and aroha | love.
                                       To celebrate our 40 years, we wanted to
                                       share with you some of our stories – stories
                                       where people, whānau and communities
                                       are connected and supported to live the
                                       lives they want.

              Together it’s possible
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2020 Annual Review Arotake ā-tau - Together it's possible - Odyssey
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us

        In this together: reconnecting
        with parenting and building
        strong relationships at
        Odyssey’s Family Centre                                                           The agency recommended
                                                                                          rehabilitation through Odyssey,
                                                                                          but she had reservations – “I
                                                                                                                               Having her children join her
                                                                                                                               at the Family Centre has been
                                                                                                                               crucial, she says. It has been
                                                                                          thought I could do this on my        a personal joy and has also
                                                                                          own” – and her then partner          motivated her to stick with
                                                                                          was resistant to the idea too.       and get the most out of the
                                                                                          But after another relapse and        programmes and support that
                                                                                          faced with the possibility of        Odyssey offers.
                                                                                          not being reunited with her
         Talitha was around three                 to regain custody of her                                                     It has also given her the
                                                                                          children, Talitha joined the adult   chance to develop parenting
         months pregnant when she                 other children when she finds           residential programme. By July       skills alongside other parents
         joined our adult residential             accommodation in the wider              2020, she had progressed so          at the Family Centre. She
         programme in Auckland.                   community.                              well that two of her younger         highlights the “Incredible
                                                                                          children were able to join her
         When she moved to our Family                                                                                          Years” programme as being
                                                  “I was really excited when I was told   to live with her at Odyssey’s        particularly valuable, teaching
         Centre three months later, two           I could come here,” says Talitha. “I    Family Centre. “I was ecstatic,”     her and other parents the
         of her children were able to             was like, yay! I knew I needed to do    she says, of having her              importance of providing
         join her, before she gave birth          this, to get my kids back.”             youngest children join her.          ‘positive praise’ to their own
         to a daughter later in the year.                                                 The Family Centre supported          and other children. She has also
                                                  Talitha had been using drugs since      her in her pregnancy, and in         learned how to get her children
         She and her three children                                                       the care of her new daughter
                                                  she was 15 and had tried various                                             used to a routine - including
         are now living in an Odyssey             times to get clean unsuccessfully       and her ongoing participation        going to bed at a certain hour
         transition house onsite and              when, at the end of 2018, five of her   at Odyssey. Her three other          each day. She says she wishes
         actively looking for housing in          children had been removed from          children, who are cared for          she had been taught such
         the community. She is hoping             her care by Oranga Tamariki.            by family members, have also         parenting skills earlier.
                                                                                          been able to visit regularly.
                                                                                                                               Through the Family Centre
                                                                                          At the time of writing, Talitha      she has developed mutually
                                                                                          was living in a house separate       supportive relationships with
                                                                                          to but connected to the Family       other mums. Her children have
                                                                                          Centre and is being supported        been able to play with other
                           “If I’m struggling or if I’m upset I can check                 to find her own house. Once          kids in the Centre and have
                                                                                          she finds one, she’s optimistic      been supported to attend the
                          in with staff and friends, who know how to                      that her other children will be      local kindergarten. They have
                          pick you up, but without alcohol or drugs.”                     returned to her care.                had, she says, more social

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2020 Annual Review Arotake ā-tau - Together it's possible - Odyssey
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                            Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us

                                                                                                 Recovering a sense of
                                                                                                 identity, and a sense of place

                    Odyssey Family Centre
                    In the year to 30 June 2020, Odyssey supported
                    28 parents and 35 children in our Family Centre,
                    which offers a modified therapeutic community                                Melody Nepe took up the              University. She was increasingly
                    in a purpose-built residence for up to ten                                   role of Cultural Adviser for         drawn to her own marae. “I knew
                    families at a time.                                                                                               my pepeha, I knew my whakapapa,
                                                                                                 Youth INtact at the beginning
                                                                                                                                      but only here at my marae did I
                    The median length of stay is 150 days. Parents                               of 2020 to provide cultural          really start to acknowledge the
                    living with us participate in the adult residential                          support and education for            maunga, and feel the ground, and
                    programme at our neighbouring residence and                                  kaimahi and taiohi. She knows        put my feet in the river.”
                    have similar opportunities to develop skills and                             from personal experience the         Melody initially started working in
                    strategies that will support their recovery when                             strength that can be derived         the AOD sector after leaving school,
                    they leave Odyssey. In addition, parents in the                              from a sense of identity, a          first at Whakatakapokai, a care and
                                                                                                 sense of belonging and place.        protection facility in Manurewa. “I
                    Family Centre attend parenting support groups,
                                                                                                                                      left school without qualifications,
                    as well as activities with their children.                                   Melody grew up in Papakura, in       but enjoyed that work so much
                                                                                                 south Auckland, where she says she   I went on to study at MIT and
                                                                                                 had limited understanding of te ao   AUT, and began working as a
                                                                                                 Māori and not as much connection     mental health support worker, as
                                                                                                 to her whakapapa as she’d like to    a community support worker and
                                                                                                 have had, but began reconnecting     as a youth worker. Then I realised I
                    activities, such as visits to the      you up, but without alcohol           when she started studying her        needed to further my qualifications,
                    Zoo, than they have ever had           or drugs.”                            Bachelor of Arts in Māori and        that we could do better for Māori
                    in their young lives.                                                        Pacific Development at Waikato       and Pasifika people.”
                                                           “It’s like I’ve retrained my brain,
                    Odyssey has, through its               knowing that the false high
                    Relapse Prevention Programme,          that you think you might get
                    also taught her to recognise           from a drug is usually followed
                    the triggers for a potential           by anxiety and depression. It
                    relapse, how to reach out for          doesn’t compare with how you
                    support when she needs to.                                                      “When you realise that you are part of a bigger picture, you
                                                           feel once you’ve got clean, and
                     “If I’m struggling or if I’m upset,   have so much to look forward
                                                                                                    realise you’re not alone, and the loneliness that some of our
                    I can check in with staff and          to, and the high of having my            youth feel starts to lift off. And they then start opening up to
                    friends, who know how to pick          children back with me.”                  us as the support workers and to their whānau.”

16 | Together it’s possible                                                                                                                            Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 17
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                               Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us

                                                                                       “So it’s about showing them where      alcohol, but what it is to be Māori,

                   Youth INtact Waikato                                                Māori came from. The statistics
                                                                                       show we are not where our people
                                                                                                                              in a fun and interactive way. Many
                                                                                                                              of the young people she works
                                                                                       wanted us to be. They didn’t sign      with have grown up in Huntly, and
                   Youth INtact is based on a model of care co-                        the Treaty for us to go that way. So   their marae is nearby but they
                   designed with rangatahi. It provides alcohol and                    I acknowledge all those that have      have had little connection with it.
                   other drug (AOD) support and education in the                       gone before us and done so much
                   community and at schools for rangatahi aged 12-19                   mahi for us not to go that way.”       Contemporary technologies have
                                                                                                                              made this much easier than it
                   years old across the Waikato region.                                Among the groups she supports          once was. “I can use websites such
                   We offer mobile outreach and walk-in services, and                  are the Te Rangimarie Girls’           as Māori Maps, so they can find
                                                                                       Reference group at Huntly College      their marae, their iwi identity, and
                   we work with community, sports, church and cultural
                                                                                       that uses principles and practices     then to learn their pepeha, and
                   groups to ensure rangatahi are supported in places                  of Mana Wāhine to empower              start learning about our people
                   that work best for them. Odyssey has supported                      participants, supporting them to       from there.”
                   1,468 rangatahi through Youth INtact since the                      build positive relationships and
                   programme began in 2016.                                            strong value systems. In October,      Nurturing a sense of cultural
                                                                                       she launched a fortnightly             identity is crucial in young Māori,
                                                                                       Kaupapa Māori drop-in group            she says, and young people love
                                                                                       for young people in Hamilton           learning about it.
                                                                                       to support learning of tikanga
                                                                                                                              “When you realise that you are
                                                                                       principles, mythology, purakau
                                                                                                                              part of a bigger picture, you realise
                                                                                       (stories), pepeha and visits to
                                                                                                                              you’re not alone, and the loneliness
                                                                                       marae and other sites.
         She was halfway through her             has learned into action, to realise                                          that some of our youth feel starts to
         degree when, in 2017, she and her       her dreams for a better future        Her classes are aimed at               lift off. And they then start opening
         family moved to Huntly. With five       for Māori and Pasifika. “I’m so       educating young people not only        up to us as the support workers
         children, studying, and being a         honoured to be in this position,”     of the consequences of drugs and       and to their whānau.”
         long way from her parents and           she says.
         immediate family in Papakura,
                                                 Melody leads group sessions
         it was a demanding time. She
                                                 among rangatahi, often young
         was encouraged by both family
         and University teachers, and by a
                                                 people who have inherited                   “I knew my pepeha, I knew my whakapapa, but only
                                                 the damage caused by inter-
         growing sense of place. “Moving                                                     here at my marae did I really start to acknowledge
                                                 generational substance use. Her
         down here was like giving me back
                                                 focus is on reconnecting them to            the maunga, and feel the ground, and put my feet
         my home lens. That gave me the                                                      in the river.”
                                                 their Māori identity, where and
         courage to apply for this job. I just
                                                 who they have come from, to make
         told myself, ‘you can do it.’”
                                                 them proud of who they are, to
         Working for Youth INtact has given      make good decisions in their
         her the chance to put what she          own lives.

18 | Together it’s possible                                                                                                                    Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 19
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                          Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us

        Focusing on the now: A Q&A
        with an Odyssey youth resident

         Fred was 17 when he came                  I was getting older and lucky I did        Do you have any advice                    to help out with catering, making
         to stay with us in Auckland               come in here when I did, before it was     for newcomers?                            salads and stuff. Now I’m trying
                                                   too late, before I ended up in gangs. I                                              the coffee side of it. It’s got a
         and stayed for almost six                                                            Everyone is different; you have
                                                   knew it would be a big change. Better                                                good social side. You’re working
         months before heading home                to change now, before it’s too late eh?    to work at your own pace, try             with others and interacting with
         to Masterton. We spoke to                                                            and figure out what people are            customers. You get a bit of time out
         him a month or so before he               Tell us about your experience              struggling with, and how you can          of the house and get a certificate to
         graduated and share some                  staying with Odyssey                       help. Sometimes it’s challenging,         use to get a job somewhere else.
                                                                                              but in the end, you’ve got to do it for
         of his thoughts about his time            Odyssey is not for the faint-hearted. It                                             What about plans for
                                                                                              yourself, you have to keep talking.
         with Odyssey below.                       is quite a tough programme. Living in                                                the future?
                                                   the residence gives you a chance to        It’s not easy to find ways to express
         What brought you to Odyssey?              get things sorted, structured, in what     how you feel, or to see how               I’ve got to focus on the now. I’m
                                                   you do. It’s quite a big responsibility.   someone else is feeling. It comes         confident that I can do this. I know
         I volunteered to come here, just to
                                                   You learn lots and get assigned            down to communication, how you            that keeping busy is important and
         get a change, from the drinking, to
                                                   different jobs.                            talk, how you seek support.               focusing on my own life.
         see if I could stay off it. I wanted to
         break the pattern of drinking too         What are some of the most                                                            Since I’m not local, I hope to go
                                                                                              Anything else about                       back to Masterton, and set up a
         much, stealing, ending up in court.
                                                   challenging aspects of living              your time here?                           good foundation and test out skills
         I’d been in court since I was 13 or
         14, mainly because of the alcohol.
                                                   at Odyssey?                                                                          I’ve learned and hopefully set up
                                                                                              It definitely changes your life. It
         I’d been to a couple of youth             When new people come in it can             offers opportunities too. Like this       connections with support workers.
         prisons. I went down South for a          be hard, people who have been on           café job training they run. It gives      I need support and want to keep in
         while, to deep sea fishing school,        drugs, and who are also away from                                                    touch with Odyssey.
                                                                                              you work experience and credits.
         a six-month course. I was trying          family. Being away from family is          It means quite a lot of learning,         I’ve come a long way, and I’m
         to change my life down there, and         hard. You come to bond with other          baking and stuff, like cookies, cake      ready to go back. I want to get a
         eventually got a job on a fishing         residents though. You’ve got to            – I made a vegan cake a couple            good job and try and remake what
         boat, but I would drink too much          because you’re living under the            of weeks ago. I’ve also been able         I’ve messed up I guess.
         in-between trips and get involved in      same roof.
         the law and stuff.
                                                   The programme becomes more
         I was connected with a support            challenging as you move up the
         worker, through OT [Oranga                levels. Then you also have more
         Tamariki], who referred me here,          of a mentoring role, making others                “Everyone is different; you have to work at your own
         to Odyssey.                               feel welcome.                                     pace, try and figure out what people are struggling
                                                                                                     with, and how you can help. “

20 | Together it’s possible                                                                                                                               Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 21
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                   Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us

                                                                                      Making it easier for Pasifika
                                                                                      people to start and stick
                                                                                      with Odyssey
               Youth residential and community
               services at Odyssey
               In FY2020, Odyssey youth residential and community services
               supported 134 rangatahi aged 13 to 18 years old.

                                                                                      Pasifika people are                       racism, we have shared pain with
                                                                                      disproportionately over-                  other minority groups.”
                                                            Auckland Region           represented in experiencing               They also have shared histories.
                                                            Northland                 addiction and mental health               “Pasifika people have an awareness
                                                                                      challenges, yet they do not               of the sacrifices our ancestors
               Domicile                                     Waikato & Bay of Plenty
                                                                                                                                made, moving to New Zealand
                                                            Other North Island        access support services at
                                                                                                                                often to work in low income labour
                                                            South Island              similar levels. Odyssey hopes to          intensive jobs to give their children
                                                                                      address this with the creation            and grandchildren a better life. So
                                                                                      of a new role, Pasifika Clinical          there is a sense of duty in honouring
                                                                                      Practice Lead.                            the people who have made that
                                                                                                                                possible. That narrative is similar to
                                                                                      Laura Tongalea took up the position       a lot of other first generation New
                                                                                      in September 2020, having started
                                                                                                                                Zealand-born Pacific Islanders - a
                                                                                      working at Odyssey in 2019 within our
                                            Maori 51%                                                                           desire to serve our ancestors proudly,
                                                                                      Assessments and Continuing Care
                                                                                                                                and willingly. I definitely derive a lot
                                         European 45%                                 team. Being Pasifika does nurture a
                                                                                                                                of pride from that.”
                                                                                      sense of solidarity with other Pasifika
               Ethnicity*                  Pasifika 17%
                                                                                      people she says. “Any group that          Before joining Odyssey, Laura had
              *People may select more        Asian 4%                                has experienced marginalisation, or       more than a decade’s experience
               than one ethnicity
                                              Other 2%

                                          Not stated 1%

                                                                                                “Pasifika values of service, honour and respect
                                                                                               can mean that Pasifika people often put the needs
                                                                                               of others first, so there can be resistance among
                                                                                               Pasifika people to seek help for themselves.”

22 | Together it’s possible                                                                                                                        Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 23
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                    Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us

                    Supporting Tagata Pasifika                                           A key focus of her role is to identify
                                                                                         the cultural and social barriers that
                                                                                                                                  That means asking the
                                                                                                                                  client what they need, rather
                                                                                         Pasifika people face in accessing        than being prescriptive.”
                    Odyssey is committed to working in a culturally
                                                                                         addiction services, and how to
                    responsive way with Pasifika whai ora and incorporate                address and remove them. She             It also means understanding the
                    the three key themes of fanau, language and tapu in                  notes that, for instance, “Pasifika      language barriers and cultural
                    our work. We support Pasifika whai ora to participate                values of service, honour and            tensions, she says. “So it’s about
                                                                                                                                  increasing awareness among
                    in cultural and other activities that are informed by                respect can mean that Pasifika
                                                                                         people often put the needs of            those working in the sector, of
                    traditional, holistic approaches to wellbeing. In FY2020,                                                     the little things that will make a
                                                                                         others first, so there can be
                    we supported 800 Pasifika people (representing one in                                                         huge difference; encouraging
                                                                                         resistance among Pasifika people
                    five of all Odyssey tāngata whai ora).                               to seek help for themselves.”            Pasifika staff here to use a
                                                                                                                                  cultural lens when working
                    Pasifika employees make up one in seven of all                       Also, turning to a professional          with Pasifika people.”
                    employees, and this proportion rises to one in five                  service can be daunting for
                    within our residential services. Vai Ola, our Pasifika staff         Pasifika people. One of her              She also aims to combine the well-
                                                                                         priorities is to help those working      established and evidence-based
                    group, meets monthly to share experiences of their                                                            therapeutic interventions used
                                                                                         in the sector to understand that
                    clinical practice in relation to their own culture. We value                                                  at Odyssey with a Pacific Health
                                                                                         if a Pasifika person has built up
                    the richness of knowledge they bring and share with                  the courage to seek professional         model – which encompasses the
                    colleagues and Tagata Pasifika, who access our services.             advice “that it’s a huge deal,           cultural values and beliefs
                                                                                         and we need to respond in a              of health in Pasifika peoples.
                                                                                         way that will encourage them
                                                                                                                                  “That means fitting western
                                                                                         to remain engaged.”
                                                                                                                                  modalities into the Pacific Health
                                                                                         That means acknowledging the             model, in a way that can be easily
                                                                                         effort it took to get them there,        applied within any of the services,
         of working in the AOD sector, first      Laura’s next move was to work at       to clearly explain what they can         whether aimed at young people,
         in a non-clinical role when she          Bay of Plenty DHB for five years,      expect and how to get families           mums, adults or people in prison.
         was aged 19 at a kaupapa Maori           where she was one of two registered    involved. “It also means removing        And in a way that is easy to train
         service in Te Puke, where she            DAPAANZ (Drug and Alcohol              the power dynamic – so it’s not ‘I’m     people up in. This will make huge
         worked primarily with both Māori         Practitioners’ Association Aotearoa    the expert and you’re the client’,       differences in the effectiveness of
         and Pasifika people. She worked          New Zealand) practitioners to work     but ‘I’m a person and so are you’.       our services.”
         there for more than four years,
                                                  in a Child and Adolescent Mental
         which supported her to undergo
                                                  Health service at the Tauranga
         and complete her addiction studies
                                                  Hospital, as part of a multi-
         at AUT. “I really value that time,
         working in a grassroots, community       disciplinary team. While there she
         based intervention programme with        was in regular contact with Odyssey,
         a hard-to-reach population. I saw        and would often refer whai ora.
         how effective certain approaches         “The transformation that I’d see
         were, what worked, even with             was remarkable, so I knew I’d love
         limited resourcing.”                      to work here.”

24 | Together it’s possible                                                                                                                         Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 25
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                        Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us

        Putting the pieces back
        together and starting a
        new life with confidence                                                                  Te Ara Oranga
                                                                                                  The Te Ara Oranga (The Path to Wellbeing)
                                                                                                  methamphetamine harm reduction pilot was co-
                                                                                                  designed with Te Tai Tokerau communities and
                                                                                                  launched in October 2017.
                                                                                                  A joint initiative between Northland District Health
         Joshua had been in and                 In early 2020 he was facing another               Board (NDHB) and NZ Police, its goal is to reduce
         out of prison for around               prison sentence when he was                       methamphetamine demand by enhancing treatment
         15 years and as a result               offered a chance to join the Odyssey              services and increasing service responsiveness. Anyone
         of methamphetamine use                 programme through Te Ara Oranga.                  who would benefit from treatment is offered the
                                                It was through this initiative that               opportunity and contacted within 48 hours of referral.
         had ended up in hospital
                                                Josh was connected with Odyssey                   More than one third of tāngata whai ora, referred to
         several times before he came           Pou Whanau Connector, Nina
         into contact with Odyssey                                                                mental health and addiction services through these
                                                Stanley. She regularly visited Josh at
         through the Te Ara Oranga                                                                new referral pathways, were not previously known to
         Methamphetamine Harm                                                                     these services. Te Ara Oranga has resulted in closer
         Reduction Programme, a                                                                   working relationships between communities, health
                                                                                                  services and NZ Police in Northland. Odyssey is on the
         partnership between NZ Police,              “You have to slow right                      Te Ara Oranga steering group and has supported 589
         Northland DHB and various                   down, throw everything                       people access methamphetamine interventions and
         service providers in the region.            that you thought made                        support since October 2017.
         Josh was accepted into Odyssey’s Te         you ‘you’ out, and start
         Wairua North in February 2020. By           at the bottom and
         November, he was ready to move
         out, confident about his future and         rebuild yourself.”
         looking forward to “doing fun things
         in the community, which I’ve never                                                The first weeks with Odyssey were         communication, and how to address
         been able to do before because I’ve                                               the hardest. Adjusting to a more          that. He also learned to be more
         been a full-blown addict.”                                                        structured schedule was a particular      sensitive to others and to what might
                                                home, supported him through court          challenge, such as going to bed at a      be going on in other people’s lives
         Josh had a difficult upbringing,       processes and ensured he had a             certain time and rising before 7am.       and minds. “And once I got a grip
         having been removed from his           place at Te Wairua North. “She was a       “I didn’t know how to sleep. I got so     of that at Level One everything just
         biological parents when he was         big, big help for me to get here,” says    little sleep in the last seven or eight   started to like fall into place for me.
         seven and put into foster care when    Josh. “She’s been great.”                  years, I was afraid to go to bed.”        Without the help of Odyssey I would
         he was ten. He began drinking and
                                                Nina presented him with a make-or-                                                   have never figured it out.”
         using cannabis in his teens, and                                                  Over the following months he
         then methamphetamine in his early      break chance of an alternative future,     learned a lot about himself, about        Having worked his way up through
         20s. That led to crime, such as car    he says, one that didn’t involved          his own sometimes aggressive              the different levels in the Odyssey
         conversion, to fund his drug use.      drugs or alcohol or “sitting in a cell”.   body language and style of                programme and up to Level Four, he

26 | Together it’s possible                                                                                                                             Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 27
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                            Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us

                                                                                             Sharing what matters
             says supporting new residents and       “It’s like Mike King says - ‘I’m sick
                                                                                             and giving back: a peer
             being a role model to them has
             been particularly satisfying. “That’s
                                                     and tired of being sick and tired’
                                                     and it’s time for me to get back        support journey
             been huge.”                             out there.”
             He has participated in several          He will be returning to live with
             programmes offered through              his foster father, and is hoping to
             Odyssey. He points to the               train and become a Peer Support
             SMART Recovery groups (Self-            Worker, to work with and support
             Management and Recovery                                                         Darrell Wilson came to stay at         friends and family members
                                                     others with addiction problems.                                                made life so dark he tried to take
             Training) which helped him identify                                             Odyssey in March 2018 and
                                                     “I have the practical experience. I                                            his own life.
             personal goals and set a plan on                                                graduated in July 2019. He now
                                                     know how it goes, so I think I’d be
             how to achieve them. One goal                                                   works for Odyssey full time, at        Now, more than a year after
             achieved invariably led to the          really good at it.”
                                                                                             Haven and at Auckland Prison           graduating from Odyssey, he no
             setting and achieving of another,       Josh compares his experience
                                                                                             (Paremoremo) in the Drug               longer gambles, has rebuilt his
             he says. “So you set yourself a         at Odyssey as being given the                                                  relationships with his partner and
             goal, then ask yourself, ‘is that       chance to rebuild a vase that           Treatment Programme (DTP).
                                                                                                                                    children and is finding meaning
             realistic?’ Then you set yourself       has been knocked off the table.         Having been supported in               and personal fulfilment as a Peer
             a time frame for that goal. It’s a                                              his own recovery at Odyssey,
                                                     “It breaks into a million little                                               Support Worker.
             really clever approach because it
             helps you to set yourself a goal,
                                                     pieces, and you have to glue            a process that helped him
                                                                                                                                    Odyssey was one of several
                                                     all those little bits and pieces        identify what matters to him
             keep with it, and when you achieve                                                                                     recovery pathways he was offered.
             it, set yourself another goal.”         back together.”                         and helped him rebuild his own         “It seemed the best option, as I knew
             He adds: “I have learned so much        Advice to others entering the           life, he is now helping others to      I needed a long time to rewire, to fix
             here. It’s unbelievable. I feel         programme? “You have to slow            do the same.                           the problems upstairs. I was right.”
             confident that I can take what I’ve     right down, throw everything
                                                                                             Darrell had been living for 40 years   He joined Odyssey as a resident
             learned from here and take that         that you thought made you ‘you’
                                                                                             as a high-functioning and well-        in March 2018, graduating in July
             out into the community and with a       out, and start at the bottom and
                                                                                             earning gambling addict when the       2019. It was a long and hard road to
             completely different me.                rebuild yourself.”
                                                                                             cumulative impact of the addiction,    recovery, but ultimately a fulfilling,
                                                                                             as well as the death of several        life-changing and joyful one.

                              “Supporting new residents and being a
                              role model to them has been particularly
                              satisfying. That’s been huge.”                                               “Rehab has humbled me. I don’t have
                                                                                                           to be ‘The Man’ anymore. I can just be
                                                                                                           ‘A Man’. Odyssey has shown me that.”

28 | Together it’s possible                                                                                                                           Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 29
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                           Ngā Kōrerorero
                                                                                                                                                                  Ko Ōtihi tēnei
                                                                                                                                                                             | Stories
                                                                                                                                                                                 | About
                                                                                                                                                                                       of Us
                                                                                                                                                                                          us

                        “It’s not a job. It’s not something I do
                        because I have to. It all comes from a place
                        of concern, and that is a place I learned
                        about through Odyssey.”

         “I had grown estranged from                 saying to me, ‘it’s okay to be second’.
         my family, but I have regained              That was powerful, and helped get
         them. I had a wonderful partner             me through treatment.”
         and adorable kids who, over my                                                        they’re there, we have an impact        is a place I learned about
         40 years with high-performance              He describes his roles, both at           in some way. We’re not going to         through Odyssey.
         addiction, had to endure hell.”             Haven and at Paremoremo, as a             change the world, or people’s
                                                     privilege. “How blessed am I to be                                                As a Peer Support worker, he
         His work these days is a long way                                                     situation overnight. But we can say
                                                     able to support people?”                                                          is able to share his story, the
         from what he used to do, roles                                                        something that maybe they can
                                                                                                                                       challenges, the happy outcome,
         that included working for a US              “We have more than 400 people             take away for that day, and be
                                                                                                                                       and use that to encourage and
         company selling timeshares and as           coming through the door of Haven          okay with it. And for the time they
                                                                                                                                       inspire others to believe in and
         an operations manager in a large            over a weekend, people who are            are there, it might be the best
                                                                                                                                       work toward their own future.
         company in which he lead a team of          the heart and soul of our community       five or ten minutes they’ll have
         120. “The more money I earned, the          but who our society doesn’t want          that day.”                              To have been given a second
         more dangerous I became.”                   to know about. People who are                                                     chance to rebuild relationships
                                                                                               “And at Paremoremo we have 80
                                                     not wanting to be here anymore.                                                   with his own family, is something
         He’s a different man now, in                                                          people who go through the Drug
                                                     People who have had a life but lost                                               he gives thanks for every day.
         more ways than one. “Rehab has                                                        Treatment Programme every three
                                                     everything, and are where I was                                                   “I talk to my children, almost on
         humbled me. I don’t have to be                                                        months. That’s 80 people I can
                                                     prior to rehab.”                                                                  nightly basis. I remember when I
         ‘The Man’ anymore. I can just be ‘A                                                   have an effect on, in a way that
                                                                                                                                       lost my mum, how I felt, and the
         Man’. Odyssey has shown me that.            “We have to draw on everything            might not only change their lives,
                                                                                                                                       impact it had on me. As I came to
         I remember my clinical manager              we can to make sure that while            but those of their whānau, their
                                                                                                                                       understand, that’s what my kids
                                                                                               tamariki, their wider community.”
                                                                                                                                       had been through for 40 years. So
                                                                                               “It’s all about giving back. There is   to have that opportunity to be a
                                                                                               no more selfish Darrell - which is      present father, one who cares and
                                                                                               what you are as an addict.”             loves them, is more than anyone
                                                                                                                                       could ever ask for.
                Peer Support at Odyssey                                                        As he tells the people he works
                                                                                               with, he knows some of what             “I feel like I’m a brand new father. I
                Odyssey has offered peer support since 2012 within Te Whare                    they’re going through, having           have that energetic playful feeling
                Whakapiki Wairua. In 2018, after developing our own Peer Support               had first-hand experience. “It’s        when I talk to my kids, it feels like
                Framework, we established a dedicated peer support team for our                not a job. It’s not something I do      they’ve spoken their first words, like
                adult residential service. Today, we have 21 peer support roles across         because I have to. It all comes         they’ve said ‘Dad’ for the first time
                eight of our programmes and services.                                          from a place of concern, and that       in their life.”

30 | Together it’s possible                                                                                                                               Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 31
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                                   Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us

        How connecting with
        te ao Māori made and                                                         Lived experience has given him        the Māori world, and I really

        is making a difference
                                                                                     an insider’s view of how things       did connect to it.” He has since
                                                                                     can turn against us, but also how     furthered his studies in tikanga and
                                                                                     we can transcend those difficulties   te reo. “From the age of five I grew
                                                                                     and find a meaningful career          up in Brisbane, and came back
                                                                                     helping others.                       here at 30 knowing nothing about
                                                                                     “I had a pretty unmeaningful life     being Māori, but now I can do a
                                                                                     for a long time,” he says. “Odyssey   mihi, say a karakia, support people
                                                                                     and Higher Ground have provided       to learn a Māori world view, and
         Andre Matthews had spent              2009, from which he graduated         career pathways. If you work hard     while I’m not yet fluent in te reo and
         much of his early adult life          when he was in his 30s.               and show them you’re dedicated,       have a lot to learn, I have a basic
                                                                                     they do create opportunities.”        understanding.”
         in prison but after entering          That was also where he got
         a residential programme               his first bona-fide job, in 2010,     Andre is recognised as a Māori        Te ao Māori has helped him
         in 2009, then working and             working on what was known as          leader and champion of Te Ao          understand his own ‘higher power’,
                                               the “graveyard shift”, which was      Māori within Odyssey. “I grew up in   he says, and to encourage others to
         studying within the sector, he
                                               also when he began studying. He       Australia, and didn’t know anything   connect with their culture and also
         is now the Clinical Manager           studied and worked his way up,                                              to support staff to apply insights
                                                                                     about being Māori, something that
         of youth residential and              first as a peer support worker with   I was quite embarrassed about.”       from te ao Māori.
         community services at                 Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua and
                                                                                     His cultural connections were         “Having a Māori world view in
         Odyssey, demonstrating                then as a practitioner at Higher
                                                                                     ignited when he was at Higher         my leadership role in Odyssey is
         how a personal recovery               Ground. Then, having completed
                                                                                     Ground. “That gave me an              crucial, one which I can use to
         journey can lead to a                 his Bachelor of Addiction Studies,
                                                                                     understanding of aroha, and           make a difference.”
                                               he took up a role as an Advanced
         meaningful career.
                                               Practitioner at Odyssey in 2017,
         Andre had spent almost 20 years       before being promoted to Clinical
         of his life in and out of prison,     Manager, first in the adult
         before he was accepted into Higher    residential service and now with
         Ground in Te Atatu Peninsula in       the Odyssey youth service.

                                                                                            Aroha nui!
                                                                                            Thanks to Talitha, Melody, Fred, Laura, Josh, Darrell and
                                                                                            Andre for so generously sharing your journeys with us.
                      “Having a Māori world view in my                                      Thanks also to Margo White for interviewing these
                      leadership role in Odyssey is crucial, one                            lovely people and crafting the stories for us all to enjoy.
                      which I can use to make a difference.”

32 | Together it’s possible                                                                                                                  Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 33
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                                                                                   He Whakamānawa
                                                                                                                                              Ko Ōtihi| A
                                                                                                                                                        tēnei
                                                                                                                                                          big |thank
                                                                                                                                                                Aboutyou
                                                                                                                                                                      us

               He Whakamānawa                                                    Programme, Te Whare Whakapiki
                                                                                 Wairua and Youth INtact. We
                                                                                 value the opportunity to work
                                                                                                                     Executive Leadership Team
                                                                                                                      • Fiona Trevelyan

               A big thank you
                                                                                                                         Chief Executive Officer
                                                                                 with you all.
                                                                                                                      • Glenn Manson
                                                                                 Finally, thanks also to our Board
                                                                                                                         Chief Financial Officer
                                                                                 of Trustees in their stewardship
               Our work is made possible by the generosity and ongoing           of our work, and to our Executive    • Jenny Boyle
               support of our funders, benefactors and partners. Together,       Leadership Team in what has             General Manager, Operations
                                                                                 been a challenging year.
               we support people to move towards a brighter future,                                                   • River Paton
               bringing hope to whānau and communities throughout                                                        Clinical Director
               New Zealand. Our work would not be possible without               Board of Trustees
                                                                                                                        (to December 2020)
               your support – ngā mihi nui, thank you!                                                                • Sam White
                                                                                  • Allen Bollard (Chair)
                                                                                                                         General Manager,
                                                                                  • Darren Johnson (Treasurer)           Improvement & Development
                 • A
                    ra Poutama Aotearoa |      • Taranaki DHB                                                          (to April 2020)
                                                                                  • Dr Ann Hood
                   Department of Corrections
                                                • Te Rau Ora                        (to December 2020)                • Ken Kerehoma
                 • A
                    uckland District Health                                                                             Cultural Advisor
                                                • Waikato DHB                     • Robyn Reynolds
                   Board (DHB)                                                      (to September 2020)
                                                                                                                        (to July 2020)
                                                • Waitemata DHB
                 • Bay of Plenty DHB                                              • Robert Roydhouse
                                                • Whau Local Board
                 • Counties Manukau Health                                        • Mary Shanahan
                                               We are grateful for the support
                 • Foundation North            and guidance of our mana           • Clive Bensemann
                 • Kai Whau                    whenua partners in Auckland,
                                                                                  • Terry Huriwai
                                               Waikato and Northland,
                 • Lakes DHB                   in particular Ngāti Whātua         • Manu Sione
                                               o Ōrākei.                            (from July 2020)
                 • MidCentral DHB
                                               We would also like to
                 • Ministry of Education
                                               acknowledge the contribution
                 • Ministry of Health          of longstanding programme
                                               collaborators who share our
                 • M
                    inistry of Social         commitment to support tāngata
                   Development                 whai ora and whānau to work
                 • N
                    ew Zealand Drug           towards stronger futures.
                   Foundation                  Many thanks to our service
                                               and agency partners within
                 • Northland DHB
                                               initiatives including Haven, Te
                 • Oranga Tamariki             Ara Oranga, The Citizenship

34 | Together it’s possible                                                                                                               Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 35
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020                                               Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us

                                     Tō Tātou
                                     Matakitenga
                                     Our vision
                                     Poutia, Heretia
                                     Tuia te muka tangata ki te pou
                                     tokomanawa ka tū mana motuhake;
                                     ka nohohere kore i ngā waranga me
                                     ngā wero nui o te ao

                                     People, whānau and communities are
                                     connected and supported to live the lives
                                     they want; free from drug, alcohol and
                                     other addiction challenges.

                                     www.odyssey.org.nz

36 | Together it’s possible                                              Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 37
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020

 odyssey.org.nz
38 | Together it’s possible
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