Community Education

Comcare Charitable Trust

Comcare Trust is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organisation that provides services in the Christchurch and Canterbury region for people who experience mental illness and addiction. The services are designed to give practical assistance and support in maintaining and improving their quality of life in the community with the focus being on people’s individual strengths, abilities and resources in reaching personal goals. The services provide individualised community supports, peer support, assistance with finding employment, support in the area of physical fitness and wellbeing and access to independent housing.

Comcare is an equal opportunities organisation, committed to supporting bi-cultural perspectives and approaches to mental health and addictions wellbeing. Comcare acknowledges and respects cultural diversity and identity of the people of Aotearoa.

Comcare is recovery focused and builds on people’s strengths, having a strong client centered culture. Services take a practical approach to doing what is necessary to assist people to overcome the barriers to independence and moving forward in their lives.

Main activities and services

COMCARE SERVICES Community Housing Comcare is a specialist registered Community Housing Provider (CHP) through the Community Housing Regulatory Authority, which is part of the New Zealand Government’s Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE). Community Support Services Community Support Work Comcare’s Community Support Services provide a broad range of support to assist people to move forward in their daily lives. Services are available in Christchurch urban areas, as well as parts of rural Canterbury. Community Integration Service Comcare’s Community Integration Service (CIS) finds positive, creative solutions for people who are perceived by others, or view themselves to be ‘stuck’ in hospital or residential services, when clinically they do not require that level of care. Activelinks Activelinks provides support to “get active” through increasing participation in physical activity, sport, recreation and leisure pursuits. The aim of the service is to promote independence and involvement in community life with a focus on health and wellbeing. Support can be individual or through a group. Services are available in Christchurch urban areas, as well as parts of rural Canterbury. Peer Services Comcare’s Peer Support Service offers both face to face and telephone support across Christchurch and North Canterbury. We also provide workshops and tools to support people to move forward, including Peer Zone and Peer Support Training. Peer Health Coaching helps a client identify ways to improve their physical health and provides short term coaching and support. Coaches work with a person on a specific health related goal over 10 – 18 sessions. Clients feel more able to manage their health and have more confidence in maintaining healthy lifestyle changes after Peer Health Coaching.

Additional Information

Access to Comcare’s services is generally by referral from the Canterbury District Health Board (CDHB) Specialist Mental Health Teams, General Practice (GPs), or other NGO mental health or addiction service providers. Some services offer self-referral options (Jobconnect, Peer Support and Activelinks).