Tailored support for young adults with high-functioning disabilities.
Our Services
We feel that young people with high-functioning disabilities are being left behind. At Whanake House, we have designed holistic services focusing on health, life and work opportunities, and creativity to enhance the well-being of young disabled adults.
Our Transition
Goal-based transition for young adults into work experience, community placements, and/or tertiary education.
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If you wish to arrange an appointment, contact our transition coordinator Rhea.
To see more about our transition services, scroll down this page to “Our Transition Coordinator”.
Phone: 029 0481 5070
Email: whanake.inhouse@gmail.com
Our Programmes
Specialised programmes based on health, fitness, mental and social wellbeing taught by expert tutors.
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Held on Tuesday afternoons from 1:00 pm - 2:00 pm, examples of our previous programmes include:
Yoga.
Meditation.
Mindfulness.
Coffee Club - social outings in the community.
Speech and language therapy building connections - a six-week block course which has given our neurodiverse adults training in social skills.
Managing anxiety - an eight-week block course facilitated by Dr. Freyja Mann who is a registered clinical psychologist, to teach our young adults about anxiety and equips them with the tools to manage their anxiety.
Our Gym
A one-on-one programme with our onsite personal trainer to give experience and build confidence to join a larger gym.
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If you wish to arrange an appointment, contact Debbie on:
Phone: 029 048 15137
Email: whanake.manager@gmail.com
Our Learning
Every Tuesday at Whanake House with experienced tutors teaching life skills and spaces for creativity.
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Every Tuesday at Whanake House from 9:00 am - 11:00 am we have experienced tutors from Frontline Training Consultants Ltd teaching a tailored course for our young adults to teach and foster work readiness.
This is followed by a time where social interaction is supported and fostered over lunch from 11:00 pm - 12:45 pm. Please bring lunch and come and join us!
Our Social
“2 cool 4 a name” monthly meet-ups at Whanake House.
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“2 cool 4 a name” is our monthly meetup group tailored for young adults to develop social skills with their peers in a supportive environment.
If you wish to make an appointment or join us, contact Debbie at:
Phone: 029 048 15137
Email: whanake.manager@gmail.comInformation on upcoming social events can be found on our Facebook pages Friends of Whanake House and 2 Cool 4 a Name
Our Rural Programme
Whanake House Dairy Farm Training programme designed to help young people with high-functioning disabilites.
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Our aims for the young adults who participate are:
To gain employment working on a dairy farm in Northern Southland and other areas in Southland.
To become part of a rural community.
To eventually flat rurally with others from the Whanake House DFT programme, with support if necessary.
To become part of a rural community where they find purpose and friendship and learn new skills through working on a dairy farm.
Learn more about our Dairy Farm Training Programme here.
Our Aims - Ko a Maatau Whainga
Socialisation
For our young people to have confidence and the skills to form satisfactory and enjoyable social relationships with their peers through participation in social opportunities we will provide.
Transition
For our young people to have the guidance to engage successfully within either postsecondary education or employment, through participation in the transition programme.
Community
For our young people to feel more connected and participate within the community, with the overall aim of benefitting both the young people and the community itself. To provide health, fitness, and wellbeing.
Our Transition Coordinator
Work/Experience
The transition coordinator works with young adults to place them in paid work or voluntary employment that is based on their interests and goals.
Further Education
The transition coordinator works with our high-functioning young people to place them in courses that will provide them with the necessary skills to make them better qualified when job-seeking, eg. courses at the Southern Institute of Technology (SIT).
Community-based Activities
The transition coordinator will work with the young person to foster inclusive community activities which will not only further their personal interests but also give them a standing place in our Southland community.
Housing
Working with young adults to find flats to accommodate them allowing them to live independently among the community.
“When Whanake House entered his life, in the following year he has blossomed in every way.
Now he is the chatty, engaging, curious young man elsewhere that he had only shown at home. He feels safe, appreciated, welcomed and part of a community. His confidence boost has been remarkable.”
— Whanake House Parent
