Team for Assertive Community Treatment (TACT) and Te Roopu Āramuka Whāroaroa

A person’s living conditions sometimes mean it can be difficult for them to get the mental health and/or addiction related support they need. We can help people with persistent, long-term problems find the help they need.

We provide therapy and education to help people see the early signs of a possible relapse. We also help clients with practical issues, such as connecting them with help from Work and Income New Zealand (WINZ).

Our team works with people who experience homelessness who are furthest from having their needs met. Our service is for people over 16 years old, transient within the greater Wellington region, in recognition that people experiencing homeless can be itinerant.

Male priority people will be experiencing:

• Chronic homelessness or at risk of homelessness with a background of chronic homelessness and;
• Significant unmet need (e.g. substance use, physical, social and mental health needs).

Female and gender diverse priority people will be experiencing:

• Homelessness and;
• Significant unmet need (e.g. substance use, physical, social and mental health needs).

We also provide advice to other professionals needing support for complex situations with regard to navigating health and housing pathways. 

For other professionals

If you are an other professional, please contact our service directly (details below) if you have any questions or want to make a referral.

We are a small service with very limited capacity. Unfortunately, we cannot work with all priority people and will prioritise people who are considered to be furthest from having their needs met. For a referral to be considered, you can self-refer by contacting us directly, there is an electronic referral pathway accessible by staff if you are in hospital, we also have a form that can be completed by a supporting service outside of Te Whatu Ora. 

We are not a crisis service. If you or someone you know needs urgent help, call MHAIDS 24/7 on 0800 745 477 or find other options for support here. 

Once we receive your referral we will arrange a time to meet with you and carry out an assessment. The assessment usually takes about 60 minutes. You can come to see us or we can come to you.

If in discussion with you it is agreed that we are the service best placed to help you, we will develop a plan with you outlining the care and treatment you require. We encourage you and your family to take part in developing the plan.

If we are not the best service for you we will provide you with information about other services that may help you.

We are a non-clinical team who aim to improve the health and wellbeing of priority people who currently cannot or do not access the services and support they need combining persistent engagement with self-determination and choice. Through this persistent, trauma informed approach we hope to build your trust, to offer practical assistance in getting to health appointments, advocating for your housing need, identifying your goals and working collaboratively to achieve them. 

The service also seeks to challenge systems that create barriers to health and other services. We do this by working collaboratively with others and advocating strongly for people who face challenges due to their experience of homelessness. We have close working relationships with a number of agencies, including: Te Aro Health Centre; DCM; Wellington City Mission; The Soup Kitchen; DCM; He Herenga Kura); Team for Assertive Community Treatment (TACT); Community Alcohol and Drugs Service (CADS). 

We are open from Monday to Friday from 8am to 4:30pm (closed public holidays). 

Phone: 04 806 2218 (Reception); 04 806 1377 (Office)

Email: TeRoopuAramukaWharoaroa@mhaids.health.nz   

Address: Administration Building, 31 Mein Street Newtown (Wellington Regional Hospital campus) - see details for Wellington Regional Hospital - including location, map and parking.