Otago Community Trust Awards $454,000 to Transform Rural Mental Health Support for Tamariki

Media Release

Otago Community Trust is pleased to announce funding of $454,000 over three years to support a sustainable counselling service designed to enhance the wellbeing of 5-13 year olds across the wider Balclutha area.

‘Ewhakapuāwai ana ā tatou Tamariki ki Mata-Au – Our Children Flourishing’ is a project put forward by the Big River Kāhui Ako, a collaborative cluster of 12 schools throughout South Otago, under Otago Community Trust’s Impact for Tamariki and Rangatahi Fund.

The Big River Kāhui Ako serves approximately 1,200 ākoka/students across rural and isolated communities in South Otago, where many families have limited access to mental health services. Since 2021, these schools have successfully operated a pilot counselling programme that has demonstrated significant positive impact. Data collected throughout the pilot period shows steady improvements in school attendance levels, with 100% of participating schools reporting positive impacts on their learners.

"We are incredibly excited about this significant project for the primary-aged tamariki in the wider Balclutha area. Our goal is to build an entity that will support and encourage our tamariki to face the world with resilience” said Kaz Bissett, Principal/Tumuaki at Waiwera South School.

The programme has been maintained through the dedication of local schools and community funding. This grant will enable the establishment of an independent trust that operates outside the education system, providing stability and sustainability regardless of policy changes. The new trust structure will also enable access to funding sources previously unavailable to school-based programmes, ensuring the service can continue to grow and adapt to meet community needs.

This enhanced model will expand counselling provision, reducing wait lists and improving access across all schools. The programme will also develop life skills and resilience support through small focus groups, establish a stronger platform for inter-agency cooperation, and create pathways for equitable access to wellbeing services for all community members.

This funding recognises the critical gap in mental health support for primary-aged children in rural South Otago, where existing health and education sectors have limited capacity to address these needs.