Barnados Aotearoa
Every day we work to make a lasting difference to the lives of tamariki and whānau who need us.
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Our vision
An Aotearoa where every child shines bright.
Our Mission/Kaupapa
Every day we work to make a lasting difference to the lives of tamariki and whānau in need, so they thrive.
Our Guiding Principles
Our guiding principles support our vision, shape our culture and reflect what we believe and value. They guide the work we do and were developed through a number of hui held across the organisation, where staff shared what was important to them about working.
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Why do you want to get in touch with us?
If you are concerned about the immediate safety of a child, please call 111 (New Zealand only)
I want to get in touch about a specific service
I already know which office to contact
I have a different or general enquiry
Christchurch
64 Langdons Road, Christchurch 8053
Every day we work to make a lasting difference to the lives of tamariki and whānau who need us.
Our Work
As New Zealand’s largest children’s charity, we offer a broad range of services for children, families and whānau throughout Aotearoa.
The Barnardos Poutama - Kia eke ai te hunga taitamariki ki ngā rangu tūhāhā
The direct translation is 'realisation and development for children' however the essence captures the spirit of children being encouraged to strive for their potential much like Tāne did during the retrieval of the 3 baskets of knowledge from the highest celestial heavens.
We are a nation of people of many creeds, ethnicities, heritages and values
We respect our diversity and consider them in everything we do. We believe in the importance of listening to people and allowing them to direct the ways in which we provide assistance and support. We respond to local needs, individual challenges and diverse experiences.
Hear with intent- We listen carefully and our actions are guided by the voices of the tamariki and whānau we serve.
Realise potential - We have the courage and strength to achieve growth, development and transformation.
Do the right things well - We do the right things the right way, with integrity and purpose.
Progress with purpose - We are visionary, we inspire, we are creative and show initiative to make change happen.
Unity - We build reciprocal and cooperative relationships which create a sense of connection and belonging.
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Intensive & targeted support services for those most in need
‘Leap’ – signifying movement, possibility & courage
Leap is a service for children and families facing multiple challenges. It's unique in that it's driven by the holistic needs of the individuals or families being supported — rather than by any pre-defined programme or service.
Leap's primary aim is to keep vulnerable children safe. We recognise that sometimes multiple issues can increase the risk of harm to a child in their day to day life. Leap works specifically with children and families affected by:
family and whānau violence
neglect or emotional abuse
risk of, or existing, statutory involvement
parental mental health concerns
harmful alcohol or drug use
significant child health- or disability needs.
We are only able to provide Leap where there is evidence of 1 or more of these needs.
Holistic support
We work with children and families to develop plans and build support systems. Each plan is unique to them and tailored to their individual circumstances. Plans may focus on:
keeping a child and their family safe from violence
building better relationships between parents and children
finding better ways to deal with anger or stress
increasing access to services or correct entitlements
learning positive parenting strategies for challenging times
developing supportive connections with a family’s local community
Accessing Leap
We accept referrals from Oranga Tamariki, Children's Teams and other community–based social services organisations. We will also accept self–referrals from parents and caregivers who want help with one or more of the above needs.
Referrals must be made using a Leap referral form. This helps us work out what services might be needed and what we help we are able to offer. To request a copy, contact your local office.
The difference Leap makes
At Barnardos we see every day the difference our work makes, to children and their families all around Aotearoa. Recently, thanks to the sponsorship of one of our generous supporters, we had the opportunity to work with ImpactLab and find out the impact our services make. Read more about the Impact Report for Leap Service.
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A helpline for children and teenagers
0800 What’s Up is our helpline for tamariki and rangatahi in Aotearoa. It’s available nationwide, and children and teenagers can either call for free or chat online with one of our counsellors.
Tamariki and rangatahi can ask to speak with a counsellor who they can positively relate to (a specific gender or ethnicity), and can ask to have ongoing counselling with the same counsellor if it helps them build trust.
Empowering children and teenagers is central to our counselling practice.
We help to develop a child or teenager’s personal competence and resilience, so they can take a positive perspective on the world around them. Tamariki and rangatahi are encouraged to get in contact to talk about anything at all.
No problem is too big or too small.
0800 What's up is open 365 days a year.
Call: Mon-Sun 11am-11pm
Online Chat: Mon-Sun 11am-10:30pmWant to know more?
For more information, or to connect with the WHAT'S UP webchat service, visit www.whatsup.co.nz.
Need help quickly?
In an emergency, or if you believe a child is in immediate danger, call 111.
If you’re worried a child or young person could be at risk due to abuse or neglect, and the situation is not an emergency, call Oranga Tamariki on 0508 326 459 or email contact@ot.govt.nz.
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Creating strong foundations for the future
Barnardos Early Learning Centres offer early education and care to enrich your child’s future.
Purpose built outdoor and indoor spaces stimulate your child’s imagination, while our qualified teachers care for their early learning, wellbeing and safety. From baby to toddler and up until your child is ready for school life, your child’s unique personality will be celebrated and nurtured. Friendships will blossom for the children, and often the parents too, lasting long into the school years and beyond.
Why choose an early learning centre?
Quality early learning and care - 90% of our team are qualified, experienced Early Childhood Education teachers who love finding ways to weave learning moments into every day – guided by your child’s interests and NZ’s Early Childhood Education Curriculum – Te Whāriki
Friendships and community - The chance for your child to socialise with a diverse range of children and cultures, kickstarting lifelong friendships and growing your community of local parents
Purpose built environments - Stimulating outdoor and indoor spaces are specially designed to support your child’s learning
Convenience - 21 centres in central locations across Aotearoa/New Zealand, providing part and full day options to suit your families needs.
Read about our Child Referral Programme
Call us today: 0800 227 627 or visit our website
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Home Based Early Learning
Flexibility, comforts of home, nurturing relations…that’s what our Home Based Early Learning is all about. Your child will thrive as secure attachments blossom between them, their dedicated educator and the small group of children they share their days with.
Why choose Home Based?
Flexibility – care for your child in a home setting and hours to suit your childcare needs
Nurturing – one dedicated educator with no more than four children and everyday childhood experiences in your local community
Experience – passionate and trained educators follow Te Whāriki, NZ Early Childhood Education curriculum, and are supported by monthly visits from a qualified teacher.
Read about our Child Referral Programme
About our Barnardos educators
Our educators all have a few things in common – they’re nurturing, enthusiastic, experienced individuals who share a passion for raising the next generation of Kiwi kids.
Experienced - They might be parents themselves, have a background in teaching or an interest in helping their local community. To them, this is a career, not just a job. So, your child will benefit from their focus, commitment and energy.
Educated - Our educators are encouraged to enrol in the Level 4 Certificate in Early Childhood Practice. In-house learning modules and continued professional development are also offered. Attracting and retaining high quality educators is important to us.
Reliable and trustworthy - The safety and wellbeing of your child is always our highest priority
Become a Home Base Educator with Barnardos
A Home Based Educator is someone who cares for 1–4 children in their own home. They provide a nurturing care environment while also stimulating individual children’s learning and curiosity.
Barnardos offers a range of benefits to support you on your journey, including a $250 sign up voucher and $100 for each child that starts in your care *t&C
Call us today: 0800 227 627 or visit our website
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Family Breakdown Assessment (FBA) is a child-centred service operated on behalf of the Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
It is designed for young people under the age of 19 who have had a family breakdown and are unable to live with their parents or guardians for a range of reasons. Barnardos undertakes an assessment of the circumstances meeting with the young person, family members and any other key people in the young person’s life to identify if there has been a family breakdown.
Once this assessment is complete this is sent to Work and Income New Zealand who are then responsible for determining whether or not to grant an Unsupported Child Benefit, Youth Payment or Young Parent Payment for that person.
How to refer
All referrals to this service can only be made through Work and Income and cannot be made directly to Barnardos.
Who to contact
To find out more contact your local Work and Income office or see https://www.workandincome.govt.nz/eligibility/relationships/family-breakdown.html#null
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The Barnardos Children's Safety Programme is for children aged 3–17 years who have witnessed or experienced family violence.
The programme focuses on:
working with children to develop a safety plan they understand
supporting them as they make sense of the events of violence in their lives
helping them stay safe.
The first step is developing a safety plan with both a child and their carer. Children are then encouraged to attend our Footsteps to Feeling Safe programme (run primarily in groups for a minimum of 6 to 8 weeks).
During the Footsteps programme, children work on:
keeping their safety plan current
knowing where to get help when they need it
their understanding of abuse and violence
identifying feelings and dealing with worries
knowing how to manage anger
building confidence
looking towards the future.
By talking with children and involving them in programme activities, we help them rebuild their self–esteem so they can face the future with confidence.
Who to contact
If you'd like to know more about this service, call 0800 227 627 or send us a message.
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Our women’s safety services work to build resilience and strength in women who have, or have applied for, a Protection Order.
We support women to develop strategies to stay safe, build resilience, confidence and empowerment.
For women with a Protection Order, we offer 6–9 week group or individual programmes tailored to the needs of the women attending.
Our services empower and support women to
develop strategies to keep themselves safe, including identifying and building supportive relationships
understand their protection order and how it works
Cope with change, especially regarding their parenting responsibilities
Value themselves and know they are much more than a victim of family violence
move towards a violence-free future — including taking care of their physical and emotional wellbeing, accessing community supports and dealing with financial matters.
Who to contact
For more information or to enrol in this service, call 0800 227 627 or send us a message.
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Support through separation
Parenting through Separation (PTS) is a free course for parents who are currently separating or have recently separated. It can also help grandparents and other family members/whānau who have responsibilities around a child's care.
The course is funded by Ministry of Justice and Family Court increasingly request that parents who are going through any Court process complete this course.
A PTS course is a good first step for carers who want to do the best for their children during a difficult time.
It focuses on:
understanding how separation affects children and how to talk to them about it
why it's important to keep children away from conflict and how to do this
how to discuss child care arrangements amicably
making a plan for ongoing parenting and care.
Cost
All PTS courses are free. The Ministry of Justice funds them for any legal guardian supporting a child through parental separation.
Registering
If you’d like to register or make an enquiry for a PTS course in Auckland please click here.
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Our Children’s Supervised Contact enables a child to spend time with a parent or family member with whom they do not have day-to-day contact. Trained Barnardos staff supervise all meetings and provide a controlled, safe and caring environment for children and their parents.,
This supervision allows children to feel comfortable as they make contact or reconnect with a parent or family member who has been out of their life.
Barnardos’ Children Supervised Contact service can also be used for changeover arrangements, when a child is dropped off by one parent and picked up by the other, allowing a 15-minute timeframe for the changeover to take place.
What we offer:
Guided support
Activity choices
Staggered arrival and departure times
Child settling in session
Whānau-directed and child-led play
Kitchen facilities
Outdoor area
Who can refer you to the service?
Family Court
Oranga Tamariki
Self-referrals (client-funded, when space allows)
Permanent Caregiver Support service (PCSS)
Phone: 027 234 3764
Email: supervisedcontactchch@barnardos.org.nz
Availability
Christchurch.
Who to contact
For more information or to enrol in this service, call 0800 227 627 or send us a message.
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Our care whare provide safe and stable homes for groups of youth to support them to develop their strengths and realise their potential.
Barnardos has Care Whare that specialise in young people aged 12–17 with at-risk behaviour. We provide their day-to-day care while they attend offsite education or training and therapeutic treatment. The young people we work with are all referred to the service by Oranga Tamariki.
We help them
understand the reasons for their behaviour
make the changes they need to be safe
develop their education and life skills so they have the best chance of being successful adults.
During the programme, we provide a wide range of experiences designed to extend and challenge our young people. We:
help them discover their strengths and capabilities
support them to develop new skills and abilities
teach them about their own and others’ cultures
encourage them to find new interests including sports, music and other hobbies.
Our aim is always to help our rangatahi return to their community in a safe and positive way. We involve their family and other support agencies throughout their time with us to ensure that each young person is able to return to a safe, stable and supportive environment.
Barnardos also has a transition whare for 8-12 year olds, where we work with kin or identified whānau to help support a planned transition home, providing 6 months post care support.
Our team comes from a range of professions. It includes managers, social workers and residential youth workers who work with families and whanau and a wide variety of community providers.
Availability
We have specialist group homes in:
Waikato
Wellington
Canterbury
Referrals
All referrals to this service are made through Oranga Tamariki.
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Te Poutama Ārahi Rangatahi is a Christchurch-based, comprehensive, integrated therapeutic residential treatment programme for boys aged 12-18 with at-risk behaviour. The young people we work with are all referred to the service by Oranga Tamariki.
We provide their day-to-day care, education and therapeutic assistance on-site to help them
understand the reasons for their behaviour
make the changes they need to be safe
develop their education and life skills so they have the best chance to be successful adults.
During the programme, we also provide a wide range of experiences designed to extend and challenge our young people. We
help them discover their strengths and capabilities
support them to develop new skills and abilities
teach them about their own and others' cultures
encourage them to find new interests including sports, music and other hobbies.
Our aim always is to help them return to their community in a safe and positive way. We involve their family and other support agencies throughout their time with us to ensure they can return to a safe, stable and supportive environment.
Our team comes from a range of professions. It includes managers, social workers and residential youth workers who work with families and whanau and a wide variety of community providers.
All referrals to this service are made through Oranga Tamariki.
Education at Te Poutama Arahi Rangatahi
During their stay at Te Poutama Arahi Rangatahi, youth participate in an education programme that is responsive to individual learning needs and vocational aspirations. The Te Poutama Arahi Rangatahi Education programme is classed as a Private Training Establishment (PTE).
While engaged with the PTE, learners are able to complete NCEA Level 1 and 2. Beyond this, and depending on each individual's pathway, they are supported to access various courses or complete some Level 3 learning on site.
Learning progress in numeracy and literacy are assessed formally through the use of Literacy and Numeracy Adult Assessment Tool (LNAAT).
The PTE provides a training scheme in “Home Computer Use.” The training scheme is offered to all learners to support their NCEA journey.
Te Poutama Arahi Rangatahi also offers micro-credential with a focus on developing a practical understanding of Te Whare Tapa Wha in order to support the therapeutic focus of the residential setting.
As a PTE within a residential setting, Barnardos is bound by the Code of practice for pastoral care. As such we are required to maintain self review practises to ensure the wellbeing and safety of our learners. The attestation is available here.
If you would like to discuss the Private Training Establishment please contact Tim Morgan at tim.morgan@barnardos.org.nz
History of Barnardos Aotearoa
Barnardos’ history finds roots overseas more than 100 years ago. Since 1969 our focus has been on tamariki, rangatahi, and whānau in Aotearoa, but the essence of what started in London so many years earlier, supporting vulnerable children, has remained.
Today, Barnardos Aotearoa is New Zealand’s leading children’s charity. We work across our regions to create generational change for tamariki and rangatahi. And we do that through a range of services that are nationally supported and locally delivered.
