Family/Whanau Advisor
What is a Family/Whānau Advisor and what do they do?
Family/Whanau Advisors work in DHBs, NGOs and/or Alcohol and Other Drug services at a planning and consultation level to represent the needs of family/whanau with mental health or alcohol and other drug (AOD) concerns. Family/Whanau Advisors are people who have had a family member experience mental health or AOD issues.
It may be an advantage for people in these positions to have had a background in health, social science qualifications or extensive life experience.
What do Child and Adolescent Mental Health and AOD Family/Whānau Advisors do?
- provide a family/whanau perspective on planning how services should look and how they could be delivered
- gather information from family/whanau about their needs when using services
- provide information and support to family/whanau about the service
What's great about this job?
- you can use your experience to help provide the best possible services for children, young people and their family/whanau to achieve positive outcomes
- being able to advocate for the voice of family/whanau to be heard in child and adolescent mental health and AOD services
- great sense of personal satisfaction
What personal qualities do you need?
A Family/Whanau Advisor needs to be:
- a family/whanau member of a child or young person who has experienced mental health issues, i.e. brother, sister, cousin, close friend, parent or other whanau
- friendly and non judgemental toward others
- understanding and empathetic
- enthusiastic
- respectful of cultural and other differences in people
- a good communicator
- confident about working with other staff and people in other organisations
Who could you work with?
- family/whanau of children and young people using mental health and AOD services
- family/whanau Advisors in the same service and other services regionally or nationally
- staff and management within the service
- other services or organisations who have contact with family/whanau of children and young people
What kinds of places could you work in?
DHBs, NGOs, and/or Alcohol and Other Drug services - basically, any mental health or AOD service where children and young people are involved. Family/Whanau Advisors can also work as a consultant in a variety of settings.
How much could you expect to earn?
This varies, however expect to earn between $25,000 and $45,000+ per year. Some Family/Whanau Advisors are volunteers and donate their time or receive payment for expenses.
Are there any scholarships you can apply for to help with the cost of studying?
Although there is no specific training for Family/Whanau Advisors, once employed in this role, ongoing training in mental health and alcohol and other drugs should be offered by your employer.
