2020 Annual Review Arotake ā-tau - Together it's possible - Odyssey
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Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us
Annual Review
Arotake ā-tau
2020
Together it’s possible
Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 1
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us
Kia ora e hoa mā
Ngā Take | Contents Hello friends,
2020. Where do we start? Such an unforeseen and
Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us 02
demanding year, a year that has required so much of us
Te Tumu Whakarae | Message from the Chair 04
all on so many levels – as individuals and employees, and
within our whānau, communities and workplaces. Yet also
Nā te Tumuaki | CEO update 06 a year that has provided unexpected opportunities for
time with others, for appreciation of people and things
He Whakarāpopoto | Odyssey in 2020: Data overview 08 that may have been unavailable to us in the past.
In whatever way this year may have landed for you, we hope that
Titiro mai | A closer look: Recovery capital at Odyssey 10 the positives have outweighed the challenges, and that 2021 brings
good things.
Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us 13 Odyssey entered this year reflecting on how we might mark our 40th
year. We wanted to gather together and acknowledge the many
In this together: Talitha, Family Centre 14 people who have connected with us over this time, the people who
have stayed with us or accessed our services elsewhere, worked with
A new sense of identity and place: Melody, Youth INtact 17
us or partnered with us. As the year unfolded, it sadly became clear
Focusing on the now: Fred, Youth Residence 20 that the gathering part was not a viable option, but we do still want
to take this opportunity to acknowledge everyone who has been part
Supporting access and connection: Laura, Pasifika Clinical Practice 23 of our journey over the last 40 years. It has been a privilege and we
know we are only possible, because of you.
Putting the pieces back together: Josh, Te Wairua North 26
In this special 40th anniversary Annual Review, we look back at some
of our milestones as an organisation and share personal stories from
Sharing what matters: Darrell, Haven and Auckland DTP 29
current tāngata whai ora (people seeking wellness) and kaimahi
Te ao Māori made all the difference: Andre, Youth Services 32 about their journeys with us.
Thank you for being part of our story and best wishes for the
He Whakamānawa | A big thank you 34 coming year.
“Odyssey feels like a whānau. People are
supported and valued for who they are and
what they do. It is acknowledged that it takes
everyone to create real change.”
– Kōrero during the Odyssey ‘Why’ Workshops, 2018-19
2 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 01
Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us
Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us
“Hope is something I haven’t Since 1980, we have supported
had for a long time, and I’m tens of thousands of New
“I have learned
Zealanders whose lives are
starting to have it now. Hope
affected by drug, alcohol or
for myself, and for my kids.” other addiction challenges and
so much here. It’s
- A resident at Odyssey’s we are known for providing
Te Wairua service effective, evidence-based
services that support wellbeing.
unbelievable. I feel
This is our ‘why’. We do this in partnership with
We wholeheartedly believe that tāngata whai ora and their
everyone living in New Zealand whānau, working together to
confident that I can
should have the opportunity build the lives they want.
to live life to the fullest, to feel Today, our 180+ kaimahi support
hopeful about their future, and
take what I’ve learned
around 4000 tāngata whai ora
to have meaningful relationships
each year – in ways that work for
with friends and whānau.
them and in settings that work
from here and take that
Many people that we for them.
support have endured
From our bases in Auckland,
stigma, discrimination, or
Whangarei and Hamilton, we
out into the community
social exclusion. Similarly,
support people from throughout
they may have experienced
Aotearoa in residential,
disadvantages in education,
community, school, custodial
and with a completely
housing, employment or access
and other settings. We support
to social services, as well
parents to access residential
as being disproportionately
services with their children and
different me.”
affected by structural and
we support adults who are living
historic barriers that hinder their
with mental health challenges.
ability to exercise their rights
to good health. We work closely with whānau
and we partner with a wide
None of these factors are
supportive of sustained recovery,
range of agencies to provide
support options for tāngata whai
– Joshua, Te Wairua North
nor do they nurture strong
ora and rangatahi to build on
whānau and communities.
their existing strengths and move
We want to change this. forward in their lives.
02 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 03
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Te Tumu Whakarae | Message from the Chair
Te Tumu Whakarae
Message from the Chair
Greetings, and would like to especially 2022). This review prompted
acknowledge the contribution some structural changes within
In reflecting on our 2020 and commitment of two Board the organisation which I believe
financial year and the six members who have retired recently will position us well for the new
– Robyn Reynolds, who retires from environment we now work in – an
months since, I would firstly
the Board after 22 years’ service, environment where the ability to
like to acknowledge the and Dr Ann Hood, who has served be agile in how we support service
efforts of Odyssey staff on the Board since May 2012. We users and in how we attract and
and leadership this year, wish you both well. grow our staff is paramount.
in adapting to new ways It is with pleasure that I welcome In closing, I wish you and
of working so quickly and Manu Sione (Ngāti Whātua, Te your families the very best
generously, and also in the Taou, Te Uri o Hau, Samoan and for the year ahead.
many new ways that you Cook Islands-Pukapuka) as a
Board member. Manu joined us in
supported our service users July 2020. We look forward to his
and each other, during knowledge and expertise within
Regards,
two lockdowns and over the public and NGO sectors to
the ensuing months. Your support our ongoing commitment
flexibility and resilience 4000 New Zealanders for the to delivering equitable outcomes
year to 30 June 2020 (just a slight for everyone who accesses
have been outstanding. our services.
decrease on 2019 and largely due
On behalf of the Trust, to the defunding of a prison-based
We have spent time this year
I thank you. brief intervention service in 2019). reviewing and recommitting to Allen Bollard
Over the same period, we were our current Strategic Plan (2019- Chair, Odyssey Trust
I would also like to extend my fortunate to increase operating
gratitude to our funders who acted revenue modestly by around 8%
quickly and pragmatically to ensure to $21.8m. The majority of this
that we were able to operate within increase is a result of the 2019
a stable funding environment in Wellbeing Budget uplift by District
these uncertain times. Your trust in Health Boards for residential
us means a great deal. addiction services, to address
historic funding disparities.
I am pleased to report that despite
the challenges this year has I would like to thank my fellow
presented, we were able to provide Board members for their continued
services and support to almost dedication to Odyssey this year
04 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 05
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Nā te Tumuaki | CEO update
Nā te Tumuaki | CEO update
placing a strong emphasis Recognition needs to also go to the
Tēna koutou, on whānau connection and Government, the Ministry of Health
involvement, and cultural identity. and DHBs throughout the country
What a year it has been.
who provided an uplift in funding
It has certainly been a year Another highlight in FY2020 was
to residential providers to ensure
to reflect on what matters and the establishment of the Odyssey
sustainability of these services
to be grateful for the special Café kai garden work training
within the 2019 Wellbeing Budget.
programme. Based at our main
people and everyday things adult residence, the kai garden
Thank you to all our funders for your
that nurture and support us continued commitment to our work
provides food for our residence
in 2020 and beyond.
in what have been difficult and also for our Café in New Lynn
months for many. and was developed to provide an I would like to acknowledge
additional learning and vocational everyone working in the mental
I am especially thankful for our pathway for adults staying with us. health and addictions sector this
wonderful team at Odyssey this year. It has been rewarding to work
year. At a time when the world I’m also pleased to note that with you all and encouraging to
changed dramatically and we following the successful pilot of see how we have come together
were all looking inwards to protect the Citizenship Programme (a to support each other and share
ourselves and our whānau, our peer-led service that operates after- partnership with Emerge Aotearoa knowledge and ideas in this
kaimahi looked out. They looked hours and offers a drop-in support and Mind + Body) in 2019, we have challenging year.
out for their colleagues and for space on Karangahape Road for received funding from Te Pou to
tāngata whai ora in our services. people who may be experiencing deliver the programme in central Finally, our 40th year has not
Their compassion and dedication distress from substance use. It is Auckland in 2021 to support inner- evolved quite as we expected, but
enabled us to continue to offer designed for people who may city Auckland populations who may I have been so proud to see the
hopeful and safe spaces for people need a safe, warm space to ease be experiencing multiple barriers way we have pivoted and adapted
coming to us for support. Thanks to an immediate crisis, or to feel to community membership and to support people in different
them, we were able to support 2387 less isolated. Haven recorded social inclusion. ways, in what were unexpected
adults and 1425 young people in the almost 9500 visits in total over the circumstances. I am confident
weekends it was able to be open In all of our work, I continue to be that we are well positioned for
2020 financial year (FY2020).
during its first year of operation. incredibly grateful for the advice, the next 40.
We also established several new guidance and support of our
services during the year. These We also launched our ‘Te Ngāhere’ kaumatua and kaukuia at Ngāti Ngā manaakitanga, with very
services allowed us to support strengths-based, intensive Whātua o Ōrākei, and especially best wishes
populations that may have been treatment programmes at Spring to Uncle Bob and Arohanui Hawke.
hard to reach in the past, and to Hill and Auckland Region Women’s Ngā mihi nui kia kōrua.
develop more tailored responses Corrections Facilities, which
supported 56 participants in the Many thanks also to our Board. It
for others.
eight months to 30 June 2020. has been heartwarming to have
In October 2019, we opened Aligned with Hokai Rangi (the your support this year and to work
the doors at Haven, an exciting Department of Corrections Strategy with you as we refine our services
partnership with Lifewise, Mind + 2019-2024), Te Ngāhere seeks to and structure to operate in a post- Fiona Trevelyan
Body and Auckland DHB. Haven is a humanise the prison experience, COVID world. CEO, Tumuaki Rangatira
06 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 07
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us
He Whakarāpopoto Operational Revenue Drugs of concern
Odyssey in 2020: Data overview
% of adults surveyed who ranked these drugs
as one of their top three drugs of concern
25
Alcohol
$ 21.8m
$20.2m
The final quarter of FY2020 included almost seven weeks when the country was in 20 $19.7m
Levels 3 and 4 lockdown. Odyssey’s residences remained open and we were also able
to offer telehealth and other remote support options to remain in contact with people $16.5m 2019 62% 2020 60%
15
who would normally access our services via community hubs. Our services in schools, $14.5m
corrections facilities and our Odyssey Café work training programmes, including our Amphetamine
kai garden programme were unavailable during this time. 10
2019 58% 2020 70%
5
Cannabis
189
0
2020 49%
2387
2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2019 49%
1425 employees In Northland, our two Pou Whānau Connectors supported 230
people to access appropriate treatment options as part of the Te
230 Ara Oranga methamphetamine harm reduction partnership led
by Northland DHB and NZ Police. They also ran 10 Choice one-day
methamphetamine workshops for Te Ara Oranga participants.
Rangatahi | youth
pakeke | adults 455 people participated in Odyssey drug treatment programmes
455 at Auckland Prison, and Spring Hill and Auckland Region Women’s
Corrections Facilities in FY2020.
Ethnicity of people we supported
304 304 adults stayed with us across our five adult residential
programmes in Auckland and Whangarei.
Māori 46%
180 people participated in Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua
European 34% 180 (The house that lifts the spirit) | The Alcohol and Other Drug
Treatment Court (AODTC)
Pasifika 22%
Asian 3% We ran more than 160 SMART* Recovery and BE SMART support
Not stated 8%
160 groups at our community hubs in Auckland and Whangarei.
*SMART = Self-Management And Recovery Training
Other 2%
575 rangatahi participated in Stand Up! and Amplify services
in schools or alternative education in South Auckland and 559
Unless otherwise stated all data refer to Odyssey’s 2020 financial year, 1 July 2019 to 30 June 2020. 1134 rangatahi accessed school or community-based services in
To view our full financial statements, please visit our website, www.odyssey.org.nz Waikato through Youth INtact.
08 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 09
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Titiro mai | A closer look
Titiro mai | A closer look:
“REC-CAP helped me make my hopes a reality...
Recovery capital at Odyssey My life is busy and fulfilling. I have value and have
meaning. I am my own hope now!”
Odyssey has been working with existing and develop new strengths, – Ted, Te Wairua graduate
Professor David Best (Derby capabilities and connections as part
of a personalised recovery care plan.
University) and PhD candidate
Zeddy Chaudhry since June We are now piloting the use of REC-
2019 to support tāngata whai CAP in our prison-based services, the elements of my life that I either specifics to set goals around. The
and hope to offer it at Te Wairua took for granted or dismissed as not results speak for themselves. I now
ora at our Auckland residences
North in 2021. Our early experiences relevant. It highlighted those parts lead a full, healthy, balanced life in
build on their strengths with with the tool have been encouraging, I was determined not to look at. By recovery with numerous interests and
the REC-CAP assessment and and feedback from tāngata whai identifying what was important to connections; all adding value to me
planning tool. ora has been overwhelmingly me and what was lacking, I was able as a person. REC-CAP helped me
positive. But don’t just take our word to, with support, start building up the make my hopes a reality. And for that
The tool, developed by Professor Best,
for it. Ted, a recent graduate from various parts of my life that needed I am grateful.
supports a strengths-based approach
Te Wairua, shared the following work. Eventually I created a more
to recovery, shifting away from Thank you for showing me that life is
reflections on the value of REC-CAP complete and robust whole – a life
former approaches which applied a there for the grasping, I just needed
in supporting his recovery: full of interest and meaning.
problem-based or deficits lens. REC- help to look in the right places. I now
CAP measures progress in building “The REC-CAP tool is incredibly Wellbeing and recovery need to be have a catalogue of reasons to get
up personal, social and community helpful. In addiction it’s easy to lose safe and fun and attainable. REC- up every morning. My life is busy
recovery capital. It encourages sight of the many things that wellness CAP assisted me in this, highlighting and fulfilling. I have value and have
tāngata whai ora to draw on entails. REC-CAP shone a light on achievable areas and adding meaning. I am my own hope now!”
Recovery
Capital
Definition: the breadth and depth
of internal and external resources
Personal Social Community
that can be drawn upon to initiate Recovery Capital Recovery Capital Recovery Capital
and sustain recovery Communication skills, coping Social networks, Housing, employment,
(Granfield and Cloud, 2009) skills, resilience, self-efficacy social identity community based assets
and self-esteem
10 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 11
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us
Ngā Kōrerorero
Stories of Odyssey
We are exceptionally privileged at Odyssey
to share in so many journeys each year,
journeys of acceptance and growth, of
aroha and connection.
For many people, connecting with Odyssey
is a turning point in their lives. Accessing our
services provides the space and opportunity
for reflection and discovery, for learning and
practicing new skills, for working towards
goals that support wellbeing.
This is true for tāngata whai ora and also
for kaimahi.
Together, we learn, grow and challenge
ourselves to move forward - with tika |
trust, pono | honesty, kaitiaki | responsibility,
manaaki | concern and aroha | love.
To celebrate our 40 years, we wanted to
share with you some of our stories – stories
where people, whānau and communities
are connected and supported to live the
lives they want.
Together it’s possible
12 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 13
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us
In this together: reconnecting
with parenting and building
strong relationships at
Odyssey’s Family Centre The agency recommended
rehabilitation through Odyssey,
but she had reservations – “I
Having her children join her
at the Family Centre has been
crucial, she says. It has been
thought I could do this on my a personal joy and has also
own” – and her then partner motivated her to stick with
was resistant to the idea too. and get the most out of the
But after another relapse and programmes and support that
faced with the possibility of Odyssey offers.
not being reunited with her
Talitha was around three to regain custody of her It has also given her the
children, Talitha joined the adult chance to develop parenting
months pregnant when she other children when she finds residential programme. By July skills alongside other parents
joined our adult residential accommodation in the wider 2020, she had progressed so at the Family Centre. She
programme in Auckland. community. well that two of her younger highlights the “Incredible
children were able to join her
When she moved to our Family Years” programme as being
“I was really excited when I was told to live with her at Odyssey’s particularly valuable, teaching
Centre three months later, two I could come here,” says Talitha. “I Family Centre. “I was ecstatic,” her and other parents the
of her children were able to was like, yay! I knew I needed to do she says, of having her importance of providing
join her, before she gave birth this, to get my kids back.” youngest children join her. ‘positive praise’ to their own
to a daughter later in the year. The Family Centre supported and other children. She has also
Talitha had been using drugs since her in her pregnancy, and in learned how to get her children
She and her three children the care of her new daughter
she was 15 and had tried various used to a routine - including
are now living in an Odyssey times to get clean unsuccessfully and her ongoing participation going to bed at a certain hour
transition house onsite and when, at the end of 2018, five of her at Odyssey. Her three other each day. She says she wishes
actively looking for housing in children had been removed from children, who are cared for she had been taught such
the community. She is hoping her care by Oranga Tamariki. by family members, have also parenting skills earlier.
been able to visit regularly.
Through the Family Centre
At the time of writing, Talitha she has developed mutually
was living in a house separate supportive relationships with
to but connected to the Family other mums. Her children have
Centre and is being supported been able to play with other
“If I’m struggling or if I’m upset I can check to find her own house. Once kids in the Centre and have
she finds one, she’s optimistic been supported to attend the
in with staff and friends, who know how to that her other children will be local kindergarten. They have
pick you up, but without alcohol or drugs.” returned to her care. had, she says, more social
14 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 15
Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us
Recovering a sense of
identity, and a sense of place
Odyssey Family Centre
In the year to 30 June 2020, Odyssey supported
28 parents and 35 children in our Family Centre,
which offers a modified therapeutic community Melody Nepe took up the University. She was increasingly
in a purpose-built residence for up to ten role of Cultural Adviser for drawn to her own marae. “I knew
families at a time. my pepeha, I knew my whakapapa,
Youth INtact at the beginning
but only here at my marae did I
The median length of stay is 150 days. Parents of 2020 to provide cultural really start to acknowledge the
living with us participate in the adult residential support and education for maunga, and feel the ground, and
programme at our neighbouring residence and kaimahi and taiohi. She knows put my feet in the river.”
have similar opportunities to develop skills and from personal experience the Melody initially started working in
strategies that will support their recovery when strength that can be derived the AOD sector after leaving school,
they leave Odyssey. In addition, parents in the from a sense of identity, a first at Whakatakapokai, a care and
sense of belonging and place. protection facility in Manurewa. “I
Family Centre attend parenting support groups,
left school without qualifications,
as well as activities with their children. Melody grew up in Papakura, in but enjoyed that work so much
south Auckland, where she says she I went on to study at MIT and
had limited understanding of te ao AUT, and began working as a
Māori and not as much connection mental health support worker, as
to her whakapapa as she’d like to a community support worker and
have had, but began reconnecting as a youth worker. Then I realised I
activities, such as visits to the you up, but without alcohol when she started studying her needed to further my qualifications,
Zoo, than they have ever had or drugs.” Bachelor of Arts in Māori and that we could do better for Māori
in their young lives. Pacific Development at Waikato and Pasifika people.”
“It’s like I’ve retrained my brain,
Odyssey has, through its knowing that the false high
Relapse Prevention Programme, that you think you might get
also taught her to recognise from a drug is usually followed
the triggers for a potential by anxiety and depression. It
relapse, how to reach out for doesn’t compare with how you
support when she needs to. “When you realise that you are part of a bigger picture, you
feel once you’ve got clean, and
“If I’m struggling or if I’m upset, have so much to look forward
realise you’re not alone, and the loneliness that some of our
I can check in with staff and to, and the high of having my youth feel starts to lift off. And they then start opening up to
friends, who know how to pick children back with me.” us as the support workers and to their whānau.”
16 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 17Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us
“So it’s about showing them where alcohol, but what it is to be Māori,
Youth INtact Waikato Māori came from. The statistics
show we are not where our people
in a fun and interactive way. Many
of the young people she works
wanted us to be. They didn’t sign with have grown up in Huntly, and
Youth INtact is based on a model of care co- the Treaty for us to go that way. So their marae is nearby but they
designed with rangatahi. It provides alcohol and I acknowledge all those that have have had little connection with it.
other drug (AOD) support and education in the gone before us and done so much
community and at schools for rangatahi aged 12-19 mahi for us not to go that way.” Contemporary technologies have
made this much easier than it
years old across the Waikato region. Among the groups she supports once was. “I can use websites such
We offer mobile outreach and walk-in services, and are the Te Rangimarie Girls’ as Māori Maps, so they can find
Reference group at Huntly College their marae, their iwi identity, and
we work with community, sports, church and cultural
that uses principles and practices then to learn their pepeha, and
groups to ensure rangatahi are supported in places of Mana Wāhine to empower start learning about our people
that work best for them. Odyssey has supported participants, supporting them to from there.”
1,468 rangatahi through Youth INtact since the build positive relationships and
programme began in 2016. strong value systems. In October, Nurturing a sense of cultural
she launched a fortnightly identity is crucial in young Māori,
Kaupapa Māori drop-in group she says, and young people love
for young people in Hamilton learning about it.
to support learning of tikanga
“When you realise that you are
principles, mythology, purakau
part of a bigger picture, you realise
(stories), pepeha and visits to
you’re not alone, and the loneliness
marae and other sites.
She was halfway through her has learned into action, to realise that some of our youth feel starts to
degree when, in 2017, she and her her dreams for a better future Her classes are aimed at lift off. And they then start opening
family moved to Huntly. With five for Māori and Pasifika. “I’m so educating young people not only up to us as the support workers
children, studying, and being a honoured to be in this position,” of the consequences of drugs and and to their whānau.”
long way from her parents and she says.
immediate family in Papakura,
Melody leads group sessions
it was a demanding time. She
among rangatahi, often young
was encouraged by both family
and University teachers, and by a
people who have inherited “I knew my pepeha, I knew my whakapapa, but only
the damage caused by inter-
growing sense of place. “Moving here at my marae did I really start to acknowledge
generational substance use. Her
down here was like giving me back
focus is on reconnecting them to the maunga, and feel the ground, and put my feet
my home lens. That gave me the in the river.”
their Māori identity, where and
courage to apply for this job. I just
who they have come from, to make
told myself, ‘you can do it.’”
them proud of who they are, to
Working for Youth INtact has given make good decisions in their
her the chance to put what she own lives.
18 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 19Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us
Focusing on the now: A Q&A
with an Odyssey youth resident
Fred was 17 when he came I was getting older and lucky I did Do you have any advice to help out with catering, making
to stay with us in Auckland come in here when I did, before it was for newcomers? salads and stuff. Now I’m trying
too late, before I ended up in gangs. I the coffee side of it. It’s got a
and stayed for almost six Everyone is different; you have
knew it would be a big change. Better good social side. You’re working
months before heading home to change now, before it’s too late eh? to work at your own pace, try with others and interacting with
to Masterton. We spoke to and figure out what people are customers. You get a bit of time out
him a month or so before he Tell us about your experience struggling with, and how you can of the house and get a certificate to
graduated and share some staying with Odyssey help. Sometimes it’s challenging, use to get a job somewhere else.
but in the end, you’ve got to do it for
of his thoughts about his time Odyssey is not for the faint-hearted. It What about plans for
yourself, you have to keep talking.
with Odyssey below. is quite a tough programme. Living in the future?
the residence gives you a chance to It’s not easy to find ways to express
What brought you to Odyssey? get things sorted, structured, in what how you feel, or to see how I’ve got to focus on the now. I’m
you do. It’s quite a big responsibility. someone else is feeling. It comes confident that I can do this. I know
I volunteered to come here, just to
You learn lots and get assigned down to communication, how you that keeping busy is important and
get a change, from the drinking, to
different jobs. talk, how you seek support. focusing on my own life.
see if I could stay off it. I wanted to
break the pattern of drinking too What are some of the most Since I’m not local, I hope to go
Anything else about back to Masterton, and set up a
much, stealing, ending up in court.
challenging aspects of living your time here? good foundation and test out skills
I’d been in court since I was 13 or
14, mainly because of the alcohol.
at Odyssey? I’ve learned and hopefully set up
It definitely changes your life. It
I’d been to a couple of youth When new people come in it can offers opportunities too. Like this connections with support workers.
prisons. I went down South for a be hard, people who have been on café job training they run. It gives I need support and want to keep in
while, to deep sea fishing school, drugs, and who are also away from touch with Odyssey.
you work experience and credits.
a six-month course. I was trying family. Being away from family is It means quite a lot of learning, I’ve come a long way, and I’m
to change my life down there, and hard. You come to bond with other baking and stuff, like cookies, cake ready to go back. I want to get a
eventually got a job on a fishing residents though. You’ve got to – I made a vegan cake a couple good job and try and remake what
boat, but I would drink too much because you’re living under the of weeks ago. I’ve also been able I’ve messed up I guess.
in-between trips and get involved in same roof.
the law and stuff.
The programme becomes more
I was connected with a support challenging as you move up the
worker, through OT [Oranga levels. Then you also have more
Tamariki], who referred me here, of a mentoring role, making others “Everyone is different; you have to work at your own
to Odyssey. feel welcome. pace, try and figure out what people are struggling
with, and how you can help. “
20 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 21Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us
Making it easier for Pasifika
people to start and stick
with Odyssey
Youth residential and community
services at Odyssey
In FY2020, Odyssey youth residential and community services
supported 134 rangatahi aged 13 to 18 years old.
Pasifika people are racism, we have shared pain with
disproportionately over- other minority groups.”
Auckland Region represented in experiencing They also have shared histories.
Northland addiction and mental health “Pasifika people have an awareness
challenges, yet they do not of the sacrifices our ancestors
Domicile Waikato & Bay of Plenty
made, moving to New Zealand
Other North Island access support services at
often to work in low income labour
South Island similar levels. Odyssey hopes to intensive jobs to give their children
address this with the creation and grandchildren a better life. So
of a new role, Pasifika Clinical there is a sense of duty in honouring
Practice Lead. the people who have made that
possible. That narrative is similar to
Laura Tongalea took up the position a lot of other first generation New
in September 2020, having started
Zealand-born Pacific Islanders - a
working at Odyssey in 2019 within our
Maori 51% desire to serve our ancestors proudly,
Assessments and Continuing Care
and willingly. I definitely derive a lot
European 45% team. Being Pasifika does nurture a
of pride from that.”
sense of solidarity with other Pasifika
Ethnicity* Pasifika 17%
people she says. “Any group that Before joining Odyssey, Laura had
*People may select more Asian 4% has experienced marginalisation, or more than a decade’s experience
than one ethnicity
Other 2%
Not stated 1%
“Pasifika values of service, honour and respect
can mean that Pasifika people often put the needs
of others first, so there can be resistance among
Pasifika people to seek help for themselves.”
22 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 23Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us
Supporting Tagata Pasifika A key focus of her role is to identify
the cultural and social barriers that
That means asking the
client what they need, rather
Pasifika people face in accessing than being prescriptive.”
Odyssey is committed to working in a culturally
addiction services, and how to
responsive way with Pasifika whai ora and incorporate address and remove them. She It also means understanding the
the three key themes of fanau, language and tapu in notes that, for instance, “Pasifika language barriers and cultural
our work. We support Pasifika whai ora to participate values of service, honour and tensions, she says. “So it’s about
increasing awareness among
in cultural and other activities that are informed by respect can mean that Pasifika
people often put the needs of those working in the sector, of
traditional, holistic approaches to wellbeing. In FY2020, the little things that will make a
others first, so there can be
we supported 800 Pasifika people (representing one in huge difference; encouraging
resistance among Pasifika people
five of all Odyssey tāngata whai ora). to seek help for themselves.” Pasifika staff here to use a
cultural lens when working
Pasifika employees make up one in seven of all Also, turning to a professional with Pasifika people.”
employees, and this proportion rises to one in five service can be daunting for
within our residential services. Vai Ola, our Pasifika staff Pasifika people. One of her She also aims to combine the well-
priorities is to help those working established and evidence-based
group, meets monthly to share experiences of their therapeutic interventions used
in the sector to understand that
clinical practice in relation to their own culture. We value at Odyssey with a Pacific Health
if a Pasifika person has built up
the richness of knowledge they bring and share with the courage to seek professional model – which encompasses the
colleagues and Tagata Pasifika, who access our services. advice “that it’s a huge deal, cultural values and beliefs
and we need to respond in a of health in Pasifika peoples.
way that will encourage them
“That means fitting western
to remain engaged.”
modalities into the Pacific Health
That means acknowledging the model, in a way that can be easily
effort it took to get them there, applied within any of the services,
of working in the AOD sector, first Laura’s next move was to work at to clearly explain what they can whether aimed at young people,
in a non-clinical role when she Bay of Plenty DHB for five years, expect and how to get families mums, adults or people in prison.
was aged 19 at a kaupapa Maori where she was one of two registered involved. “It also means removing And in a way that is easy to train
service in Te Puke, where she DAPAANZ (Drug and Alcohol the power dynamic – so it’s not ‘I’m people up in. This will make huge
worked primarily with both Māori Practitioners’ Association Aotearoa the expert and you’re the client’, differences in the effectiveness of
and Pasifika people. She worked New Zealand) practitioners to work but ‘I’m a person and so are you’. our services.”
there for more than four years,
in a Child and Adolescent Mental
which supported her to undergo
Health service at the Tauranga
and complete her addiction studies
Hospital, as part of a multi-
at AUT. “I really value that time,
working in a grassroots, community disciplinary team. While there she
based intervention programme with was in regular contact with Odyssey,
a hard-to-reach population. I saw and would often refer whai ora.
how effective certain approaches “The transformation that I’d see
were, what worked, even with was remarkable, so I knew I’d love
limited resourcing.” to work here.”
24 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 25Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ngā Kōrerorero | Stories of Us
Putting the pieces back
together and starting a
new life with confidence Te Ara Oranga
The Te Ara Oranga (The Path to Wellbeing)
methamphetamine harm reduction pilot was co-
designed with Te Tai Tokerau communities and
launched in October 2017.
A joint initiative between Northland District Health
Joshua had been in and In early 2020 he was facing another Board (NDHB) and NZ Police, its goal is to reduce
out of prison for around prison sentence when he was methamphetamine demand by enhancing treatment
15 years and as a result offered a chance to join the Odyssey services and increasing service responsiveness. Anyone
of methamphetamine use programme through Te Ara Oranga. who would benefit from treatment is offered the
It was through this initiative that opportunity and contacted within 48 hours of referral.
had ended up in hospital
Josh was connected with Odyssey More than one third of tāngata whai ora, referred to
several times before he came Pou Whanau Connector, Nina
into contact with Odyssey mental health and addiction services through these
Stanley. She regularly visited Josh at
through the Te Ara Oranga new referral pathways, were not previously known to
Methamphetamine Harm these services. Te Ara Oranga has resulted in closer
Reduction Programme, a working relationships between communities, health
services and NZ Police in Northland. Odyssey is on the
partnership between NZ Police, “You have to slow right Te Ara Oranga steering group and has supported 589
Northland DHB and various down, throw everything people access methamphetamine interventions and
service providers in the region. that you thought made support since October 2017.
Josh was accepted into Odyssey’s Te you ‘you’ out, and start
Wairua North in February 2020. By at the bottom and
November, he was ready to move
out, confident about his future and rebuild yourself.”
looking forward to “doing fun things
in the community, which I’ve never The first weeks with Odyssey were communication, and how to address
been able to do before because I’ve the hardest. Adjusting to a more that. He also learned to be more
been a full-blown addict.” structured schedule was a particular sensitive to others and to what might
home, supported him through court challenge, such as going to bed at a be going on in other people’s lives
Josh had a difficult upbringing, processes and ensured he had a certain time and rising before 7am. and minds. “And once I got a grip
having been removed from his place at Te Wairua North. “She was a “I didn’t know how to sleep. I got so of that at Level One everything just
biological parents when he was big, big help for me to get here,” says little sleep in the last seven or eight started to like fall into place for me.
seven and put into foster care when Josh. “She’s been great.” years, I was afraid to go to bed.” Without the help of Odyssey I would
he was ten. He began drinking and
Nina presented him with a make-or- have never figured it out.”
using cannabis in his teens, and Over the following months he
then methamphetamine in his early break chance of an alternative future, learned a lot about himself, about Having worked his way up through
20s. That led to crime, such as car he says, one that didn’t involved his own sometimes aggressive the different levels in the Odyssey
conversion, to fund his drug use. drugs or alcohol or “sitting in a cell”. body language and style of programme and up to Level Four, he
26 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 27Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us
Sharing what matters
says supporting new residents and “It’s like Mike King says - ‘I’m sick
and giving back: a peer
being a role model to them has
been particularly satisfying. “That’s
and tired of being sick and tired’
and it’s time for me to get back support journey
been huge.” out there.”
He has participated in several He will be returning to live with
programmes offered through his foster father, and is hoping to
Odyssey. He points to the train and become a Peer Support
SMART Recovery groups (Self- Worker, to work with and support
Management and Recovery Darrell Wilson came to stay at friends and family members
others with addiction problems. made life so dark he tried to take
Training) which helped him identify Odyssey in March 2018 and
“I have the practical experience. I his own life.
personal goals and set a plan on graduated in July 2019. He now
know how it goes, so I think I’d be
how to achieve them. One goal works for Odyssey full time, at Now, more than a year after
achieved invariably led to the really good at it.”
Haven and at Auckland Prison graduating from Odyssey, he no
setting and achieving of another, Josh compares his experience
(Paremoremo) in the Drug longer gambles, has rebuilt his
he says. “So you set yourself a at Odyssey as being given the relationships with his partner and
goal, then ask yourself, ‘is that chance to rebuild a vase that Treatment Programme (DTP).
children and is finding meaning
realistic?’ Then you set yourself has been knocked off the table. Having been supported in and personal fulfilment as a Peer
a time frame for that goal. It’s a his own recovery at Odyssey,
“It breaks into a million little Support Worker.
really clever approach because it
helps you to set yourself a goal,
pieces, and you have to glue a process that helped him
Odyssey was one of several
all those little bits and pieces identify what matters to him
keep with it, and when you achieve recovery pathways he was offered.
it, set yourself another goal.” back together.” and helped him rebuild his own “It seemed the best option, as I knew
He adds: “I have learned so much Advice to others entering the life, he is now helping others to I needed a long time to rewire, to fix
here. It’s unbelievable. I feel programme? “You have to slow do the same. the problems upstairs. I was right.”
confident that I can take what I’ve right down, throw everything
Darrell had been living for 40 years He joined Odyssey as a resident
learned from here and take that that you thought made you ‘you’
as a high-functioning and well- in March 2018, graduating in July
out into the community and with a out, and start at the bottom and
earning gambling addict when the 2019. It was a long and hard road to
completely different me. rebuild yourself.”
cumulative impact of the addiction, recovery, but ultimately a fulfilling,
as well as the death of several life-changing and joyful one.
“Supporting new residents and being a
role model to them has been particularly
satisfying. That’s been huge.” “Rehab has humbled me. I don’t have
to be ‘The Man’ anymore. I can just be
‘A Man’. Odyssey has shown me that.”
28 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 29Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ngā Kōrerorero
Ko Ōtihi tēnei
| Stories
| About
of Us
us
“It’s not a job. It’s not something I do
because I have to. It all comes from a place
of concern, and that is a place I learned
about through Odyssey.”
“I had grown estranged from saying to me, ‘it’s okay to be second’.
my family, but I have regained That was powerful, and helped get
them. I had a wonderful partner me through treatment.”
and adorable kids who, over my they’re there, we have an impact is a place I learned about
40 years with high-performance He describes his roles, both at in some way. We’re not going to through Odyssey.
addiction, had to endure hell.” Haven and at Paremoremo, as a change the world, or people’s
privilege. “How blessed am I to be As a Peer Support worker, he
His work these days is a long way situation overnight. But we can say
able to support people?” is able to share his story, the
from what he used to do, roles something that maybe they can
challenges, the happy outcome,
that included working for a US “We have more than 400 people take away for that day, and be
and use that to encourage and
company selling timeshares and as coming through the door of Haven okay with it. And for the time they
inspire others to believe in and
an operations manager in a large over a weekend, people who are are there, it might be the best
work toward their own future.
company in which he lead a team of the heart and soul of our community five or ten minutes they’ll have
120. “The more money I earned, the but who our society doesn’t want that day.” To have been given a second
more dangerous I became.” to know about. People who are chance to rebuild relationships
“And at Paremoremo we have 80
not wanting to be here anymore. with his own family, is something
He’s a different man now, in people who go through the Drug
People who have had a life but lost he gives thanks for every day.
more ways than one. “Rehab has Treatment Programme every three
everything, and are where I was “I talk to my children, almost on
humbled me. I don’t have to be months. That’s 80 people I can
prior to rehab.” nightly basis. I remember when I
‘The Man’ anymore. I can just be ‘A have an effect on, in a way that
lost my mum, how I felt, and the
Man’. Odyssey has shown me that. “We have to draw on everything might not only change their lives,
impact it had on me. As I came to
I remember my clinical manager we can to make sure that while but those of their whānau, their
understand, that’s what my kids
tamariki, their wider community.”
had been through for 40 years. So
“It’s all about giving back. There is to have that opportunity to be a
no more selfish Darrell - which is present father, one who cares and
what you are as an addict.” loves them, is more than anyone
could ever ask for.
Peer Support at Odyssey As he tells the people he works
with, he knows some of what “I feel like I’m a brand new father. I
Odyssey has offered peer support since 2012 within Te Whare they’re going through, having have that energetic playful feeling
Whakapiki Wairua. In 2018, after developing our own Peer Support had first-hand experience. “It’s when I talk to my kids, it feels like
Framework, we established a dedicated peer support team for our not a job. It’s not something I do they’ve spoken their first words, like
adult residential service. Today, we have 21 peer support roles across because I have to. It all comes they’ve said ‘Dad’ for the first time
eight of our programmes and services. from a place of concern, and that in their life.”
30 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 31Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us
How connecting with
te ao Māori made and Lived experience has given him the Māori world, and I really
is making a difference
an insider’s view of how things did connect to it.” He has since
can turn against us, but also how furthered his studies in tikanga and
we can transcend those difficulties te reo. “From the age of five I grew
and find a meaningful career up in Brisbane, and came back
helping others. here at 30 knowing nothing about
“I had a pretty unmeaningful life being Māori, but now I can do a
for a long time,” he says. “Odyssey mihi, say a karakia, support people
and Higher Ground have provided to learn a Māori world view, and
Andre Matthews had spent 2009, from which he graduated career pathways. If you work hard while I’m not yet fluent in te reo and
much of his early adult life when he was in his 30s. and show them you’re dedicated, have a lot to learn, I have a basic
they do create opportunities.” understanding.”
in prison but after entering That was also where he got
a residential programme his first bona-fide job, in 2010, Andre is recognised as a Māori Te ao Māori has helped him
in 2009, then working and working on what was known as leader and champion of Te Ao understand his own ‘higher power’,
the “graveyard shift”, which was Māori within Odyssey. “I grew up in he says, and to encourage others to
studying within the sector, he
also when he began studying. He Australia, and didn’t know anything connect with their culture and also
is now the Clinical Manager studied and worked his way up, to support staff to apply insights
about being Māori, something that
of youth residential and first as a peer support worker with I was quite embarrassed about.” from te ao Māori.
community services at Te Whare Whakapiki Wairua and
His cultural connections were “Having a Māori world view in
Odyssey, demonstrating then as a practitioner at Higher
ignited when he was at Higher my leadership role in Odyssey is
how a personal recovery Ground. Then, having completed
Ground. “That gave me an crucial, one which I can use to
journey can lead to a his Bachelor of Addiction Studies,
understanding of aroha, and make a difference.”
he took up a role as an Advanced
meaningful career.
Practitioner at Odyssey in 2017,
Andre had spent almost 20 years before being promoted to Clinical
of his life in and out of prison, Manager, first in the adult
before he was accepted into Higher residential service and now with
Ground in Te Atatu Peninsula in the Odyssey youth service.
Aroha nui!
Thanks to Talitha, Melody, Fred, Laura, Josh, Darrell and
Andre for so generously sharing your journeys with us.
“Having a Māori world view in my Thanks also to Margo White for interviewing these
leadership role in Odyssey is crucial, one lovely people and crafting the stories for us all to enjoy.
which I can use to make a difference.”
32 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 33Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 He Whakamānawa
Ko Ōtihi| A
tēnei
big |thank
Aboutyou
us
He Whakamānawa Programme, Te Whare Whakapiki
Wairua and Youth INtact. We
value the opportunity to work
Executive Leadership Team
• Fiona Trevelyan
A big thank you
Chief Executive Officer
with you all.
• Glenn Manson
Finally, thanks also to our Board
Chief Financial Officer
of Trustees in their stewardship
Our work is made possible by the generosity and ongoing of our work, and to our Executive • Jenny Boyle
support of our funders, benefactors and partners. Together, Leadership Team in what has General Manager, Operations
been a challenging year.
we support people to move towards a brighter future, • River Paton
bringing hope to whānau and communities throughout Clinical Director
New Zealand. Our work would not be possible without Board of Trustees
(to December 2020)
your support – ngā mihi nui, thank you! • Sam White
• Allen Bollard (Chair)
General Manager,
• Darren Johnson (Treasurer) Improvement & Development
• A
ra Poutama Aotearoa | • Taranaki DHB (to April 2020)
• Dr Ann Hood
Department of Corrections
• Te Rau Ora (to December 2020) • Ken Kerehoma
• A
uckland District Health Cultural Advisor
• Waikato DHB • Robyn Reynolds
Board (DHB) (to September 2020)
(to July 2020)
• Waitemata DHB
• Bay of Plenty DHB • Robert Roydhouse
• Whau Local Board
• Counties Manukau Health • Mary Shanahan
We are grateful for the support
• Foundation North and guidance of our mana • Clive Bensemann
• Kai Whau whenua partners in Auckland,
• Terry Huriwai
Waikato and Northland,
• Lakes DHB in particular Ngāti Whātua • Manu Sione
o Ōrākei. (from July 2020)
• MidCentral DHB
We would also like to
• Ministry of Education
acknowledge the contribution
• Ministry of Health of longstanding programme
collaborators who share our
• M
inistry of Social commitment to support tāngata
Development whai ora and whānau to work
• N
ew Zealand Drug towards stronger futures.
Foundation Many thanks to our service
and agency partners within
• Northland DHB
initiatives including Haven, Te
• Oranga Tamariki Ara Oranga, The Citizenship
34 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 35Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 Ko Ōtihi tēnei | About us
Tō Tātou
Matakitenga
Our vision
Poutia, Heretia
Tuia te muka tangata ki te pou
tokomanawa ka tū mana motuhake;
ka nohohere kore i ngā waranga me
ngā wero nui o te ao
People, whānau and communities are
connected and supported to live the lives
they want; free from drug, alcohol and
other addiction challenges.
www.odyssey.org.nz
36 | Together it’s possible Odyssey Annual Review 2020 | 37Annual Review | Arotake ā-tau 2020 odyssey.org.nz 38 | Together it’s possible
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