About Us

Mission

The best possible quality of life for people with mental illness and their family/whanau and caregivers.

Purpose

S F Otago fulfils its mission by providing a range of effective and efficient programmes with, or activities on behalf of, people with mental illness, their families/whanau and caregivers. They include:

Developing a support network for people with mental illness, their families/whanau and caregivers, which emphasises social contact, provision of information, and facilitates their use of support, resource, treatment and rehabilitation services in the community.

Creating a family-based organisation for people affected by mental illness which provides opportunity for mutual support, sharing experiences and the gaining of strength to cope with daily living.

Promoting the rights and needs of people with mental illness, their families/whanau and caregivers, among policy-makers and service providers in the community.

Advocacy on and monitoring of services provided in the community for people with mental illness, their families/whanau and caregivers and related policies, planning and resource allocations.

Providing information, education and training on the rights and needs of people with mental illness, their families/whanau and caregivers, to health and education professionals, to employers, to recreation and social groups and to members of the public.

Programmes of S F Otago complement other services for people with mental illness, their families/whanau and caregivers. Co-operation with those providing such services in the community is a feature of the organisation, based on the shared objective of promoting the welfare of the consumer group.

S F Otago services are provided, free of charge, for people with mental illness, their families/whanau, guardians and caregivers.

We gratefully ackowledge the following for their funding and financial assistance which enables SF Otago to continue its work.

• Ministry of Health/Otago District Health Board
• Ministry of Social Development
• The Community Trust of Otago
• Dunedin City Council Rates Relief
• Eli Lilly
• NZ Lottery Grants Board
• Healthcare Otago Charitable Trust

Thank you all for your ongoing support. Plus a huge thank you to all those who gave donations, and to our volunteers that freely give of their time and energy so that things continue to run smoothly.

Without their ongoing support SF Otago could not continue to provide the level of service that it presently offers.

Kathryn Olcott

Branch Manager

Jo Ollernshaw

Fieldwork Team Leader

Jak Dennison

Tapestry Clubhouse Team Leader

Jo Frew

Tapestry Clubhouse Staff
Jo has been with Tapestry Clubhouse for 2 1/2 years. She enjoys working in the model and watching people grow within their personal and professional lives.

She has worked in Mental health for 8 years with previous experience for 7 1/2 years in the disability field.
She says:
"It's hard to pick a highlight of my busy clubhouse life, but my 3 week training in Brisbane was great and I love it when we celebrate special occasions, like our 10th birthday party and our mascarade ball.