We'll come to you
I want to share with you the kaupapa of UOKBRO NZ, a mobile, grassroots mental health and wellbeing service I have built and operated solo across the Bay of Plenty over the past 2.5 years. I am a registered social worker working directly with individuals and whānau — not once they reach crisis, but long before.
We are on the move
UOKBRO NZ speaks directly to our government's vision of faster access to mental health support. But instead of asking people to come to services, we bring the service to the people.
Numbers count
Over these past 2.5 years, I’ve engaged with hundreds of people — including isolated men, rangatahi, transient workers, and whānau who feel whakamā about seeking formal support. Many won’t walk into a clinic — but they will pull over on the side of the road to talk.
We don't wait
The key difference with UOKBRO NZ is that it doesn’t wait for people to become unwell enough to meet the thresholds required by GPs, mental health clinics, or crisis teams.
It is truly preventative:
- Identifying distress early.
- Building trust.
- Reducing stigma.
- Navigating people to support before things fall apart.
Works in the workplace
UOKBRO NZ delivers toolbox talks onsite with employers and workers, meeting people in their daily spaces and encouraging early conversations around wellbeing.
We build strong working relationships with organisations such as SEEKA, Just Sheds, and Whaiorangi Trust.
A call to funders, will you talk to me?
The demand for this kind of work continues to grow — but despite its effectiveness, mobile, preventative mahi like this still receives no formal funding or national recognition.
I believe UOKBRO NZ represents the very essence of the shift we are calling for — a rebalanced mental health system that focuses on early support and real-time connection. And yet this entire model is currently being carried by just one person, in one bus.
Now imagine the impact if every region had its own version of UOKBRO — a trusted van and a qualified social worker embedded in community life, building early connections before crisis hits.
Katikati Advertiser10 Jun, 2024 02:15 AM3 mins to read
