Supporting a better life experience by empowering people, whanā​u and communities.

Able Minds’ primary mahi is to provide support for tangata whaiora (people seeking health) who are affected by mental distress and / or addiction and their whānau.

Able Minds was established in 2015 through the merger of parent organisations: Supporting Families (Southland, Waitaki, and Central Otago); and Schizophrenia Fellowship Otago who provided more than 40 years of loyal service to the communities of Otago and Southland. Previously known as Able Southern Family Support, we are registered as Able Charitable Trust and trade as Able Minds.
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Our numerous programmes provide advocacy and education, support people to learn new skills, build their confidence, make connections and find comradery in times of need.
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We hold contracts for service with Te Whatu Ora – Health New Zealand, Ministry of Youth, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Social Development and Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities (ROCC) and receive assistance from a number of other community grant funders.

Able Minds is led by Chief Executive Sarah Dowie and governed by our Board of Trustees. We operate across the Otago and Southland regions with office presence in Invercargill, Gore, Dunedin, Queenstown, Oamaru and Alexandra.
Read more about the work we do.

​Our Values

Information and empowerment
​To provide tangata whaiora and whānau the resilience and strength to overcome adversity. To empower through knowledge, understanding and self-determination to be part of the wider community.

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Inclusion
​To support those who are marginalised and discriminated against; to recognise the risks of social exclusion. To promote social change, human rights, and social justice. To build on individual’s strengths and walk alongside in support of self-respect and belonging.
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Empathy and respect
​To care for tangata whaiora and whānau with whom we work. To seek different perspectives, enabling the best possible care for each individual and whānau. To respect others’ rights and dignity and hold these in the highest regard.
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Cultural awareness and inclusion
​To respect and honour cultural diversity; to honour beliefs, traditions and values. To put our knowledge into practise by engaging with kaupapa Maori and other ethnicities; to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi and to walk alongside our tangata whaiora and their whānau. 

Professional standards
​To uphold the highest professional and ethical standards; to use best practice in empowering our tangata whaiora and their whānau to build resilience and skills leading to a better life experience. 

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Confidentiality
​As the custodian of personal and private information, we comply at all times with regulations relating to the maintenance, where appropriate, of an individual’s and group’s fundamental right to privacy.
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Integrity and accountability
​To always conduct ourselves with integrity in our dealings with tangata whaiora and their whānau, team members, the public, and other professionals. To be accountable to our clients, colleagues, and associates with open and honest transparency. ​

Excellence
​To continuously strive for excellence and trust in our organisation by maintaining a client and people-centred focus; by doing what we say we will do. To always listen, learn and continue to improve in everything we do toward delivering a high-quality service for all.