COVID-19 wellbeing guidance
Looking after your wellbeing
Advice and updates
Latest information on COVID-19
The latest health measures which outline NZ’s current response to the virus
Unite against COVID-19 — covid19.govt.nz
Support available for individuals, whānau, employers and self-employed people affected by COVID-19
Looking after your wellbeing
He waka eke noa – we’re all in this together. You have coped with changes that will have impacted on you, your whānau and how and where tamariki learn. Through all this time, looking after your wellbeing is number one.
Remember, a pandemic is not an easy thing to live through, but as long as we have each other, we have what we need to get through. It’s all right to feel a bit frustrated, hōhā, overwhelmed or over it sometimes – and it’s also all right to feel grateful, lucky and relieved. We’ll get through this together.
Some suggestions
Coping with uncertainty
The current situation brings uncertainty again about how and what might be asked of us as kaiako and whānau, and the impacts this might have on our tamariki. Find time for regular check-ins with your colleagues and friends, ask for help, take breaks when you need to, and find time to go outside for some fresh air and exercise. Stay calm and reassure yourself and your tamariki that we are all doing the best we can in these unusual times.
Plan together and discuss challenges
Talk with your colleagues and whānau about the challenges and problem solve potential solutions together.
It's OK to get help from other places
People in our communities can also help you if you need this. That’s OK. Please reach out for help if you need it.
Webinars for wellbeing
Our wellbeing webinar series focuses on the wellbeing and hauora of ākonga, kaiako and whānau. Although these were recorded over the 2020 lockdown, they have ongoing resonance and usefulness. All webinars have captions in both English, and te reo Māori.
Diverse perspectives of hauora and wellbeing
Supporting students with learning support needs
Transitioning back to early learning services
Getting help
Many schools are registered with Employee Assistive Programme (EAP services). They offer telephone support and e-counselling during this time. You can contact them through their website: Home | EAP Services Limited or on 0800 327 669.
Gold Star: New workforce wellbeing programme
A new wellbeing programme is being introduced to support the education workforce by providing a space and tools for people to improve their own wellbeing.
The Gold Star programme will be delivered by EAP Services. It is an interactive programme that can be accessed at any time. It provides a supportive online learning environment with access to a suite of wellbeing-related tools and information. Content includes e-learning modules, webinars with topic specialists, and self-tests to check and monitor your own wellbeing.
Registration is required to participate. We encourage schools to register now so you can get access to upcoming topics and participate.
Gold Star is free of charge, and available to state and state-integrated schools, kura, early learning centres and kōhanga reo.
There are a number of organisations who have services and support to help at this time. Some have home isolation care packs.
Health Navigator
Health Navigator is a non-profit community initiative combining the efforts of a wide range of partner and supporter organisations, and is overseen by the Health Navigator Charitable Trust.
COVID-19 care package — healthnavigator.org.nz
It has a range of services and supports to help look after yourself (kaiako, whānau and tamariki) during this time, including:
- Caring for kids
- Staying healthy during home isolation
- Exercise while staying at home
- Mindfulness topics
- Resilience
- Immunity-tips to strengthen
- Stress topics
- Sleep
- Healthy Eating
- COVID 19 apps to support your health and wellbeing
As well as those listed above Health Navigator has health information in other languages including te reo Māori, Samoan, Tongan, Burmese, Dari and Farsi, Arabic languages, Asian languages and NZ Sign Language (NZSL).
The All right Campaign
The All right Campaign site recognises the tough times that affect each person and each whānau differently and has many practical ideas on looking after yourself and your whānau, including:
- Research
- Products
- Parenting and whānau
- Free resources
- Hikitia Te Hā
- Daily wellbeing
- Identity and culture
- Coping in tough times.