2 May 2008

Pact now has a presence in the Queenstown area, helping people recovering from mental illness, and has also opened a new service in Oamaru.

Ellen Baldwin and Lisa Thomas are based in Queenstown and are providing community support to adults, and child and youth respectively.

Ellen says there is definitely a need for Pact’s services in the area.

“I think there will definitely be a need for more than just one in the future...We had an inter-agency meeting on that topic and I think everyone seems to agree that more needs to be done.”

Pact's new service in Oamaru supports a RIDSAS* client.

Oamaru team leader Mike Mathers says it took a while to find a house that was suitable, but that the chosen property is ideal.

It has 4000sqm of grounds with apple, apricot, peach, pear, nectarine and nashi trees and five varieties of plums. A large tunnel house is packed with tomato plants, and chilli and bell pepper bushes. The goal is to make the property as self sufficient as possible, growing a lot of the vegetables for the house. Chickens will be introduced to the chicken coop on the property (for their eggs). The flatmate being supportive is very active—working in the community and being involved in sport—and loves gardening so the property is perfect for him to use his skills.

Mike says it is beautiful location and even though it is in the middle of the town, if feels like the country. He says staff love the ambience and he believes having staff enjoying their environment can only be good for client wellbeing.

* Regional Intellectual Disability Supported Accommodation Service. Pact is the RIDSAS agency for Otago, Southland and the West Coast.

For further comment please contact:
Louise Carr
Pact CEO
Ph: 03 470 2206
Cell: 027 499 3251
louise.carr@pactgroup.co.nz