Perspective

Future Roles of NGOs within the Community Sector

Two in depth opinions from Dr. Janice Wilson and Dr. Peter McGeorge about the large role that NGOs play within the community.  Read more..

NGOs In 2016

The following material has been taken from an exciting online sharing and thinking website.  Social Edge is a global online community where social entrepreneurs and other people working for the social sector connect to network, learn, inspire and share resources.  Read more..

Mental Health in Prison

The following article explores how Mental Health institutions are becoming more like prisons in the 21st century.  Read more..

Emerging and Enduring Themes

The paper identifies key topics been raised by individuals, organisations and networks about the issues that are most impacting upon them.  Read more..

Making Alcohol & Drug Treatment A Priority

There is compelling evidence that alcohol and other drug treatment interventions can be effective with young people. Read more..

Draft National Health Agreement

Platform has successfully lead a challenge against the Draft National Health Agreement which might otherwise have become the standard contract for District Health Boards to use when purchasing services in the community sector.  Read more..

Land of the Long Black Cloud

By Sarah Robson and Nina Fowler, with additional reporting from Matthew Backhouse from Salient magazine

We all have crappy days, even crappy weeks. Somewhere down the line, a persistent crappy mood morphs into that monster we call clinical depression. The key symptoms are a consistently low mood, low energy, and a loss of interest and pleasure. Following close behind are the associated symptoms of disturbed sleep, poor concentration, low self-confidence, poor or increased appetite, agitation or lethargy, feelings of guilt, or suicidal thoughts.

If that sounds like you, then you probably feel like shit. The relatively good news is that you’re not alone. An Otago University clinical study estimated 20 percent of the general population in New Zealand suffers from depression during any given year. more....

Developing our own NGO capacity

In what seems to be an attempt to understand the nature ,culture, attributes and dynamics of the NGO sector there appears to be an increasing trend for Government departments and agencies to create more jobs called liaison, relationship manger, partnership facilitator. Our suggestions to the Government funders of community organisations include investing in the sectors capacity to describe, research and provide information about itself more....

The end of the golden weather.....?

Comparisons between climatic change and the deteriorating economic environment both generate a sense of powerless. As the current global economy unravels the downstream impacts are now being felt in communities over New Zealand. People have lost their retirement savings, dreams of home ownership and jobs.  Read more..

Creaking health system needs injection of innovation

Hard as it is to find positives in the economic downturn, there is hope that it could provide the catalyst for radical healthcare changes in New Zealand.  Read more..