Peer‑Led Acute Alternative Service Southern District

2026-11-03

We are procuring the design, establishment, and delivery of a new 6‑bed, peer‑led acute alternative service that operates 24 hours a day and provides a short‑stay, community‑based alternative to inpatient mental health admission for adults experiencing acute mental distress in the Southern district.The service will:• Be genuinely peer‑led, with lived experience at the centre of service design, leadership, and delivery• Operate in a home‑like, residential setting in either Central Otago / Queenstown or Southland / Invercargill• Be fully integrated with Mental Health and Addiction Specialist Services, including crisis and inpatient teams• Provide clinically safe, culturally responsive, recovery‑focused care that supports people through an acute episode and back into their communityThis is a new service, to be co‑designed locally in partnership with Health NZ, Hauora Māori Services, lived experience representatives, and other key stakeholders.We are seeking a provider (or partnership/consortium) who shares our commitment to transforming acute mental health responses through a peer‑led, recovery‑focused, culturally responsive alternative to inpatient admission. At the heart of this service is choice, dignity, safety, and connection for tāngata whaiora and their whānau.This is a unique opportunity to be involved in an exciting initiative in the development of a peer-led acute alternative service. The continuing expansion of peer-led services, within the Southern region, continues the work commenced under the Te Hurihanga Time for Change programme. This service also aligns with the broader peer-led service initiatives being implemented across Aotearoa New Zealand. This opportunity enables your organisation to become a part of this unique and expanding workforce provision within the wide Mental Health and Addictions services.

New Zealand

2026-10-23