Taupae Wheako

Centre for Lived Experience Peer Support and Social Recovery

“[Taupae Wheako] provides a solid foundation for mahi as a peer support worker...and has the potential to make a key difference in terms of the growth of a competent, confident workforce”
— Nicki Lishman, Toitū te Waiora

Taupae Wheako provides training, coaching, supervision, and consultancy services to support the lived experience and peer workforce, alongside other national training and programmes. We can tailor training to suit your needs, and have experience working with addiction, harm reduction, justice, corrections, social recovery, recovery capital, and mental health.

To sign up for our Peer Support 101 workshop click here. For more information contact taupaewheako@odyssey.org.nz

  • What is it?

    Preparing people with lived experience for employment in a peer role, focusing on key peer support principles, cultural safety, and wellness planning. This training has been assessed by the New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) as equivalent to 5 credits (5x10 notional learning hours) at Level 3 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF).

    More details

    Odyssey is now offering its Peer Support 101 training to the sector. This training is an all-encompassing introduction to the Peer Support role. It has a strong cultural foundation and has been developed through extensive consultation with key stakeholders to provide training to prepare people with lived experience for employment in a Peer role. While particularly suited to Peers working in addiction settings, it also supports Peers working in mental health, youth, housing, cultural and a range of other settings. The training can be delivered face-to-face or online across Aotearoa New Zealand.

    The New Zealand Qualifications Authority (NZQA) has evaluated Peer Support 101 – Introduction to Lived Experience Peer Support (Micro-credential) delivered by Odyssey House Trust and has assessed it to be equivalent to 5 credits (5 x 10 notional learning hours) at Level 3 on the New Zealand Qualifications Framework (NZQF). This training is ideal for people with lived experience coming into the workforce or for those already in a Peer role, but without appropriate training. It is aligned to the CPSLE competencies from Te Pou and can lead on to other Level 4 trainings now available.

    Contents

    Participants will be able to demonstrate knowledge and skills of:

    - History of Peer Support

    - Peer values

    - Cultural models and safety

    - Recovery

    - Trauma

    - Addiction

    - Mental health

    - Co-existing disorders

    - Stigma and discrimination

    - Peer Support practice and accountabilities

    - Peer support models

    - Recovery capital

    - Working with whānau

    - Peer Support communication styles and interventions

    - Ethics and boundaries

    - Risks and challenges

    - Self-care

    - Consumer rights

    What others say

    Tertiary Education Commission Spotlight

  • External supervision for peers by people with lived experience and supervision skills

  • A model for peers to share challenges and solutions

  • Training to help peers learn how to facilitate groups from a peer perspective

  • Training for employers, managers, clinical and other staff to understand the peer role and how to work together. 

    Role clarity training and content can be tailored to suit the needs of your organisation.

  • Providing advice and support to organisations looking to establish, develop or reinvigorate a peer workforce

  • At Odyssey, we take a strengths-based, peer-led approach to recovery. Our focus is on helping tāngata whai ora build their Recovery Capital — the personal, social, and community resources that sustain long-term wellbeing and belonging.

    This mahi runs through Te Wairua Residential Services and reintegration planning, with the hope of supporting similar approaches across the wider AOD sector.

    As part of our social recovery model, Odyssey also uses Social Identity Mapping (SIM) — a reflective tool that helps tāngata whai ora explore their social connections, supports, and sense of belonging.

    SIM strengthens Recovery Capital and brings the principles of social recovery to life in practice.

    We are keen to share this with the sector. Click here if you’d like to learn more

  • Te Pou o te Whakaaro Nui

    Peer Support 101 is strongly aligned to and guided by the Peer Support Strategy, Action Plan and Competencies for the Consumer, Peer Support and Lived Experience (CPSLE) workforce from Te Pou o te Whakaaro Nui:

    Read the Strategy

    Read the Action Plan

    Read the CPSLE Competencies

    Taupae Wheako closely follows work in the Peer Support space by many international organisations who provide resources and training for the Peer Support workforce


    Peer Recovery Center of Excellence

    The Peer Recovery Center of Excellence exists to enhance the field of peer recovery support services. Led by those with lived experience, Peer voice is at the core of our work and guides our mission. We are here to offer help from those who have done this work to those wanting to enhance or begin peer support services in their communities!

    Check out the trainings and resources

    Rākau Roroa

    Participants recognise self-stigma and challenge unfair prejudice and discrimination by managing their own wellbeing and making sense of their own experience. Then they can safely use their story to support others and create positive change.

    Trained participants enter our ‘Tall Trees’ community, where mutual support between participants (Tall Trees) helps support wellbeing and action to challenge prejudice and discrimination.

    Learn more on the Changing Minds website