$24 million being given to Gumboot Friday
Wednesday, 22 May 2024
The Government has confirmed $24 million over four years to the I Am Hope foundation, to deliver counselling through Gumboot Friday for young people aged five to 25.
Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters said it was a “serious investment in a frontline service”. He said the Government would not be “throwing money around like an eight- armed octopus”.
The National-NZ First coalition agreement promised $6m each year to Gumboot Friday.
Mike King of I am Hope said it was not about “one charity getting more than the other”.
“Every single cent, $24 million, is going directly to counsellors. Mike King is not putting one cent in his pocket. This is about the kids,” King said.
He said it would allow them to bring on another 300 counsellors, adding to their pool of 555. King said 87 of those new counsellors would be from diverse backgrounds.
Asked about Ministry of Health’s 2022 concerns around Gumboot Friday, King said MoH’s fears were justified. King promised to be “the most transparent organisation out there”.
“I’ve got a love or hate him profile. But we grow up.
“Let’s just say I’ve grown up and I think we’re at a place right now where not only the kids deserve the money and we deserve a shot.”
Labour’s mental health spokesperson Ingrid Leary said no one was questioning charities “like Gumboot Friday have a role to play in supporting the mental health of young people”.
“But funding it this way is just plain wrong.
“This diminishes trust in the public sector, erodes the confidence of other providers, pitches Gumboot Friday against other similar organisations and can distort the market to the point where other providers may pack up and go home – leaving the sector with fewer services, at a time when more services are critically needed.”
Also on Wednesday, a group of mental health organisations wrote to Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey, saying the Government had “a glaring omission of health, mental health and addiction in their budget policy statement as priority areas”.
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists chair Hiran Thabrew said New Zealanders were struggling to access help “in a system that is often disjointed, chronically understaffed and under resourced”.
“On the other end is a workforce faced with immense stress, burnout, and exhaustion due to heavy and unsustainable workloads.
“With dedicated funding for mental health and addiction, we can provide life-saving support to people with mental illnesses and addiction issues, reduce strain on our workforce and public health systems, and empower New Zealanders to lead fulfilling lives.”