about us

Our Story

Able Minds was established in 2015 through the merger of four organisations: Supporting Families Southland, Waitaki, and Central Otago, and Schizophrenia Fellowship Otago. The organisation was previously known as both Able Charitable Trust and Able Southern Family Support, and was rebranded as Able Minds in early 2021.

Our parent organisations have provided more than 40 years’ of combined service to the communities of Otago and Southland.

Able Minds’ primary purpose is to provide support to tangata whaiora who are affected by mental distress or addiction and their whānau in New Zealand. We are a community-based service providing tools, tactics and strategies to build resilience in our people and across the community. We offer emotional support, information, education, advocacy and peer support groups.

We operate numerous programmes to support tangata whaiora and their whānau to connect with their community and learn new skills, build confidence and find comradery in times of need. We hold contracts for service with Southern District Health Board, Ministry of Social Development and Ministry of Justice along with receiving assistance from a number of other grant funders.

Our Timeout Contact Division provides individual supervised contact for parents and children who are exposed to challenges associated with separation. Timeout Contact creates a safe environment to strengthen and maintain vital relationships so that long term, any feelings of guilt or blame is reduced.

Able Minds is led by Chief Executive Sarah Dowie, who was appointed to the position in November 2020 and started work in February 2021, and is governed by our Board of Trustees. We operate in the Otago and Southland regions and have office presence in Invercargill, Gore, Dunedin, Queenstown, Oamaru and Alexandra with more than 20 staff.

Inclusion

We care for individuals who are often marginalised and may experience discrimination and/or oppression. It is vital for us to recognise the risks for people of being socially excluded. Our team members are tasked with promoting social change to support tangata whaiora and whānau wellbeing, human rights, and social justice. We build on their strengths, walk alongside them to support their sense of self-respect and belonging in the community.

Empathy and respect

Our team members genuinely care for tangata whaiora and whānau with whom we work. We seek perspectives to help us to understand how they are feeling and why. This enables us to provide the best possible care strategy for each individual and whānau we support. We respect the rights and dignity of others and hold these in the highest regard at all times.

Cultural awareness and inclusion

We respect cultural and ethnic diversity. We seek to put into practise our knowledge and understanding of the different cultural traditions and values our tangata whaiora may have. Our team members learn by networking with kaupapa Maori and other ethnic services. We uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi by walking alongside our tangata whaiora and their whānau on their journey, and honour their values, beliefs, and traditions.