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Professional development opportunities Our team offers tailored training and presentations designed to meet the needs of agencies, organisations, and professionals working with children, young people, and families. What We Offer At Skylight, we believe in empowering professionals and communities with the knowledge and tools to support resilience and wellbeing through life’s toughest times. We deliver engaging, evidence-informed sessions on topics such as: Grief, loss, and trauma-informed practice Supporting children and young people through change Building resilience in families and communities Mental wellbeing and emotional literacy Responding to distress and crisis situations Our presentations can be adapted to suit your audience, whether you're a school, health provider, NGO, government agency, or community group. Customised Presentations We work with you to understand your needs and tailor our content accordingly. To request a presentation, please complete our Presentation Request Form and email it to [email protected] . This form helps us gather key details such as: Your organisation’s context and goals Preferred date, time, and location Audience size and age group Technical requirements (e.g., PowerPoint, presentation display setup or screen-sharing capability) Any sensitive topics or support needs We’ll review your request and get in touch to confirm details and discuss next steps. Upcoming Webinars and Events We’re excited to be developing a series of webinars and online workshops that will be available for registration in the near future. These sessions will offer accessible, high-quality professional development opportunities - some free, some paid - on topics relevant to our work. Stay tuned for updates! Costs and Funding Skylight presentations are offered at a cost to help us sustain our services. Please include funding details in your request form. If cost is a barrier, let us know - we are happy to work with you to progress your request. Contact Us If you have questions or would like to discuss a potential training opportunity before submitting a form, feel free to get in touch with our team at [email protected] . You might also be interested in: Guide for schools Other organisations that can help Contact us Work with us Get involved

Counselling for tamariki, rangatahi & whānau – from grief to trauma, arts-based and talking therapies, in-person or online Counselling Our unique offering is a full spectrum of care for those tamariki and rangatahi aged 5 - 24 years with mild to moderate mental health concerns. Request counselling Our Services Dealing with trauma, change, loss and grief can be very hard at times. You don't have to do it alone. Having someone working alongside you can make a difference. We offer counselling for children, young people, and family/whānau who are experiencing any kind of grief, loss and trauma. We have a family-centered approach when working with tamariki. This means we include parents or caregivers and family members in the counselling process when appropriate. We provide music, arts and talking therapies. The range of issues we could support you with include: Grief and bereavement (including bereavement by suicide or homicide) Trauma (including witnessing a traumatic event) Family break up and adjusting to blended families Behavioural issues (anger in children, bullying, autism) Illness and anticipated death Mild to moderate mental health issues Domestic Violence Broken relationships Injury or disability Disaster aftermath Skylight offers counselling services in: Kāpiti Petone Porirua Lower Hutt Wellington Online counselling is also available You can connect with a Counsellor at a time and place that suits you. All you need is a computer or smartphone and the internet. Fee details and more information Skylight counselling ranges from $45.00 to $149.50 (incl. GST) per session. Funding options may be available. For queries or appointment bookings, please click the button below to contact the Counselling Coordinator. Request counselling Other help Request a support pack We can provide support packs for specific situations – just ask us for what you need. Read more Support groups Skylight recognises the therapeutic value of support groups. We offer a variety of support groups for people facing tough times. Read more Other organisations There are a number of other great organisations that offer specialist support and information services for children, young people and their whānau. Read more

Request counselling at Skylight — book support for yourself, tamariki or whānau. Safe, inclusive therapy tailored to your needs, online or in-person. Request counselling For appointment inquiries and bookings, please complete the form below to contact the Counselling Coordinator. For more information about our counselling, click here . Referral is for... Myself My child A student Someone I'm supporting Your details: First name Last name Email* Phone Their details: Date of birth Gender Ethnicity Address Context Brief description of the situation including physical, emotional, & psychological. * Do the symptoms relate to a mental health condition? Yes No Please provide details (formally diagnosed, recommended treatment - completed, abandoned or ongoing – etc) Do the symptoms relate to past traumatic experiences? Yes No If yes, please provide details (since when, protective factors and triggers, past engagement with support due to this and what happened - completed, abandoned or ongoing – etc) Is the person wanting counselling presenting with increased risk of suicide? Yes No Please provide details (suicidal ideation, suicidal attempts, support network, safety plan) Special requirements of the person wanting counselling e.g., gender of counsellor, location for counselling, diverse needs (cultural – Māori, Pasifika, immigrant; LGBTQ+) Funding type Would you be open to working with a student counsellor? Yes No Our student counsellors are in the final stages of their training and work under professional supervision. Sessions are available at a reduced cost. Many clients find this a rewarding and supportive experience. Submit Other help Request a support pack We can provide support packs for specific situations – just ask us for what you need. Read more Support groups Skylight recognises the therapeutic value of support groups. We offer a variety of support groups for people facing tough times. Read more Other organisations There are a number of other great organisations that offer specialist support and information services for children, young people and their whānau. Read more

Our impact Skylight supports thousands of individuals, schools, and whānau across Aotearoa each year with tools to navigate grief, loss, and life’s challenges. Our impact is backed by research and felt in classrooms, counselling rooms, and communities nationwide. At Skylight Trust, our work is grounded in the belief that every person deserves the tools and support to navigate life’s challenges and thrive. From emotional resilience programmes to resources for families experiencing grief and trauma, our impact is wide-reaching and deeply felt. We are proud to share just some of the ways we are making a difference across Aotearoa. Building Resilience Through Travellers Our flagship programme, Travellers , supports Year 9 students navigating the complex transition into high school. Delivered in schools nationwide, the programme builds resilience and key life skills through small group sessions that explore topics like identity, emotions, support networks, and problem-solving. In 2023, more than 4400 students completed our online wellness survey, with over 400 participating in Travellers groups. A recent independent evaluation by ImpactLab revealed that for every $1 invested in Travellers, $3.30 of measurable social good is returned to New Zealand. This equates to $2,563 of social value generated per participant, with outcomes including improved mental health, increased academic achievement, and reduced risky behaviour. Empowering Schools and Educators We train over 100 school staff each year to become Travellers facilitators. Feedback from our trainings continues to be overwhelmingly positive, with facilitators reporting increased confidence in supporting students through change, loss, and transitions. We also provide access to an evolving library of tools and resources to help schools support student wellbeing more holistically. Whānau Support in Times of Grief and Change Skylight offers free counselling and resources to whānau facing grief, loss, trauma, and big life changes. Our resources range from books and care packs to therapeutic support and tailored workshops. In the past year, over 14,000 resources were distributed to individuals, families, and professionals across the country. Focus on Equity and Cultural Safety We are committed to supporting equity and cultural safety in all that we do. We continue to work with Māori and Pasifika advisors to ensure our programmes are responsive to the diverse cultural identities of the rangatahi we serve. In 2023, 13% of our participants identified as Māori and 10% as Pasifika. Growing Our Reach From small beginnings, Skylight has grown into a national presence. Last year alone, we supported thousands of individuals, hundreds of schools, and a growing network of professionals committed to mental wellbeing. We are currently piloting new tools, including a digital wellbeing survey platform and updated Travellers content for 2025. Annual reports 2023 - 2024 2022 - 2023 2021 - 2022 2020 - 2021 2019 - 2020 2018 - 2019 2017 - 2018 2016 - 2017 2015 - 2016 2014 - 2015 2013 - 2014 2012 - 2013 2011 - 2012 2010 - 2011 You might also be interested in: Te Kunenga Māori Strategy and Action Plan 2025 Advocacy Our partners Contact us Governance Work with us Fundraising ideas

Our story From grief to growth, darkness to light — Skylight has been walking alongside Aotearoa through life’s toughest moments for nearly three decades. Ngā Whainga – Vision: In Aotearoa tamariki and rangatahi are empowered to thrive. Tā mātou whakatakanga – Mission: Guiding tamariki and rangatahi hauora through responsive, informed and effective practice. Humble Beginnings Skylight began with a simple but powerful idea: no child or young person in Aotearoa should face grief, loss, or trauma alone. In the late 1990s, when a children’s bereavement support group in Wellington closed its doors, a small group of committed professionals stepped forward to create something new. They envisioned an organisation that would not only respond to the pain of loss, but also restore hope, resilience, and connection. In 1996, this vision became reality. The Children’s Grief Centre Charitable Trust was formed, later becoming known simply as Skylight . From the beginning, our work was grounded in deep community consultation, thoughtful leadership, and a steadfast belief that grief support should be accessible, inclusive, and empowering. Our first Chief Executive, Bice Awan, launched the organisation from the floor of an unfurnished office with a single heater and mobile phone—guided by a big heart and bigger ambition. Over the following two decades, Skylight grew from a grassroots initiative into a national centre of excellence for grief, loss, and trauma support. We established counselling services, a resource and information centre, training programmes, and published dozens of tools and handbooks for professionals and families alike. From tailored support packs to best-selling grief workbooks, our resources have been used in homes, schools, workplaces, and communities throughout New Zealand—and beyond. A major milestone came in 2001 with the creation of the Travellers programme, a school-based initiative helping Year 9 students navigate change, build resilience, and talk about what really matters. Developed in partnership with youth experts and the Ministry of Health, Travellers became a cornerstone of Skylight’s youth support work—rolled out across hundreds of schools and celebrated by students who said it helped them "talk about difficult stuff" and "think differently." Standing With Communities in Crisis Over the years, Skylight has responded to some of New Zealand's most painful moments—supporting those affected by natural disasters, suicide, family trauma, and tragedy. From Christchurch earthquakes to the Pike River mine disaster, we’ve created resources, counselling support, and training for those at the frontline and those left behind. Our international work has extended to Australia, Denmark, and Saudi Arabia. Skylight was one of New Zealand's early adopters of the social enterprise model—balancing a deep social mission with income generation to ensure sustainability. This approach allowed us to grow while remaining nimble, responding quickly to emerging needs and funding realities without compromising on care. Our story is a collective one. From early board members and student volunteers to designers, counsellors, creatives and community leaders, Skylight has been shaped by the generosity and belief of hundreds of people. We’ve also been fortunate to have Patrons such as Judy Bailey and Louise Nicholas lend their mana and support to our work. In 2015, Heather Henare became Chief Executive, bringing fresh energy, systems thinking, and a strong grounding in social work and women’s advocacy. Under her leadership, we modernised our systems, refreshed our premises, and laid foundations for the future—ensuring Skylight could meet the needs of a changing Aotearoa. What We Do Today At Skylight Trust, we empower tamariki and rangatahi to thrive by supporting their mental health and emotional wellbeing. Every year, we walk alongside thousands of individuals and whānau through counselling, group programmes, tailored resources, training, and digital tools. We work in partnership with schools, workplaces, government, and community organisations to ensure support is available wherever it’s needed – whether in a therapy room, a rural classroom, or online. Our mission is to guide tamariki and rangatahi hauora through responsive, informed, and effective practice. At our heart, we are hope brokers – people who help others find light in the dark. We know that trauma, grief, loss – and challenges to mental health – can change a life. But with the right support, so can hope. Learn more To follow our first 20 years, download Skylight History: The First 20 Years. You might also be interested in: Our impact Our partners Contact us Governance Work with us Organise your own fundraising event Fundraising ideas Get involved

Contact us Connect with us New Zealand 0800 299 100 or +64 4 939 6767 Email [email protected] Street Address Level 3, 39 Webb Street Te Aro Wellington 6011 Postal Address PO Box 9771, Marion Square, Wellington 6141 New Zealand. Office Hours Monday - Friday 8.30am - 4.30pm Counselling appointment times can be made outside of these hours. Support packs We can provide support packs for specific situations – just ask us for what you need. You can request a support pack by: completing the contact us form at the bottom of this page, including a brief description of the situation you would like some support for, or phoning us on 0800 299 100, 9am – 4.30pm, Monday to Friday. All information you provide will be kept confidential. Please add the ages of any children or teens impacted by the event. If it is a bereavement, please give us the relationship of the person who has died, to any child/children. If we need any extra details we will contact you. Feedback Tell us what you think: suggestions, complaints, and compliments. We value your feedback – good and bad – and are committed to responding to you and working with you to resolve concerns you might have. The easiest way to sort out a problem is to complete the form at the bottom of this page, or email [email protected] Making a complaint What can you complain about? (PDF download) A complaint can be made about any service provided by Skylight. We also accept complaints about any of our contracted providers. Anyone can make a complaint about the care or service they have received. Complaints can also be made by another person on your behalf, such as a relative, friend, parent or consumer advocate. We may need consent to respond to complaints about someone else. National helplines If you, or someone you know, is feeling suicidal or in a life threatening situation please call 111. 1737, Need to talk? Free call or text 1737 to talk to a trained counsellor. Anxiety New Zealand Call 0800 ANXIETY (0800 269 4389) Depression.org.nz Call 0800 111 757 or text 4202 Kidsline Call 0800 54 37 54 (for people up to 18 years old). Open 24/7. Lifeline Call 0800 543 354 Mental Health Foundation Call 09 623 4812 to access its free resource and information service. Rural Support Trust Call 0800 787 254 Samaritans Call 0800 726 666 Suicide Crisis Helpline Call 0508 828 865 (0508 TAUTOKO) Supporting Families in Mental Illness Call 0800 732 825 thelowdown.co.nz Web chat, email chat or free text 5626 What's Up Call 0800 942 8787 (for 5 to 18-year-olds). Phone counselling: Mon–Fri 12pm–11pm, Weekends 3pm–11pm Online chat: 3pm–10pm daily Youthline Call 0800 376 633 , free text 234 , email [email protected] , or find online chat and other support options here. You might also be interested in: Skylight's child protection policy Privacy policy Work with us Organise your own fundraising event Fundraising ideas Get involved

Elliot Freeman Programme Coordinator | Kaituitui Hōtaka Matua About me Kia ora, my name is Elliot. I am the programme coordinator for Travellers, Skylight's wellbeing programme which supports young people to build resilience and navigate life’s ups and downs. I joined Skylight because I care deeply about helping people feel more connected: to themselves, to each other, and to what matters most. It’s rare to find a team doing that in such a thoughtful, human way. Outside of Skylight, I'm a coach, facilitator, and product manager with a background in mental health, mindfulness, and building digital tools that support personal growth. I coach people going through life transitions, run meditation events, and love anything that involves creativity, deep conversation, or getting out into the bush. You’ll usually find me with a cup of tea in hand, listening to music or staring out into space Next Previous

Privacy policy Privacy Policy Introduction Skylight Trust complies with the New Zealand Privacy Act 2020 (the Act) when dealing with personal information. Personal information is information about an identifiable individual (a natural person). Skylight appoints the Director of Operations as the Privacy Officer. This policy sets out how we will collect, use, disclose, and protect your personal information. This policy does not limit or exclude any of your rights under the Act. If you wish to seek further information on the Act, see www.privacy.org.nz . Changes to this Policy We may change this policy by uploading a revised version onto the Skylight website. Any changes will apply from the date we upload the revised policy. What Personal Information We Collect We may collect the following personal information: Name Email and phone number Address Ethnicity Birthdate Professional unique identifiers Interactions with us How We Use Your Personal Information We use personal information to: Confirm your identity Provide the services or information you've requested Pay accounts or generate invoices Investigate and resolve complaints Comply with legislative and regulatory obligations Perform administrative functions (e.g. accounting, record keeping) Ensure data stored or transferred outside NZ meets compliance standards Review PCI compliance annually for payment handling Why This Information Is Collected To provide and manage the services you've requested For charging, invoicing, and debt collection To improve service quality and infrastructure To conduct surveys and understand your needs Disclosing Your Personal Information We may disclose your personal information: For the purpose it was collected (or directly related purposes) Where you have authorised disclosure As required or permitted by law Protecting Your Personal Information We take reasonable steps to protect your information from loss, unauthorised access, or misuse. Skylight staff receive training on privacy and confidentiality. Accessing and Correcting Your Information You have the right to access and request corrections to your personal information. We may require proof of identity before processing such requests. To exercise these rights, email [email protected] . Reasonable costs may apply for copies or corrections. Internet Use We take reasonable steps to secure personal information transmitted online. Skylight provides cyber security training and alerts to staff. Note: External websites linked from our site have their own privacy policies. We recommend reviewing them before submitting information. Retention and Deletion of Information We retain your information only as long as necessary. However, we may need to retain some information (e.g., for legal reasons) for up to 7 years. Some information may not be deleted even upon request, where required by law. Privacy Breaches If we believe a privacy breach has occurred, we will: Identify and contain the issue Minimise harm Notify the Privacy Commissioner (if serious harm is likely) Contact affected individuals where appropriate If you suspect a privacy breach, contact us as soon as possible. Contacting Us For questions about this policy or to request access or correction to your data: Email: [email protected] Not Satisfied with Our Process? You can escalate a privacy complaint to: Office of the New Zealand Privacy Commissioner privacy.org.nz Email: [email protected] Phone: 0800 803 909 (or +64 4 474 7590 from overseas) You might also be interested in: Te Kunenga Māori Strategy and Action Plan 2025 Skylight's child protection policy Contact us

McKay - Resilience Web Series Introducing McKay in our resilience web series. McKay tells us how resilience isn’t about being hard, it’s about letting things go and not letting things impact you that much. He says that you need to have hope, take care of yourself and to surround yourself with good people. You might also be interested in: Trevney shares his story Matty - Resilience Web Series Mana - Resilience Web Series Jahnya shares her story Brittany shares their story McKay - Resilience Web Series Rose - Resilience Web Series Melissa - Resilience Web Series Bella - Resilience Web Series

Azrul Bibi Administrator -Kaiwhakataka About me Originally from the Fiji Islands I arrived in New Zealand in 2023. I completed a Diploma in Accounting at the University of The South Pacific. My role at Skylight is as an Administrator entering confidential data for Counselling and Programmes and completing general administration duties. I enjoy working at Skylight because every day I learn something new and creative, and I work with beautiful people. Outside of work I enjoy watching cartoons with my daughter, watch rugby and love cooking for my children. Next Previous

Maggie Horrell Creative Arts Therapist About me Maggie Horrell (she/her/ia) a Creative Arts Therapist (MACAT) hailing from the south. She has a background in English and Classical Literature and spent seven years as a Seed Analyst which means her obscure knowledge is top notch. In her clinical work, Maggie is passionate about offering people of all ages the opportunity to express themselves through creativity and cultivates curiosity and wonderment in her therapeutic practice. She has worked with a diverse range of clients – from tamariki to rangatahi in schools, group work with older adults with cognitive and/or physical disabilities and facilitating wellbeing sessions for rest home residents with dementia. Maggie is usually seen sporting a handmade or vintage outfit and will easily spend all her spare time in her home sewing studio surrounded by house plants. Next Previous

Brendon Oakley Trustee About me "With my background in leadership, engineering, governance and coaching I wanted to help young people in need. Becoming a Skylight Board member seemed an obvious choice as I had a personal connection to the organisation, a strong desire to use my skills and a passion for the work. It is extremely important that our tamariki and rangatahi get the help and support they need to thrive and succeed, and Skylight is a high-value organisation focused on this. I feel privileged to work with the wonderful staff at Skylight and alongside Board members dedicated to making a collective difference." Brendon is a senior officer within the New Zealand Defence Force. He has seen and done much during his career, from undertaking management and support positions at Defence Headquarters in Wellington to serving with United Nations peacekeeping forces in the Middle East. Brendon holds Masters degrees (Business Administration, Engineering and Management), a Diploma in Defence and Strategic Studies, and a Bachelor of Science amongst other qualifications. Skilled in governance domestically and internationally, Brendon is also skilled in Information Communications Technology and is dedicated to service, including sharing his skills and life experiences with the Skylight Board and staff to improve the mental health and wellbeing of tamariki and rangatahi. Next Previous