Finding the right support can feel overwhelming. We’ve gathered a range of community services and organisations that may help parents, caregivers, and families navigate neurodiversity, mental health, education, wellbeing, and family support across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Every family’s journey is different, and the type of support needed can change over time. Whether you are seeking assessment pathways, emotional support, parenting guidance, counselling, grief support, or neurodiversity-specific services, there are organisations and professionals available to help.
The services below may provide information, advocacy, practical assistance, education, or therapeutic support for children, young people, adults, and families.
Your GP is often the first step when seeking support for concerns relating to mental health, ADHD, Autism, anxiety, emotional wellbeing, sleep, behaviour, or developmental differences. They can provide referrals to specialists, paediatricians, mental health services, and community supports.
Mental Health Foundation can provide ADHD and Autism support, as well as a range of other mental health topics. Find the right support for you or someone you care about. Explore services, helplines, and practical guidance to help through tough times.
Spectrum Connections provides support, education, and advocacy for autistic people and their families. Their services may include social groups, mentoring, family support, workshops, and community connection opportunities.
Parent to Parent connects families of children with disabilities, health conditions, or neurodivergence with trained support parents who have lived experience. They provide peer support, education programmes, workshops, and family connection opportunities.
Family Works offers a range of support services for children, young people, and families, including social work support, parenting programmes, counselling, youth services, budgeting advice, and family assistance programmes.
Altogether Autism is a free nationwide autism information and advisory service in New Zealand. They provide evidence-informed information, resources, and guidance for autistic people, families, educators, employers, and professionals.
ADHD New Zealand provides information, education, advocacy, and support for individuals and families affected by ADHD. Their resources help increase understanding of ADHD across schools, workplaces, families, and communities.
Autism New Zealand provides information, advocacy, education, and support for autistic people, whānau, schools, and professionals. Services include workshops, outreach support, resources, and community education promoting understanding and inclusion.
Counselling can provide support for children, young people, adults, parents, and families navigating stress, anxiety, emotional regulation, grief, burnout, family challenges, or life transitions. Finding a counsellor who understands neurodiversity and inclusive practice can be especially valuable.
Community Services for Children, Young People & Families
Every child and young person has unique strengths, needs, and experiences. Families may access different services at different stages depending on developmental needs, emotional wellbeing, learning support, disability services, or mental health concerns.
The organisations and services below provide a range of supports including assessment, therapy, behavioural support, family assistance, education support, community programmes, and wellbeing services.
PRIVATE SERVICES: Some families choose to access private services such as psychologists, occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, counsellors, educational specialists, behavioural consultants, or neurodiversity-informed practitioners. Private services may provide additional flexibility, specialised support, or reduced waiting times. Searching the Internet is the best way to find private services.
Your GP is often the first step when seeking support for concerns relating to mental health, ADHD, Autism, anxiety, emotional wellbeing, sleep, behaviour, or developmental differences. They can provide referrals to specialists, paediatricians, mental health services, and community supports.
Spectrum Connections provides support, education, and advocacy for autistic people and their families. Their services may include social groups, mentoring, family support, workshops, and community connection opportunities.
Support Net is a free needs assessment and service coordination service for people with disabilities and their families in the Bay of Plenty. They help connect families with disability supports, respite services, community funding, and care options tailored to individual needs.
Enliven and Manawanui support people living with disabilities and health challenges to access flexible, individualised support services that promote independence, choice, and wellbeing within the community.
Maternal Infant, Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services (MICAMHS) provide specialist mental health support for children, young people, and families experiencing emotional, behavioural, or psychological challenges. Services may include assessment, therapy, and family support.
CHIRP (Child Health Integrated Response Pathway) provides support and intervention services for children and young people with communication, behavioural, developmental, or emotional needs. Services aim to strengthen wellbeing, participation, and positive outcomes for children and families.
Enrich Plus offers disability support services, respite care, vocational programmes, life skills support, and community-based services for children, young people, and adults with disabilities and additional support needs.
Explore Specialist Advice provides behaviour support, family support, respite care, and specialist services for children and young people with disability, behavioural, developmental, or complex support needs.
REAL provides youth-focused wellbeing, education, and mental health support services for children and young people. Programmes may include mentoring, resilience building, emotional wellbeing support, and community engagement services.
CCS Disability Action provides advocacy, disability support, mobility services, family assistance, and community programmes that help disabled children, young people, and families access inclusive opportunities and practical support.
Special Education Needs Coordinators (SENCO) and Learning Support Coordinators (LSC) work within schools to help identify and coordinate support for students with additional learning, behavioural, emotional, sensory, or developmental needs.
The Ministry of Education and Resource Teachers: Learning and Behaviour (RTLB) provide educational support for students experiencing learning, behavioural, social, communication, or developmental challenges. Support may include classroom strategies, teacher support, assessments, and collaborative planning with schools and families.
Open Home Foundation provides social work support, counselling, foster care, parenting support, and family services for children, young people, and families experiencing vulnerability, trauma, or significant life challenges.
Child Development Services provide assessment and support for infants and children with developmental, behavioural, physical, communication, or learning concerns. Services may include occupational therapists, speech-language therapists, physiotherapists, psychologists, and developmental specialists.
We support neurodivergent children and young people and their families across Tāmaki Makaurau in homes, schools, and our purpose-designed centres who are navigating autism, ADHD, FASD, sensory processing differences, developmental delays, dyspraxia, giftedness, and language processing differences.