Refugee Trauma Recovery joins New Zealand Red Cross

16 January 2017

Refugee Trauma Recovery joins New Zealand Red Cross

Refugee Trauma Recovery (RTR) has today joined the New Zealand Red Cross family; a move that will provide coordinated resettlement and mental health services to former refugees in the Wellington region.

The RTR Board approached New Zealand Red Cross at the end of 2016 to discuss transferring its operations to Red Cross.

After lengthy discussions, both organisations concluded that value would be added to existing services by combining resources.

“At the heart of the decision was the question of whether this would improve mental health support for refugee background communities or not,” says Heather Hayden, Chair of RTR.

“Overall it was felt that by adding 2 + 2 we could = 5 and we have agreed that, as one organisation, we can improve how we co-ordinate resettlement and mental health services in the Wellington region.”

All existing RTR staff have accepted roles with New Zealand Red Cross in the Refugee Trauma Recovery team which will be part of the Humanitarian Services programme.

The Refugee Trauma Recovery team will continue to provide the exact same therapeutic and advocacy services that RTR has been providing.

“We’re pleased to be working with RTR staff in this important area of refugee resettlement,” says Anne Smith, Acting Secretary General of New Zealand Red Cross.

“The provision of mental health support and services is an important part of the refugee resettlement process and we’re looking forward to learning from the experts in this field.
- ENDS –

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