Snapshot of service provision in Masterton

This report forms part of the Families Commission’s response to the Minister of Social Development’s request to provide a snapshot of social service providers in the Masterton area, how families know about them, and which ones they do, or do not rely on when they need help.

The Commission collected information through an online data search of services. A questionnaire was sent to approximately 50 agencies in the Masterton region that provide services to families with children under the age of 18 years. Interviews were held with seven providers to learn about which families and whānau use their services and whether there are perceived gaps in services.

Through our scan of services that families could access in the Masterton region, we identified 26 parent support services and programmes, 45 community based services, nine Māori services, 22 health related services, 36 schools in Masterton and the surrounding district, 41 early childhood education centres, four government agencies located in Masterton: MSD (Work and Income, CYF), Health (DHB), Police, Justice (Courts), Inland Revenue outreach service, three local government authorities, seven registered counsellors, 17 churches, and access to 16 helpline and 0800 numbers (four based in the Wairarapa and 12 nationally based). A full list is provided as Appendix One.

This document contributed to the Families Commission's Social Services in Masterton report.