- Number 10 Southland Youth One Stop Shop will receive direct funding from Health New Zealand.
- The $91,000 contract ensures the service can continue supporting young people in Invercargill.
- Efforts are underway to establish a long-term sustainable funding model for the service.
Number 10 Southland Youth One Stop Shop has had its funding reinstated, securing the future of its vital services for young people in the region.
Invercargill MP Penny Simmonds said she was relieved by the decision, which will see Health New Zealand directly fund the organisation with a $91,000 contract from 1 April 2025. “Earlier this year I learned that health provider Number 10 Southland Youth One Stop Shop was set to lose its contract with the primary health organisation WellSouth in March. I immediately raised the issue with my colleague and Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey, and last week Health New Zealand confirmed it would be directly funding Number 10 in Invercargill.”
The service, which provides free healthcare to young people aged 10-24, had been facing an uncertain future. However, Simmonds welcomed the funding decision and praised the work of Number 10. “Health New Zealand has been in direct contact with Number 10 to set up an agreement and to work on achieving a sustainable funding model in the long term. I am relieved and delighted at this outcome.”
Simmonds highlighted the importance of the service, describing its model of care as “integrated, inclusive, and youth-specific.” She said it was well-regarded and played a crucial role in supporting local youth. “There’s no question about the effectiveness of the free health care services that One-Stop Shop provides local young people. It is heartening that the service will now continue after facing an uncertain future.”
With funding now secured, the focus will shift towards ensuring long-term sustainability for the service, which remains an essential resource for young people in Southland.