The HALO External Provider Expo Connects West Auckland Schools With Community Service Providers

Something that became quite clear was that teachers struggle to find the time to connect with external providers who can support them and their akonga, and that this was something that Tuia could step in and assist with.

The HALO External Provider Expo brought together a range of 17 external providers who operate in the West Auckland region, and invited 14 teachers and their students, giving them the dedicated time and space to connect with these providers. It was a day filled with incredible organisations who shared their mahi and how they can support schools to encourage their students to live healthy and active lives, no matter their ability or age.

Sinéad O’Hara, HAL Advisor at Tuia Waitākere, says the purpose of the expo goes beyond just the time spent together today. “After attending this event today, we hope that kaiako feel confident to engage with a variety of external providers, so they can enhance the positive impact they have on their akonga.  Ultimately, we hope this can go further than our schools and akonga, creating ripples of change across all of West Auckland as tamariki share with their whānau the positive impact from engaging with these different providers.”

Sinéad knows first-hand the struggles that teachers face on a day-to-day basis. “Making connections with external providers would have been valuable for me when I was working in a school.  Being able to introduce kaiako to these organisations today is very exciting and we’re looking forward to hearing about all the opportunities that West Auckland tamariki get to experience in the future.

It’s been a big part of the HAL team’s mahi to make these connections with a wide range of organisations, not just limited to those that focus on physical movement. We know that hauora encapsulates so much more and so it’s fantastic to have representation from all parts of Te Whare Tapa Whā here today.” She says.

A range of organisations were present at the expo, their kaupapa covers all realms of hauora (wellbeing), including mental health support for tamariki, digital wellbeing technology, sports and active rec organisations, food and nutrition, and more!

For Natalie, from Scouts Aotearoa, coming along to the expo was an opportunity to see Whaia Wāhitanga in action – young people having a say in the experiences that shape their lives.  “Being able to have them (tamariki) come through, have a look at Camp-in-a-Box, have a go with the flint and the steel, or learn how to tie some knots, just to really choose what works for them, I think it’s really cool. There’s been so much energy in here, and it’s been cool being able to connect with some of the other providers, and the Tuia Waitākere whānau as well.” She says.

For Huia and her friends from Arahoe School, the expo was not only a nice break from the regular school day, it was also a chance for them to learn more about a range of new activities. For Huia, the NFL Flag Football stood out to her “I liked the NFL Flag Football because it was actually pretty new to me but I was also kind of good at it.  I think it would be a great thing my school could do because I think they would have a similar experience as me, it’s new at first but then becomes a bit more familiar.”

Feedback from the stall holders was also overwhelmingly positive, many of them commenting about the opportunity to connect with community being something that is hard for them with increasingly limited funding. Hannah, from Bowls Auckland, said that her favourite part of the day was the diverse representation of external providers present, “it’s not just sport, it’s looking at all parts of healthy, active learning. Seeing all the tamariki with big smiles on their faces, because they get to try lots of different things, has been really, really fun.”

Overall, the HALO External Provider Expo was a fantastic way to connect the West Auckland community with one another. Kaiako, akonga and external providers will continue to nurture their newfound connections from today. The HAL Team at Tuia Waitākere will also continue to keep improving and creating opportunities for everyone in West Auckland to lead healthy and active lives.