Options for the Deaf Community

We want to ensure that people in the Deaf, hard of hearing, deafblind, and speech-impaired communities have access to all the health, mental health, and COVID information and support that we offer.

All our services are free, confidential, and available 24x7.

When you first contact us, please let us know the best way to respond.

The range of ways you can reach our services are outlined here in NZSL https://vimeo.com/415338422 and below:

• For all our services
  • we can work with the NZ Relay Service and with you, to support the contact/ call
• COVID health advice and information can be accessed
  • by email to ops@whakarongorau.nz
  • fax on 09 377 6247 (email and fax are monitored round the clock but you may not get an immediate response)
  • by Facebook Messenger through the Healthline Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HealthlineNewZealand (it is monitored 9am to 6pm every day)
• The 1737 Need to talk? mental health support service
  • can be accessed by text
• The Alcohol Drug Helpline and Gambling Helpline services
  • have text, webchat and email options
• And so does Quitline – providing support to quit smoking or vaping

Please, in an emergency situation, use 111. There is a 111 TXT option available for people who are deaf, hearing or speech impaired. You must register first for it to work. Go to https://www.police.govt.nz/111-txt/how-register-111-txt

If these systems don’t work for you, and you are with a hearing person that you trust, our staff will work with them as your advocate.

We’ve worked with members of the Deaf Community to develop additional training materials for frontline staff - including the many new people who’ve joined our team as part of the COVID-19 response - to ensure they are better equipped to take calls from the Deaf Community.