Addressing the speech, language and communication needs of children, youth and adults involved with justice, care and protection, mental health and behaviour services

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What can we help with?

  • I work with whānau, tamariki, adults

    I work with whānau, tamariki, adults

    Contact us if:

    • You want communication assistance to enable someone to participate in a legal meeting.

    • Your organisation or kaimahi want to learn how to adapt your communication so it’s easier for people to understand essential information, participate in important interactions and make informed decisions.

    • You want to refer someone for support to strengthen their communication skills.

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  • I/my whānau need help

    I/my whānau need help

    Contact us if:

    • Someone in your whānau is worried about talking, concentrating or understanding what people are saying.

    We can tell you about:

    • Speech-language therapists: support to strengthen someone’s communication skills.

    •Communication assistants: assistance to participate during legal meetings.

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  • I am an SLT

    I am an SLT

    Contact us if:

    • You want to join the Special Interest Group or engage us for regular clinical supervision.

    • You’ve been asked to assist someone in a legal context and want some information or support.

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Testimonials

  • Working with you CAs is like a slap in the face reminder of how complex all the language is that we use! Helps me when thinking about how to talk to the jury too!

    Defence Lawyer

  • It was not until CAs (Communication Assistants) became involved in cases that I started to understand how language difficulties impact on young people who come before the Youth Court. That has led me to re-think how I communicate with all young people I meet in court and to see an urgent need to change the language, forms and processes we use to make them capable of being properly understood. This must go beyond simply removing the anachronisms and institutional language; New, fresh and meaningful approaches are required.

    Judge Tony Fitzgerald

  • THANK YOU both for your fabulous mahi! We were all invigorated by the practical and pragmatic nature of your presentation. Thank you for drawing the connections between your mahi and ours, it made everything immediately relevant. I actually used some of the things we talked about in a conference today, with participants who had **. It worked so well, just to have the topics written on paper, in bright colours. I also had a big STOP sign on a piece of paper in the middle of the table, for people to tap when they needed a break – it worked so well! I don’t think we could have had the depth of conversation we achieved without these aids.

    Restorative Justice Coordinator

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