Service development

Wise is positioned to identify and develop
new services.

1. Develop a mobile service to support women experiencing stress, trauma or depression.

In 2005 Wise launched Iris, a mobile service in Hamilton created to support women. The service has gone from strength to strength, and huge growth in referrals since then illustrates the gap the service has filled. In 2012, Iris merged with Pathways to enable it to provide this service to more woman.

2. Create a new approach to providing non-clinical services for women experiencing stress, trauma or depression.

The Monastery opened in 2006. A first in New Zealand, The Monastery, offers a live-in five-day therapeutic programme, and takes five women at a time. Women are pampered, well-fed, have plenty of rest, and can take advantage of expert help from a psychologist, counsellor and nurses with a range of healing skills. After the devastating earthquake in Christchurch in February 2011, the Wise Group opened The Monastery's heart and doors. It is currently providing free five-night retreats to people, men and women, from Canterbury who have experienced trauma and suffering as a result of the earthquake. This initiative will continue until June 2012.