Gumboot Friday: Founder Says Success is Rapid Youth Support
Gumboot Friday Defends Service Amidst Auditor-General Scrutiny, Cites Success in Youth Mental Health Access
Table of Contents
Wellington, NZ – Gumboot Friday founder, Scott King, has strongly defended the organisation’s operations following criticism from the Auditor-General regarding the awarding of government funding. King asserted that the charity’s primary measure of success is the timely access to mental health support for young people, a metric he claims Gumboot Friday consistently meets.
Meeting Demand: A Platform for Early Intervention
The controversy stems from the Auditor-General’s finding that the decision-making process for the funding was “unusual and inconsistent.” However, Mental Health Minister Matt Doocey has publicly supported Gumboot Friday, highlighting its role in expediting support for thousands of young individuals.
King, speaking on RNZ’s Checkpoint, emphasized that this year, every child who requested a counselling session has been seen promptly, with no one missing out. He stated that Gumboot Friday currently has 742 counsellors on its roster, with an additional 70 undergoing vetting.
Clarifying the organisation’s model, King described Gumboot Friday as a voluntary service and a platform, rather than a direct service provider. “We provide a platform which connects young people in need of counselling, who would like counselling with professionals who can provide counselling,” he explained. “And we are meeting the demand, so everyone who’s coming through is getting the sessions in the appropriate amount of time.”
On average, Gumboot Friday facilitates three and a half counselling sessions per young person. King also refuted claims of a strict four-session limit, stating that counsellors can reapply for additional sessions on a case-by-case basis for young people requiring further support.
Early Intervention: Preventing Escalation of Mental Health issues
King highlighted Gumboot Friday’s role as an early intervention system, enabling young people to seek help for minor issues before they escalate into more severe problems, including suicidal thoughts. “We are an early intervention system where young people can voluntarily come forward and talk about a little problem before it becomes a big problem, before it becomes a suicidal thought,” he said.
He also clarified the organisation’s protocol for young people in crisis. “However, if a young person comes to us in crisis and they need extra care, they reach out to us and we will pathway them to crisis teams and crisis mental health where and when it is needed.”
king asserted that Gumboot Friday offers a unique breadth of services, catering to individuals aged five to 25, and that the organisation directs 100% of government funding directly to counsellors while covering its operational costs independently. “So yes I am comfortable that we do this better than anyone else out there,” he stated.
Future Targets and Commitment
The Minister has set a target for Gumboot Friday to organize 40,000 sessions for 15,000 young people within the next 12 months. King expressed confidence in meeting this goal, stating, “target schmarget, we will meet the demand.” He further committed to meeting the demand for any young person coming into their service, up to $6 million annually.