Peer Support Crisis Recovery Cafés

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora invites proposals from suitably qualified providers to establish and deliver peer-led Crisis Recovery Café services across three districts: Auckland | Te Toka Tumai, Hamilton, and Lakes District. Crisis Recovery Cafés are community-based, non-clinical services that provide accessible, early intervention support for people experiencing mental health and/or addiction-related distress. The services are designed to offer a safe, welcoming, and recovery-oriented environment, providing an alternative pathway to Emergency Department presentations where appropriate. This procurement is a single-stage, open Request for Proposal (RFP). While the overall service model and core requirements are consistent across all districts, each district has specific local requirements, contexts, and service delivery considerations. Respondents may submit proposals for one or more districts; however, a separate response is required for each district applied for. Evaluation will be undertaken at a district level, and contracts may be awarded independently. Health NZ is seeking providers with demonstrated capability in delivering peer support services within the mental health and addiction sector. Providers must be able to establish services within required timeframes and work collaboratively with local stakeholders, including Hospital and Specialist Services, Emergency Departments, Police, and community providers. Services must be peer-led, culturally responsive, and aligned with the Consumer, Peer Support and Lived Experience (CPSLE) workforce competencies. The successful provider(s) will participate in co-design with Health NZ and stakeholders to finalise service delivery models and support ongoing service development, monitoring, and evaluation. This procurement aims to improve access to timely, appropriate support, strengthen community-based crisis responses, and contribute to better outcomes for tangata whaiora and whānau.