Mental Health Education and Resource Centre MHERC Christchurch NZ| PATHS

PATHS - Providing Access To Health Solutions

What is PATHS?

PATHS - "Providing Access To Health Solutions" is one key part of the Government's Sickness and Invalid's Benefit Strategy (now called the new Service for Sickness and Invalid's Benefit Recipients). The new service aims to bring employment, training and health services together into one package.

Can I take part in PATHS?

To take part in PATHS you must:
  • be receiving Sickness Benefit or Invalid's Benefit and
  • have a disability or health condition that is preventing you from returning to work and
  • want to return to work and
  • live in the Canterbury DHB catchment area.


    • Talk to your case manager, GP or someone from the PATHS team if you want to know more about this.

    Do I have to participate?

    No. You choose whether you want to or not.

    What will happen to my benefit if I don't want to participate?

    Nothing. Your benefit will continue as usual.

    What do I have to do if I want to join PATHS?

    Tell your Case Manager, General Practitioner/Family Doctor or someone from the PATHS team.

    Who is the PATHS Team and what are their roles?

    The PATHS team consists of a Work and Income Coordinator, a Partnership Health Coordinator and a MHERC Coordinator.

    The PATHS Co-ordinator is employed by Work and Income. The PATHS Co-ordinator works with the Health Co-ordinator and Community Co-ordinator to help you access the health care, or other services, you need to get back to work.

    The Health Co-ordinator is employed by the Canterbury District Health Board and is a nurse. The Health Co-ordinator will help you and the PATHS Co-ordinator find your way through the health system.

    The Community Co-ordinator is a qualified professional skilled and experienced in the field of mental health and can help access mental health services and other personal and social supports you may need.

    If I join PATHS will I receive extra health assistance?

    Being part of PATHS doesn't guarantee a health intervention. You will receive a Health and Wellness plan that may include:
  • interventions that are covered by ACC or the CDHB
  • interventions paid for by Work and Income because the interventions are not covered by either ACC or the CDHB.

    • Who gets to see my health information?

  • Your personal health information will only be seen by health professionals with your permission
  • The team working with you will see some summary information.

    • What happens if I leave my benefit to return to work and then get sick again?

    If you leave the Invalid's Benefit altogether but you need to apply later because of the same illness, injury or disability, you won't face an automatic stand down period (unless your earnings from work are high).

    The same applies if you are receiving SB and you have a reoccurring chronic illness.



    Mental Health Community Co-ordinator

    2nd Floor - Securities House
    221 Gloucester Street
    Cnr Gloucster and Madras Sts
    Latimer Square
    P O Box 13 167
    Christchurch
    NEW ZEALAND
    03 365 5022
    021 370 064
    Fax: 03 365 5345
    Email
    Back to top