Helping whānau keep healthy, warm & dry

Published August 2022

Healthy Homes: making energy work for whānau is professional development for social workers, health workers, and other trusted advisors who work with householders in the home. The course, which is funded by the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority and the Building Research Levy, seeks to address the significant rate of energy hardship in Aotearoa New Zealand. In 2018-19 more than 130,000 Kiwi households could not afford to meet their energy needs. Persistent inflation has resulted in a cost-of-living crisis that is putting many more households at risk of energy hardship.

It is widely understood that the causes of energy hardship are complex and interrelated. Many of these factors are beyond the control of those not able to meet their energy needs. The course focuses on aspects whānau can control, and this has helped it to make an impact. Since it began in 2021 Healthy Homes: making energy work for whānau has trained over 100 professionals from 28 community organisations working with whānau in nine regions.

Delivered by the Home Performance Advisor Training programme (HPA), the course equips professionals, who have existing relationships with householders, with the knowledge to help whānau help themselves.

The course was co-designed by people from the communities it seeks to serve, which has been critical to its success. This process has helped shape the course in a way that enables knowledge to be shared effectively.

It focuses on making changes that are low effort but can potentially make a significant impact. The course also enables trainees to connect with services like curtain banks, and financial mentors so they can support whānau.

The course includes the context of energy use in Aotearoa, what a healthy home looks like, how household energy works, and how to support whānau to make energy work for them.