What is Tūturu?
Tūturu is a uniquely Aotearoa initiative focused on student wellbeing. We bring together schools and health services, to help students learn, stay well, and be prepared for the modern world.
By fostering critical thinking skills and offering support during difficult times, we strengthen young people’s ability to navigate life’s challenges.
Tūturu works in four main areas:
- Enhancing school climate (such as BOT training and policy).
- Facilitating pastoral care for rangatahi at school.
- Professional learning and development for school staff.
- Production of curriculum resources for students in years 9–13.
A Tūturu approach strengthens school ecosystems and enhances the experiences and overall wellbeing of students.
Watch the below video to learn more:
Why does Tūturu exist?
Tūturu was created to help schools and health services better support all students to learn and be well.
Combining the expertise of the education and health sectors, Tūturu helps rangatahi and the wider school community to explore complex issues.
Initially, our focus was on alcohol and other drugs, aiming to help schools move away from reactive methods to proactive approaches that prepare students for the challenges of modern life.
Now, we’ve broadened our focus to encompass other aspects of young people’s health such as implementing student-led action.
By fostering critical thinking skills and offering support during difficult times, we strengthen young people’s ability to navigate life’s challenges.
How to use the Tūturu approach?
Start where it makes sense to you and your school community. We can tailor how we help you to fit what you need.
The common ways for people to work with us are:
- Selecting the resources you need. We can help you use and tailor any of these resources for your context.
- Attending Tūturu learning sessions. We host regular learning sessions, using our wide network of health and education experts.
- Partnering with us for a more comprehensive plan. We help you create a tailored plan and work with you to implement it. You can also access an activity fund to help implement actions, and have access to our wide networks of health and education experts as we further develop Tūturu.
Who is involved with Tūturu?
Tūturu involves a network of schools and health services, led by the New Zealand Drug Foundation. It is overseen by the Ministry of Education, Health NZ, and the NZ Police.
It was developed by and for our schools and services. We continue to expand our partnerships across the country, fostering collaborative practice and positive change in the Education and Health sectors.
The evidence for our approach
Tūturu is grounded in the latest research and continuously evolves through regular evaluations and reviews.
Read our evaluation, and see a selection of the evidence and research we used to create Tūturu.
Read our Theory of Change which we developed with the New Zealand Council for Educational Research.