Our Mission Statement
True Colours positively enhances the lives of children (tamariki) experiencing chronic or life-threatening illnesses and their family (whanau) by providing holistic care and support, recognising and encompassing the physical (tinana), emotional (Hinengaro), social (whanau) and spiritual (wairua ) contexts of health and wellbeing
About True Colours
At True Colours we believe in listening to and acknowledging the voice of the seriously ill child or young person.
As a Child Health Service we provide clinical and psychosocial support for children and adolescents (birth to 18 years), who have chronic, serious or life-threatening illness.
Counselling and ongoing emotional support to parents, the sick child and their siblings is provided along with creative therapies including art, play and music therapy. Workshops, presentations and support groups are facilitated on a regular basis. Education is available to Health Professionals and Schools regarding a child's serious illness, grief and bereavement issues and the many challenges families face.
The service was founded by Cynthia Ward, a Palliative Care Nurse Specialist. The True Colours Integrated Model of Care was developed through her work in Palliative Care and her Post Graduate Research. Significant gaps in services existed for children with serious illness and the Trust was established in response to these needs.
After being operational for eight years, we have had 863 families referred. The three clinicians and one administrator manage approximately 150 families at any one time.
In 2004, True Colours were awarded a Trust Waikato Child and Family Award for New Frontiers and Innovative Service further enhancing our strengths and credibility.
In 2009 Cynthia received the prestigious national Flora Cameron Award for excellence in nursing practice from the New Zealand Nurses Organisation. Her article regarding her work at True Colours was published in the October issue of Kaitiaki, the national NZ nursing journal.
Currently, we support families from the Waikato, South Waikato, King Country, Taumaranui, Thames, Coromandel. Our staff work collaboratively with other Health Professionals particularly in the rural areas where we liaise regularly with District Nurses and G.P.'s.
How can we help you?
True Colours offers a range of services for seriously and chronically ill children, young people and their families.
These services are offered at home, in hospital or at the True Colours House. True Colours is a free service providing specialist nursing and emotional support.
True Colours provide a 24/7 on call crisis care service.
How can you help us?
True Colours relies entirely on sponsorship, donations and trust grants.
It is through the generosity of a community that believes in us that we have been able to develop True Colours to the highly regarded service it is today.
Your support enables us to keep doing what we know children and their families need at a time of uncertainty and stress.
Contact Us
True Colours Charitable Trust
Phone: 07 839 4800
Our office hours are,
8.30am - 5.30pm Monday to Friday
except public holidays.
Someone is available on call for urgent assistance at all other times by phoning our office number.
Office Location
16 Joffre Street, Frankton, Hamilton.
Postal Address
PO Box 9458, Hamilton 3240
Coming Events
The Long Lunch 2013
Reserve this date – Tuesday 5 November 2013
True Colours annual major fundraiser, The Long Lunch will be held on Tuesday 5 November 2013 at The Atrium, Wintec, Hamilton.
Further information on our guest speaker for 2013 will follow over the next few months. Get a group together and join a fabulous afternoon of fun, good food and of course the big race. Dress up in your finest, prizes for best dressed. Book a table of 10 for you and your friends or come with one or two others. Tickets sell fast for this popular event.
For more information please phone True Colours on 839 4800
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