Our Community Stroke Navigators (Kaiārahi) are specialists in providing support to people affected by stroke. They are also responsible for developing partnerships and stroke education programmes in communities, providing advocacy support, building awareness of our services, and delivering one-to-one support when needed.
If you have been affected by a stroke, Navigators can provide you and your whānau and friends with information and advice, they can connect you with other services, and they can help you to understand what supports are available in your community. This service is free.
If you would like to speak with a Navigator, simply phone 0800 78 76 53 between 9am-5pm weekdays. If you prefer, you can also email any questions to help@stroke.org.nz. If you need extra support after your stroke, your health provider can also refer you to our service.
Our website is also full of information that can help you to live a good life after stroke. You can read this information online, or you can order physical brochures and information sheets to be sent to you.
What do Community Stroke Navigators do?
- Provide support to people who call the free 0800 STROKE helpline, offering information, advice, service navigation and access to resources.
- Provide one-to-one support for stroke survivors with complex needs or for survivors in areas without services available.
- Work with communities to raise awareness of stroke risk factors, ways to reduce risk, and signs of stroke.
- Run seminars and educational sessions on stroke.
- Provide free blood pressure and pulse checks to the public, helping people to know and reduce their risk of stroke.
- Educate primary care and community health providers to deliver stroke support.
- Work with stroke clinicians to ensure stroke survivors get timely post-stroke support and are aware of resources available to them.
To contact your local Community Stroke Navigator, please email help@stroke.org.nz or call 0800 STROKE (0800 78 76 53). Community Stroke Navigator referral form
Return to Work service:
Our Return to Work service is free for stroke survivors who wish to return to the workforce and meet the eligibility criteria. Return to Work Advisors provide expertise and support to guide stroke survivors through the process of returning safely to employment, and work with employers to help them support their employees who have experience a stroke. You can read more about our Return to Work service here.
Return to Work advisor service referral form