Partner with us

We are looking to partner with organisations who can provide funding support or placements for our students as part of their course curriculum.

Please contact us if you can help.

Funding opportunities

We aim to build meaningful partnerships with individuals and organisations who want to be part of our journey. This includes seeking funding to support our operations and our students. Your investment will directly support our programmes and help us to create lasting change in the community. Will you partner with us so we can make this change together?

  • We welcome funding support from organisations who support our vision and values. DTA operations are only partially covered by student fees.  

  • Scholarships support students who are unable to raise the full fees. If you would like to partner with us by participating in our Scholarship Programme, please complete the Scholarship Donor Form here and email to office@deacon.org.nz

  • We seek placements for students completing the practical component of their course. See below for more information.

We offer high quality training that ensures our students are well-equipped to serve their communities when they graduate. We believe our main points of difference to other training organisations offering this course are:

  • An emphasis on person-to-person/face-to face contact.

  • Personal mentoring for each student.

  • Teaching and encouraging self-reflection skills that positively contribute to relationships with others.

  • Practising listening and empathy.

  • Reinforcing the importance of community.

  • Growing and nurturing personal development, encouraging workers to pursue ongoing learning, knowledge, skills, and involvement with mental health and wellness.

Student Placements

Each student will complete a practicum through placement in a community setting (approx. 320 hours over the year). It gives students the opportunity to apply what they have learned, by working with clients and others to support their mental health needs. With support and supervision, students will be able to practice their new skills. What they achieve during their practicum forms a significant part of their assessment.

Partnerships, professional relationships, and healthy connections with placement hosts are a key priority with benefits being ongoing support, continual upskilling, good reputation in the community, and increased general awareness of mental health and improved wellbeing.

If you represent an organisation working with people who may have mental health needs and would like to host a student on placement, please contact us.