Education • Hope • Recovery •
Education • Hope • Recovery •
My name is Peter Thorburn; my personal background is that I spent 23 years addicted to AOD, 8 of these years methamphetamine dependant.
In 2005 after getting out of jail for drug related charges, with a change of heart, got clean and went to university. Starting at MIT qualifying as a general counsellor I went on to specialise in addictions at AUT, then on to Auckland University completing further post graduate qualifications in health science. Whilst studying in 2006, I co-founded Counties Manukau Alcohol and Drug consumer network and was part of a team that worked with Counties funding and planning to develop the first AOD Peer support contract, the consumer network is now DRIVE consumer network.
I worked for ABACUS Counselling Training and Supervision Ltd from 2007 till 2017, and in that time, I had the pleasure of participating in a diverse range of training and projects, working alongside some of the most experienced addiction and mental health specialists in Aotearoa. My role as a consumer representative, counsellor and trainer has seen me work with and train diverse organisations in both the public and corporate sector, including New Zealand Police, Child Youth and Family Services, Youthline, Schools, Odyssey House, Pathways, Matua Raki, Emerge Aotearoa Salvation Army, the Health Promotion Agency, Fontera, and Fletchers to name a few.
In August 2107 I established Mess NZ and continue to contract back to Abacus delivering workforce development.
During my 16 years working in the health sector, I have also been involved in several, large one-off pieces of work, some that I am most proud of including.
Experience & Qualifications
2006 - Present
being part of the establishment of AOD and MH peer support Aotearoa, my continued involvement in the evolution and development peer involvement in health sector.
2008
Matua Raki contracted Abacus and HMA to develop and deliver Effective Interventions training, a training designed to develop the capacity of practitioners not only to intervene and support people with mental health and/or addiction problems who are involved with the justice system, but also bridge the gap between justice and health systems. I co trained the 24 two day trainings, to approximately 400 practitioners, and the only facilitator that delivered all 24. The training has since been revamped and published by Matua Raki in 2014 as a reflective workbook.
2011 -2014
Contracted as the National Smashed and Stoned Facilitator for ALAC/HPA approximately 30 two day trainings, nation wide
2011-2017
Co-designed and delivered SLICC Safer lifestyles influencing communication and communities, program in conjunction with Counties Manukau youth Aid team and area commander Wendy Spiller, this program worked with 14 to 17 year olds with a yorst score of 50 to 80 % and reduced offending and AOD use significantly. Full external report available
2012
Contracted to deliver level 4 cert in MH/ Addictions and Level 6 Diploma In MH/ Addictions, AOD and CEP papers whilst they found permanent Staff.
2014
Co-published a book in conjunction with the health promotion agency, Our Stories focusing on the impact of alcohol on minority communities.
2017 Started MESSNZ.
2017
Member of a committee developing Recovery College in Counties Manukau which I have just developed and currently delivering a series of 5 workshops that helps people to share their recovery journeys to empower others.
2017
Contacted under the Te Ara Oranga Methamphetamine program to deliver trainings on methamphetamine effective intervention, to all the teams involved in the project.
2017 - 2022
Sat on the board of The HEART movement health relations in Tamaki.
2017 - Present
Contracted to Abacus Counselling to deliver a range of trainings to M/H addictions and youth services across CMDHB this includes all the compulsory trainings for staff at Odyssey, Salvation army, the drug court teams, Raukura hauora to name a few. These all meet NZQA and are DAPAANZ, NZAC and social work board recognised.
2017 - Present
CMDHB alcohol ABC Facilitator, which includes training all nursing teams, midwifes, social service teams, allied health, procare, GPs on alcohol harms, assessment and referral.
2019 - Present
Co-designed with Channa Perry and the team at Taranaki DHB the first peer lead procurement process for addiction services the first of its kind in Aotearoa, and continue to support the recipient, Tui Ora.
2019 - Present
Delivered core training for the NZ PPULL team.
2019
Contracted by Oranga Tamariki to deliver workshops to all 14 Auckland branches, on effectively managing and interventions clients with meth dependency.
2019 - Present
contracted by White ribbon and CM Youth aid to be part of the blueprint project piolet aimed to reduce AOD use and offending amongst teams coming to the attention of police