Frequently Asked Questions
What if something doesn’t feel right?
You have the right to safe and respectful support. Advocacy organisations can help if you want to raise concerns or make a complaint.
Where can I find information I can trust?
Trusted organisations provide clear, respectful, and evidence‑based information. You’ll find links to some options below.
What if professionals talk to my carer instead of me?
You have the right to be spoken to directly and included in decisions about your life. Support people are there to help, not to replace your voice.
Can I bring a support person?
Yes. You can usually bring a support person to appointments if that helps you feel comfortable or communicate more easily.
Can disabled people access sexual wellbeing services?
Yes. Disabled people have the same right as anyone else to access health and wellbeing services, including sexual health services. Services should be inclusive and accessible.
How many clients with spinal cord injury and spinal impairment do you support?
We provide support hundreds of people with spinal injury or impairment, including many who have tetraplegia or paraplegia. A national contractor to ACC (for people who have had an injury resulting in spinal impairment), Access also works with all government agencies and ministries who fund and provide disability support services including Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled People, Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora and Disability Support Services - Ministry of Social Development. We are one of the providers you are likely to meet in Burwood Spinal Unit in Christchurch, or Auckland Spinal Rehabilitation Unit (ASRU) and our team can [...]
What training do your support workers and carers have?
Everyone in our home care team has a comprehensive induction programme lasting several weeks, including classroom and online training modules and practical experience to become a qualified, competent and confident Access support worker. In addition, everyone who supports our spinal injury and impairment clients has specialist Spinal Cord Impairment training. Our staff are screened by the Police Vetting Service You are welcome to have family, whānau or friends as part of your home care team. Many of our team have years of experience working with people who have tetraplegia or paraplegia. You will also have a registered health professional assigned [...]
Can I choose my support team?
When you choose Access, we work with you to find the right team for your specific needs. Support Workers may be readily available, or we may need to recruit - and you can be involved in this process. We will do our best to match support workers with your preferences and their skill level and availability. You are welcome to have family, whānau or friends as part of your care team.
Will I get a regular and consistent care team?
We understand how important your care team is to you. Our regional team leads will work with you to find the best fit in terms of the skills and experience for the support you need, your culture, values and way that you prefer to live. Every effort is made to find the right people to support you and your whānau and we find this is the best way to ensure a good ongoing working relationship and consistency with your care. In the event of staff illness or other unexpected absence we have a team to draw on to cover your [...]
Which regions do you work in for spinal cord injury and impairment clients?
Access works in all areas of New Zealand and is contracted by ACC, Whaikaha - Ministry of Disabled Persons, Health New Zealand - Te Whatu Ora and Disability Support Services. All day to day support is delivered locally and your team will live and work in your community, with a good understanding of your area. We have 22 regional offices and six Regional Managers who are responsible for the delivery of care and management of teams in their region. Our national presence gives us strength in terms of: larger, skilled teams with plenty of back-up support should additional resources be [...]
