Wellington People’s Centre

The Wellington People’s Centre opened in 1992 to provide health and advocacy services for people on low incomes. It started as a self-help project, by members and for members, empowering people to get their correct entitlement to Work & Income benefits, and to lobby for changes that would benefit people on low incomes.

The advocacy services comprise Benefit Rights and Workers Rights and are available to all who seek them, free of charge. Workers Rights advocates will support, advise and represent non-unionised workers with employment problems.

Benefit Rights provides accurate and up to date information and advocacy concerning benefit entitlement. Advocates will support or represent beneficiaries to get a decision reviewed and/or appealed. A training programme is offered, covering the Social Security legislation that governs benefits, and courses range from half day introductions to six-day training courses that cover all aspects of benefit entitlement.
These courses are tailored to the learning needs of the people seeking training – eg. health workers learning about Sickness and Invalids Benefits.

The service also produces a Benefit Fact File available on subscription. The Benefit Fact File contains 38 information sheets written in plain English covering all aspects of benefit entitlements and set out in a clear file. This information is updated four times a year in keeping with the pattern of benefit changes.

Health services now include medical and dental practices, and a range of complementary health and well being services including – massage, counselling, podiatry, acupuncture, craniosacral therapy and homepathy. These health services are available to people who become members of the Centre and pay a small monthly fee ($10 every four weeks). Medical, massage and counselling services can be made available to non-members at a higher rate.

The People’s Centre was in temporary premises last year while the building in Lukes Lane was refurbished. The Sisters of Compassion have given us a marvelous opportunity with premises that are now purpose-built. The dental service has expanded to two surgeries, and have the lowest cost, best quality dentist in town.

Contact: T: 04 385 8596 F: 04 385 2520
E: people@wpc.net.nz