World of Difference

World of Difference | He Ao Whakatoihara kore is a lived experience education and research programme

Our programme is fully led and delivered by those with lived experience of mental distress.

Our work is recognised both nationally and internationally.

He Ao Whakatoihara kore
A world without stigma – A world of difference
Gifted from Keri Opai and Jeremy Tumoana

Our education programme

We offer a unique service user-led education programme. It has been developed based on the latest evidence-based literature on countering discrimination, and promoting recovery, inclusion and respect for those who experience mental distress.
Our current collaborations include healthcare providers and other tertiary institutions. We have previously collaborated with New Zealand Police.

We can offer short talks, and full and half-day workshops. In addition to a full programme of workshops, placements with lived experience-led organisations, and teaching sessions with assessments.

If you are interested in finding out more about our education programme, contact Huia.

Email: huia.monro@otago.ac.nz

Our legacy

Our programme was founded in 2011 by Associate Professor Sarah Gordon, who remains an affiliated member of our programme.

“We live in a world where we are treated differently – disabled by prejudice, discrimination and social exclusion in response to our experiences of mental distress. Our ultimate goal is to contribute to creating a different world – one where our experiences of mental distress are recognised and respected as an element of natural human difference and diversity, and are no barrier to us being able to experience recovery, inclusion, and to exercise our human rights on an equal basis with all others: a World of Difference that will make the World of Difference to those of us who experience mental distress.”
Associate Professor Sarah Gordon

FInd out more about our affiliate members

Our current World of Difference members

Dr Snita Ahir-Knight

Snita (she/her) is our Programme Lead. She has been a visiting research scholar in philosophy and a teaching fellow in ethics at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Snita is a trained child and adolescent therapist, and social worker. She has more than 15 years’ experience working in the not-for-profit, community, and mental health sectors in New Zealand and the UK. Snita’s main lens is philosophy; however, her not-for-profit, community, and mental health work background alongside her lived experience are important components of how she approaches her teaching and research.

Snita welcomes you contacting her with collaborative opportunities, community partnership ideas, media enquiries and postgraduate supervision requests.

Email snita.ahir-knight@otago.ac.nz

Huia Monro

Tainui, Ngāpuhi

Huia (she/her) serves as our Assistant Research Fellow. She assists with coordinating our unique service user-led education programme embedded into the Wellington undergraduate medical student curriculum and psychiatric registrar training. Huia completed her BA with a double major in Māori Studies and Philosophy at Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington. Huia is deeply passionate about the role of Mātauranga Māori in the health system, as well as the impact of our conceptualisations of health and wellbeing within practice. Huia’s mahi is informed by her lived experience, which underpins her research.

If you are interested in finding out more about our education programme, contact Huia.

Email huia.monro@otago.ac.nz

Grant Cooper

Grant (he/him) is our Programme Co-ordinator in Dunedin. He coordinates our unique service user-led education programme embedded into the Dunedin undergraduate medical student curriculum and psychiatric registrar training. Grant completed his Bachelor of Commerce and Teaching Diploma at Canterbury University. He has more than 20 years’ experience working in the mental health field in a number of roles, including managing a Peer-run service as well as a lived experience educator, supervisor and advisor. Grant’s work is greatly informed by his lived experience, and he is passionate about promoting lived experiences voices.