Recently, Holly and Bridget from Fern Collective Ltd joined Richard Knights on What’s News Dunedin? for a conversation about their work supporting neurodiverse individuals and families.
This was a great chance to share the vision, values, and heart behind everything Fern Collective does!
🌿 A Holistic Approach to Neurodiverse Support
At the core of Fern Collective’s mission is a commitment to wraparound support that addresses the full spectrum of needs for neurodiverse individuals and their families.
The services at Fern Collective are designed to foster resilience, independence, and wellbeing, combining therapeutic support, educational coaching, social work, youth engagement, and community connection.
From lived experience, they know that no single approach works for everyone. Every family and individual is unique! So Fern Collective focuses on person-centred care, tailoring strategies and interventions to meet each person’s strengths, goals, and circumstances.
Whether it’s helping a young person navigate school life, supporting adults in their workplace, or providing families with practical and emotional tools, Fern Collective is there every step of the way.
💬 Insights from the Interview
During the chat Holly and Bridget shared several key points about the work Fern Collective does:
- Empowering Individuals and Families: The organisation’s goal is to equip people with the tools, skills, and confidence they need to thrive, no matter their neurodiverse needs.
- Practical & Emotional Support: From one-on-one coaching and therapeutic services to youth mentoring and body doubling, Fern Collective combines practical assistance with emotional guidance.
- Community Engagement: Holly and Bridget highlighted the importance of building connections in Ōtepoti, creating a network of support where families feel understood and included.
- Advocacy & Awareness: Beyond direct services, Fern Collective actively promotes neurodiversity awareness, advocating for inclusive schools, workplaces, and social systems.
🌱 Bringing ‘Fern’ Along
One of the most delightful moments in the interview was bringing ‘Fern’ along for the journey. (Fern is their nick name for the special clients at Fern Collective!)
Including Fern in special experiences reinforces their educational focus and demonstrates their values in action. Fern even got a behind-the-scenes look at radio broadcasting, learning firsthand how media can be used to educate, connect, and inspire the wider community.
🌈 Why It Matters
This radio appearance was more than just a conversation—it was a chance to share Fern Collective’s mission with a wider audience. Media exposure helps raise awareness, reduce stigma, and empower more families to seek the support they need.
As Holly and Bridget reflected, “Whenever we do something special, we make sure to take Fern along—it’s all about learning, growing, and empowering others together.”
🎧 Listen to the Full Interview
Catch the complete episode of ‘What’s News Dunedin?‘ featuring Holly and Bridget.
Show 102 – Supporting life’s journeys! Fern Collective – Holly and Bridget
Holly and Bridget from Fern Collective fill Richard in on the mission behind Fern Collective & for a run-down of the week’s most popular news items on What’s News Dunedin!
