Our Story

“Relationship-based youth support services in Christchurch, New Zealand, helping young people build confidence, independence, and connection. ”.

Camino Collective grew out of real, day-to-day experience working with young people and their families within the Aotearoa/New Zealand support sector. During that time, one thing became clear: consistent, relationship-based support was often hard for families to find.

This gap had a real impact, not just for the young person, but for entire families walking alongside them. Camino was created in response to that need.

We have intentionally kept Camino small and human-centred. Being a close-knit team allows us to focus on what matters most: strong relationships, reliability, and genuine connection. We want families to personally know their support people and to trust that the support they receive is consistent and thoughtful.


Our Name

Camino means “the way” or “the journey.” It reflects how we see our role, not leading from the front, but walking alongside. Every neurodiverse or intellectually disabled young person’s path is different, and we believe support should move at their pace, with patience, understanding, and respect.

Our Work

A woman and a boy sitting on a light blue sofa, playing with toys including a toy dinosaur and toy trucks in a living room with framed pictures on the wall and a potted plant.

 We support children and young people with neurodiversity or intellectual disabilities by taking the time to understand who they are. This includes focusing on their strengths, interests, and what helps them feel confident and empowered. We walk alongside both the young person and their family, recognising the vital role of parents and primary carers.

Our aim is to partner up with families and provide dignified, reliable support that helps young people live meaningful and increasingly independent lives.


Our Soul

Three friends walking together on a country path during sunrise or sunset, with hills and flowers in the background.

At its heart, Camino Collective is guided by three simple values: reliability, partnership, and dignity. Our approach is about showing up, building trust over time, and supporting young people and their families to continue their journey with confidence.

Contact us

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