The NGO Working Group, in conjunction with the Ministry of Health, organises Health and Disability Sector NGO forums. These Forums are an opportunity for engagement between the Ministry and the health and disability groups in the not-for-profit sector (NGOs) which come together to work on issues of importance to the wider health and disability sector. The forums are also an opportunity for health and disability sector organisations to share experiences and build understanding among themselves.  The outcome of these forums guides the agenda for the NGO Working Group action on behalf of the sector.

The group represents mental health, disability support, public health, personal health, Pacific health and Maori health.

A National Forum on the theme Maximising Our Collective Impact was held at the Westpac Stadium in Wellington on Thursday 18 April 2013. On the day, 265 people from 163 organisations-a broad range of NGOs and other health providers-came together to network and share useful information about improving health outcomes, discussed the key issues affecting them and the health & disability sector, along with addresses by key Ministry officials, other senior government officials and the Minister of Health, the Hon. Tony Ryall.

Alongside other exhibitors, such as the Charities Services and the Department of Internal Affairs,  TechSoup New Zealand was there complete with brochures and information about the programme.

There was considerable interest -as always- from organisations that had not heard of the TechSoup programme and so an opportunity to learn about the benefits of the considerable savings on offer, the ability to upgrade to the latest software at a fraction of the retail cost with result of more money available for service provision.

Many too talk about the benefits of the programme having already registered and/or received a donation or a discounted product.