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Nadine Maloney
BNsg,PGCertHSc, PGHDipHSc
Associate Director of Nursing: Maori Health
It is well known that the health sector faces a shortage of health professionals and a greater shortage of those with an understanding of Māori health perspectives, values, and beliefs. The ADHB Rangatahi Maori Mentoring Program is a workforce project designed to progress Māori secondary school students from schools in the Auckland region directly into an undergraduate health science degree programme with appropriate support and mentorship. Māori secondary school student readiness for tertiary health studies is supported through provision of health career information combined with workplace exposure opportunities; development of career goals; guidance on appropriate subject choices for University entrance; identification of personal strengths; removal of barriers (educational, financial, and attitudinal); and the provision of long-term support and mentorship which continues through to graduation from health science degrees.
In mid July, 17 Maori Year 12 & 13 secondary school students from the wider Auckland region participated in the Rangatahi Māori Mentoring Program. Students took part in workplace experience across primary, secondary and mental health services within Auckland District Health Board, introducing the students to various health careers. This allowed for ‘real world’ interactions with Māori and non Māori health professionals to motivate them to choose a career in health and to set high achievement goals. Activities included touring the main OR, certification in bystander CPR, anaesthetic workshops, plastering workshops, and visiting the University of Auckland Human Pathology Museum. Nine Year 12 students were ‘buddied’ with a mentor in various clinical environments related to their area of interest, including Te Whetu Tawera, Physiotherapy, Occupational Therapy, Public Health, Medical Teams and Emergency Departments. The evaluations and feedback from the students and ADHB mentors was very positive, especially regarding the impact that role-modelling and mentorship has as a key success factor.
Similarly, role-modelling and mentorship were themes echoed at the National Māori Workforce Development Conference hosted by Hauora.com in Rotorua, June 26th-27th. The Associate Minister of Health, Mita Ririnui, addressed the conference with a discussion centred on youth as a focus for health workforce development and leadership as a key priority for successful progression. DHBNZ Workforce Committee Chair, Cathy Cooney, provided an overview of health workforce development from the perspective of the Ministry of Health and the District Health Boards of New Zealand. National sector workforce activity is also focused on leadership by providing increased Māori participation in health sector leadership roles and clinical development. However, promotion of healthcare as a profession and career to secondary school leavers needs to incorporate youth-friendly opportunities to reach the next generation – our potential future workforce supply.
Rauringa Raupa, recruitment and retention of Māori in the health and disability workforce report was launched at this Conference and it identifies what influences Māori in choosing a career in the health and disability workforce, including some of the barriers to taking up a career in health. The ADHB Rangatahi Māori Mentoring Program is profiled in the report as an intervention model identified to support youth to overcome barriers to enter health careers. It is consistent with recommendations that providing practical experiences in the health sector for students, using (Māori) role models, reinforces the importance of mentorship and pathways within the sector.
The ADHB Rangatahi Māori Mentoring Program Team acknowledges the support, encouragement, and participation of all ADHB staff members involved in the Rangatahi workplace exposure held last week.
For further information contact: nadinem@adhb.govt.nz
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