Consumer Partnerships

The National Council of Women of NZ - Mary Jane Gilmer
Rural Women NZ - Judy Yarwood
Grey Power - Dr Stephen Neville

The NCWNZ is an opportunity to become involved in current issues that impact women throughout the world. This women's advocacy organisation aims to improve the quality of life for women, families and society. The NCWNZ was formed in 1896 with Kate Sheppard presiding and leading the campaign for women's suffrage.

The National Council of Women of New Zealand has lobbied for social justice by:

• educating women on local, national and international topical issues;
• providing a forum for debate, collecting and analysing opinions, submitting views for national projects and representing those opinions to decision makers.

The Council is:

• a way to get involved with current women's issues;
• a network of women (34 Branches) throughout Aotearoa / New Zealand ;
• an umbrella organisation for women's' groups (42 National Societies are affiliated to the Council throughout the country. Over 100 other organisations are also represented at NCWNZ Branches).
• Branches are made up of representatives of local and national organisations and individual members.

The Council aims to serve women, the family and community at local, national and international level through study, discussion and action (NCWNZ, 2003) . Each year the membership prioritises efforts. This focus for 2005 involved:

• Income Equality : Topics have included: superannuation, student loans, pay equality, access to services, industry quotas.
• Freedom from Violence : Topics have included drugs, pollution, bullying at school and in the workforce, and access to justice.

The Hawke's Bay Branch of the College of Nurses Aotearoa New Zealand has become a member of the Hawke's Bay Branch of the NCWNZ. Currently, I am attending monthly meetings and providing a summary to our College Branch. Report from the November 2005 and February 2006 meetings follow. Consider joining a branch as a CNA(NZ) branch representative or individual member. This venue for CNA members provides opportunities to:

•   promote professional nursing;
• become a nursing/health resource to other members requesting clarification on health issues;
• explore issues beyond nursing; and
• network, strategise, and lobby.

Joining is easy. Link to http://www.ncwnz.co.nz and connect to the Membership link for a local branch. The nominal annual fee amount can be obtained by your local branch.

National Council of Women of New Zealand – 2005 Highlights:

1. The National Executive Meeting in Nelson addressed the theme “Liberating Leaders.” Key traits of leadership were identified as communication and passion – but having fun was just as important. Communicating a vision to others was also important as very few leaders rely on blind faith. Leadership qualities (D. Olsen)

• Having clear idea of what you are doing and where you want to go
• Enjoying the company of people – being gregarious by nature
• Looking for win-win situations
• Willingness to think outside own patch
• Being generous with your time and knowledge
• Focusing on what needs to be done, ability to deliver, and follow through (gain trust and respect)
• Being inclusive – understanding that people need to be involved
• An ability to see the wood for the trees – tease out the essence and articulate that to others.
• Summary message, “Be inspired to leave footprints in your passion!”

2. The Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) http://www.un.org/womenwatch/daw/cedaw/ adopted in 1979 by the UN General Assembly, (International bill of rights for women). Consisting of a preamble and 30 articles, it defines what constitutes discrimination against women.

CEDAW is continually investigating mutilation, & murders of women in Mexico . Many countries have still not ratified CEDAW with continued trafficking of women and children in Central America and parts of Eastern Europe noted. Pacific Island (PI) women were keen to input in the NZ report as they have concern about the way NZ treats PI migrants.

3. Resolutions from National Executive (Input from women throughout NZ)

• Counselling for Victims of Sexual Violence – NCWNZ supports flexibility of access by victims of sexual violence to fully subsidised counselling and therapy by registered practitioners.
• Superannuation Entitlements – Supports the principle that any national superannuitant with a partner in residential care be eligible for national superannuation at the single person rate.
• Adult Community Education – Recognises the value of adult community education as a social, personal and economic good.
• IVF Treatment – That NCWNZ lobby Government to backdate to January 2000 funding for a second cycle of IVF treatment.
• Disabled Persons Employment – Requests the Government to monitor the effect of repealing the Disabled Persons Employment Promotion Act 1960 to ensure that disabled people attending sheltered workshops both now and in the future are not disadvantaged in any way by this legislative change.
• GST on Rates – That NCWNZ urges Government to legislate for local authority rates to be zero-rated for Goods and Services Tax.
• Reporting of Water Quality – That NCWNZ requests that territorial authorities and water supply agencies publish, at least annually, the standard of local water supplies.
• Work-life Balance – That NCWNZ supports the implementation of work-life balance policies

National Council of Women of New Zealand - February 2006 Report

Current issues:

Discrimination

The NCW is involved in finalising a non-governmental Shadow Report regarding the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW). This United Nations convention was adopted in New Zealand in 1985 to eliminate discrimination against women and ensure equal access with men. Although many women feel that this issue has been resolved, issues such as sexual harassment and pay equity still need attention. For example, “women with a Bachelors degree earn only 83% of equally qualified men's hourly earnings, while women with no qualifications earn 86% of the hourly earnings of men with no qualifications” (NCW, 2006) http://www.ncwnz.co.nz/framemenus/fcedaw.htm .

Proposed changes to older driver licensing. Land Transport NZ has released for consultation the draft Rule to change the older driver licensing system, including dropping the compulsory on-road driving test for drivers over 80. The NCW report summarises the amendments in this rule.

• A medical certificate of fitness to drive will be required to re-license at age 75, 80, and at 2-yearly intervals thereafter instead of a mandatory age-based road test.
• Includes an option for general practitioners to refer drivers 75 and older for an on-road safety test; and
• Require general practitioners to advise Land Transport New Zealand if a patient is assessed as not medically fit to drive.

Are any College members currently involved in working on this certificate? Nurse practitioners in the U.S. were restricted from this certification process which was a real barrier to practice. More information can be found at www.landtransport.govt.nz/consultation/older-driver

Advertising of Prescription Medicines

The Ministry of Health is accepting submissions until 28 April 2006 regarding the Direct-to-Consumer Advertising of Prescription Medicines in New Zealand . This hot topic can be reviewed in the Publications section of www.moh.govt.nz . This review is being undertaken to identify the concerns related to advertising prescription-only medicines to consumers. The goal of this review is to develop a framework built on safety, quality utilisation of prescriptions, cost-effectiveness, and standardised advertising policies.

Please send NCW issues to Mgilmer@eit.ac.nz & I will be happy to forward.

Forging key alliances with consumer organisations, recently discussed by Dr Stephen Neville in the March 2006 edition of Nursing Review, points a way ahead for nursing in the constantly changing world of health care delivery. Nursing no longer needs to be caught up in a delivery model identified by Porter O'Grady (2003, p.59) as “hospital based, sickness-orientated, late stage care”. In fact, by continuing to do so, we can be blind to what Porter O'Grady refers to as sign posts, those markers that can direct us to where real health needs are, in families and communities.

Only last week these needs were made apparent in our daily papers with headlines such as “Family violence ‘blight on New Zealand '” (Bristow, 2006) highlighting again evidence of a crisis in many families and communities. At one level we know the primary determinants of ill health and disease are mainly social and economic, and yet enacting the necessary change to address these seems, for many, tantalisingly out of reach. Continuing down the same path seems a tad pointless, not to mention wearisome. This is where I think consumer alliances have much to offer – they provide a framework for a specific consumer group and, in this instance, the College of Nurses Aotearoa to work together to ensure a common goal of promoting health and wellness is endorsed.

With these thoughts in mind I am currently developing, on behalf of the College, an alliance with Rural Women New Zealand (NZ). Formerly known as Women's Division of Federated Farmers (a blast from the past!) this organisation has been in existence for just over 80 years and caters for women of all ages and from all works of life. Started by women dedicated to improving social and economic conditions of rural people, their fundamental aim of strengthening rural communities remains pivotal to the organisation today.

What struck me when I first read their manifesto was just how aligned the gaols of Rural Women NZ are to those of Primary Health Care ( PHC ) nurses. They include rural women speaking out on

•  The right of rural people to have access to essential services
• The need for education opportunities at all levels
• Land and environmental issues
• Legislation effecting the welfare of families

In order to continue strengthening rural communities, the organisation is currently working on a strategic vision whereby they will be recognised as the voice of rural New Zealand families and communities. With overt values being forward thinking, focused, flexible, professional and enabling, Rural Women NZ is keen to see itself as the organisation politicians would call first in regard to rural matters. They are also aiming to be identified as the group policy makers would consult when developing future policy affecting rural communities, and be the first port of call for media wanting reputable comment on rural communities. There is a certain resonance here with College ideals!

Working towards achieving these aims has involved many activities including a rural health survey undertaken in 2001 (Rural Women NZ, 2001) investigating rural families levels of access to primary health services. It will come as no surprise to learn that over half of the households surveyed considered distance and costs a barrier to general practice and other health services. Difficulty accessing maternity, dental, and emergency care, and concerns related to early hospital discharge were also recognised, highlighting I think real issues many rural families and communities grapple with on a day to day basis.

Having obtained an understanding of this organisation's aims and activities the next step will be to meet with members of Rural Women NZ to explore how they envisage an alliance with the College of Nurses Aotearoa could promote the health and wellness of rural communities. The strengths and political activities of both organisations suggest there is a symbiotic relationship waiting to flourish. If perchance anyone has some thoughts they'd like to contribute to this project or would be keen to be involved I'd be delighted to hear from you.

I referred to Porter O'Grady's (2003) work earlier on and will finish with his thoughts as I find his sentiments particularly salient at this time - “Today's nurses are not faithful to the workplace. They are, instead faithful to their work…and innovative opportunities to address clinical practice for the future and to alter patient's experiences of health care are unparalleled in human history.” (p.64). Consumer alliances offer us an opportunity to do both.

References:

Porter O'Grady, T. (2003). Of hubris and hope: Transforming nursing for a new age. Nursing Economics, 21 (2), 59-64.

Bristow, R. (2006, March 28). Family violence ‘blight on NZ'. The Press, p.A1.

Rural Women NZ. (2001) Rural health survey . Retrieved from http://www.ruralwomen.org/topics.htm .

Judy Yarwood

Canterbury Co-regional co-ordinator

yarwoodj@cpit.ac.nz

In the College of Nurses page in the December 2004 edition of Nursing Review I discussed the importance of nursing forging key alliances with consumer organisations. In that article the College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ) identified Age Concern and Grey Power as two potential consumer groups which nursing could forge an alliance with as a means to lobby for, and promote the key concerns identified by older people. Since 2004, the College has been in discussion with both Age Concern and Grey Power and both organisations have agreed to work with us to promote the health and well-being of older people. The focus on this article is to profile Grey Power as a consumer group, as well as the key issues this organisation identifies as being important to this population.

What is Grey Power, how is it structured and what does it do? Grey Power was originally established in Auckland . It is a Federation comprising of 78 Associations which are organised into seven zones throughout New Zealand (Far North, North, Mid North, Central, Tasman, Canterbury , Southern). All of the Associations are affiliated to the Grey Power New Zealand Federation Inc whose headquarters reside in Auckland . Office holders of the Federation are elected each year by the representatives of the Associations at an Annual General Meeting. This ensures that those who hold offices of the Federation are representative of the Associations.

The Grey Power Federation has identified key portfolios that people elected to the Federation are assigned to. Each portfolio has an identified chair person and a group of board members. There are 14 portfolios and these relate to issues such as membership issues and publicity, superannuation and taxation, energy, health, human rights, remits and rules of the Federation, the running of the Federation office and Grey Power's finances, social services (specifically those related to ACC, education, housing and transport), the media, local bodies and, law, order and justice.

Grey Power's aims and objectives are to:

1. To advance, support and protect the welfare and well-being of older people.
2. To affirm and protect the statutory right of every New Zealander to a sufficient New Zealand Superannuation entitlement.
3. To actively promote the provision of a quality health care system to all New Zealanders.
4. The opposition of any discriminatory legislation affecting people's rights, security and dignity.
5. To not be aligned with a specific political party, and to present a united lobby to all Parliament and statutory bodies.
6. To promote and establish links with other related and/or appropriate organisations.
7. To promote and recognise the wide ranging services older people make to society.
8. To be recognised as an appropriate voice for all older people.

Although Grey Power identifies that, as a consumer group representing a wide and diverse group of older people, it does not align itself with any political party, this organisation's activities are highly political. For example, leading up to the 1999 elections Grey Power requested from the main political parties a synopsis of their key policies relating to superannuation, health, housing, human rights, law and order and education. Each of the political parties' policies on the previously mentioned issues were juxtaposed with Grey Power's position on what was needed to ensure the health and well-being of all New Zealanders. These were all succinctly posted on the Grey Power website to inform people and aid decision making in terms of voting on these issues.

As New Zealand has just come out of an election in 2005 with the re-election of a Labour government and a subsequent cabinet reshuffle, Grey Power has had to concentrate on forging political and working relationships with Cabinet Ministers, particularly those new to their portfolios. Grey Power tries to meet with Parliamentarians on a three monthly basis. In addition, members of Grey Power also meet with both governmental and non-governmental organisations on issues relating to older people, for example Age Concern, Ministry of Social Development, Land Transport Authority, Medsafe and the Pharmacy Guild to name a few. They have also developed over time sound working relationships with the media. Consequently, Grey Power's views are frequently discussed in the mainstream media.

A Google search of New Zealand websites using key words “Grey Power” culminated in 210,000 hits, evidence of not only the work the organisation undertakes but also the major influence it has at all levels of the political spectrum. Of significant interest is the number of times all political parties engage with Grey Power. For example, the leader of the National Party, Dr Brash, publicly responded to a letter his party received from Grey Power, citing that their concerns (over electricity prices, hospital waiting lists and superannuation levels having a negative impact on older people) were unreasonable and that the National Party would not be held to ransom by Grey Power. Currently, nursing can only dream that our written correspondence with politicians would incite any response from a Member of Parliament, let alone the leader of a major party.

So what does this mean for nursing and a consumer alliance with Grey Power? Firstly, it must be acknowledged that Grey Power is already an effective consumer voice who successfully advocates on behalf of older people. As an organisation they significantly and positively influence the health status of older people through political lobbying and networking. Nursing could well learn some of the political strategies utilised by Grey Power to forward our own key issues. As such, we have much to gain from a consumer alliance with Grey Power. However, we can also work and support Grey Power on common areas of concern. Before we can do so we need to be familiar with the key aims, objectives and focus of Grey Power. This can be achieved by ensuring the Grey Power website ( www.greypower.co.nz ) is included as a favourite on your web browser.

Nurses need to understand how these crucial factors influence the health and well-being of older New Zealand citizens. This will require that nursing remains focused on the broader social and socio-economic factors that influence health, as opposed to being preoccupied with providing a biomedical health service to older people. Nursing can learn from Grey Power who successfully advocate on superannuation, health, housing, human rights, law and order, and educational issues for older people. Nurses must understand and participate in the politics of health care so as to support the key concerns identified by Grey Power.

Dr Stephen Neville
Board Member
College of Nurses Aotearoa (NZ)

Lecturer Adult/Older Adult Nursing
Massey University