“Community Led Health & Wellbeing” was the theme of Health Care Aotearoa (HCA) 17th annual national hui held on Porirua’s Maraeroa marae in November 2011.

“Although it was a smaller gathering than previous years participants believed it was a very interesting and important opportunity to review our achievements to date, reconfirm the need for HCA to continue and discuss ways to refocus the organisation for growth,” said HCA Chief Executive Jon Royal.

Around 70 HCA members were inspired, moved to tears, entertained and informed by a wide range of speakers and MC Pahia Turia over the two-day long hui. It concluded with HCA’s AGM. Read more about the AGM

Speakers included:

• Don Matheson, Massey University Professor and founding HCA member – ‘Opening address’
• Trevor McGlinchey, New Zealand Council of Christian Social Services (NZCSS) Executive Officer ‘Support for vulnerable people and their communities’
• Dr Annie Judkins, Newton Union Health Service – ‘A model of care in child health’
• Justine Thorpe, Well Health Trust Chief Executive Officer – ‘A provider journey’
• Jon Royal, Chief Executive Officer Health Care Aotearoa – ‘A member driven Health Care Aotearoa’
• Shona Johnson, Whanauora kaimahi for Te Kotuku Hauora o Rangitikei ‘A person’s health journey’

Workshops presenters included:

• Ara Swanney, Well Health – ‘Community Health and Wellbeing’ – What about the workers?
• Sha Panapa, Whitireia Polytechnic – ‘Maori Workforce development’
• Lisa Ngaia, HCA – ‘Website development for non-profit organisations
• Tania Forrest, HCA  – ‘The role of the Community Health Worker in a Maori person’s health journey’
• Ian Johnson, Enfinit Software – ‘Time management software solutions’

Read a short exercept of their presentations/workshops below.

Don Matheson, reminded attendees to keep advocating for health equity. “HCA has always played an integral role in developing tactics on how primary health care can better serve vulnerable populations. It was a struggle and we were not popular but equity is about advocacy and perseverance.”Read more

Trevor McGlinchey spoke about ways to frame messages in a way that the decision makers can hear it. NZCCS vision is to work towards a more just and compassionate society in New Zealand with a special focus on those poor and vulnerable New Zealanders.Read more

Dr Annie Judkins speaking to a HCA member.

Dr Annie Judkins, shared her unrelenting enthusiasm and commitment to finding models of care that work for their clients. She spoke about a collaborative community model for dealing with child eczema and understanding and diagnosing rickets within migrant communities. She demonstrated the importance of community action and involvement in promoting family well-being. By assembling a multi-disciplinary team with mutual respect for each other roles and a truly family-centred focus they were able to deliver ways to meet their communities’ needs. Download a PDF copy of her presentation.

Justine Thorpe and Ara Swanney.

Justine Thorpe and Ara Swanney shared their perspective of the challenges and wins associated with two health organisations merging. South East and City Primary Health Organisation (SECPHO) and Porirua Health Plus Primary Health Organisation merged to become Well Health Trust last year.

Jon Royal, spoke about the need to enhance HCA work to support and provide added value to its members. “The government is directing community organisations to integrate both within health and across the health and social service sectors. We need now more than ever to provide strong advocacy at the national level for more equitable service provision, as well as better communication amongst ourselves including the ability to share best practice.” Read more.

Te Kotuku Hauora o Rangitikei staff member Shona Johnson.

Shona Johnson a whanau ora kaimahi gave a moving presentation about the journey she took to get a family the care they needed. She demonstrated how a provider centric system of care led her family on a convoluted pathway, both complex and gated. However through the perseverance of her organisation Te Kotuku Hauora o Rangitikei (a Maori primary health and social service provider) and a focus on the whole family they were able to navigate the systems of care and get this family the support they needed.

Ara Swanney gave participants the chance to reflect on their work, identify strengths, clarify goals and identify obstacles. “We all work in the health sector but often forget to look after our own health.”

Sha Panapa explained the importance of getting more Maori nurses in the primary healthcare sector. The Bachelor of Nursing, Maori at Whitireia programme was established in 2009 with the first wave of nurses due to graduate next year. Go to the Whitireia website to read more.

Lisa Ngaia shared how they were able to redevelop the HCA website on a shoe string budget. The aim of the redevelopment was to get a website that was easy to understand, and could be updated and maintained in-house. “The fastest way to learn about the health of an organisation is to visit its website. IT development is increasingly becoming a business requirement to manage information expediently and appropriately. For a copy of the HCA website user guide email admin@HCA.org.nz

Tania Forrest spoke about the outcomes of a report on the role of the Community Health Worker in a Maori person’s health journey. It was part of an internationally sponsored research project ‘Revitalising Health for All’. The report found that there is a huge demand for community health workers by Maori whānau. The report found that they were able to relate with the health worker and through that were able to access other parts of the health and social sectors, get transport and help with complicated health information.  They make up 50% of the Maori provider workforce without them Maori providers would be compromised. Download a summary of the Community Health Worker report.

Ian Johnson’s time management software solution workshop had the highest attendance, highlighting the need many providers place on good time management and helpful tools to generate efficiency.

View the photos from the hui.