Cultural Competency

A widespread cultural competency programme/learning module that is made available for a wide range of staff throughout the organisation. It is a requirement by various professional boards, but there isn't formalised programmes anymore. Tieing in with more international staff being employed, it gives them the confidence and knowledge of how to better recognise the values of different cultures and how they connect with the health care system. 

Why the contribution is important

It is an area of improvement and will be seen/implemented by the clinical staff if this is done correctly. I do not see and believe that all patients and whanau are getting the best cultural care provided. The funding and resourcing has been restricted throughout the region in this area. It was previously run by the Maori health team at Capital and Coast DHB where I was previously employed.

by IndiaM on November 04, 2022 at 05:21PM

Current Rating

Average rating: 5.0
Based on: 10 votes

Comments

  • Posted by tracymurphy November 09, 2022 at 08:12

    National implementation of cultural competence and cultural safety training would provide consistency and support local teams who are trying to deliver this type of training on top of already heavy workloads. This is an area that requires a lot of work, but will have a big impact for people accessing care and to retain staff who are working in these environments

  • Posted by Kylie November 15, 2022 at 10:38

    I believe that this type of education and training must be mandatory and also meaningful, show reflection as well as incorporation into +/- changes in mahi. Not simply a 5-minute YouTube video that can be "fast-forwarded" through and still provide the viewer with the "tick in the box". It also must include education on the history of Aotearoa and critical topics such as anti-racism, power imbalances, biases, white fragility and institutional racism, as well as provide opportunities for critical self-reflection. I see too many "Treaty Workshops" and "Reo Māori" lessons as a means of "addressing Cultural Safety". While these are great, my concern is that in isolation, without reflection on the history, the system and the self (as would be gained with the aforementioned kaupapa), we are merely teaching people how to be Māori and not how to meaningfully give effect to Te Tiriti o Waitangi. Ideally this would be collaboratively designed and delivered with haukāika as partners in the process, but I acknowledge the benefits of a nationwide approach. Thus, any national programme should include flexibility for the nuances of local areas and partnerships with mana whenua in development and delivery.

     

  • Posted by LisaT November 15, 2022 at 13:47

    As well as cultural competency, education on the impacts of colonisation on Māori health, as well as racism, privilege, and bias training should be mandatory.

    If looking at a national traning programme there must be the ability to have local variance and input from manawhenua into how the staff that look after their whānau are trained in this area

  • Posted by koralfitzgerald November 17, 2022 at 13:05

    In addition and support of LisaT's post, providing tools and 'sign posts' to guage an individuals' and organisations' application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
    This may include how to engage purposefully and authentically in community-led development and values-based co-design. It would also explore the pre-amble intention, and 4 Articles of, Te Tiriti o Waitangi with practical challenges,
    e.g. how are our processes, actions, allocation of resources, and power structures shaped and informed by Tangata Whenua worldview and practices.
    e.g. how are we sharing power and resources to actively support Rangatiratanga? This is both an important and often difficult question for those living and/or working in a Westernised model.
    We have 180 years without equity – we’re on catch-up mode to gain ōritetanga on the journey to Rangatiratanga as the destination.

  • Posted by PaulRigby November 23, 2022 at 16:00

    The Te Arawhiti Framework outlines core learning requirements for Māori Crown Relations. I also recommend adding cultural safety to this list.
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