Māori hauora ā iwi competencies. Māori public health competencies (2021)

Background In 2017, the University of Otago’s Department of Preventive and Social Medicine undertook a stocktake to determine what hauora Māori content was being taught across its hauora ā iwi/public health curriculum. Hauora ā iwi/public health postgraduate papers include ‘Foundations of Hauora Māori’ and ‘Hauora Māori – Policy, Practice and Research’. Undergraduate papers include ‘Hauora Māori: Challenges and Opportunities’ and ‘Rangahau Hauora Māori - Māori Health Research’. However, the stocktake found that, with the exception of two other courses, there was little hauora Māori content in other public health courses and public health teaching across the Department’s programmes (including courses taught to medical students). When considering how the Department of Preventive and Social Medicine could respond it became clear that there were no agreed core Māori hauora ā iwi/public health competencies that could be used to inform the development of programme and course curricula. In 2019, Sue Crengle, Kate Morgaine and Fran Kewene received funding from the University of Otago’s Committee for the Advancement of Learning and Teaching (CALT) to develop a set of core Māori public health competencies. This document is the result of that work. During consultation hui about this document, we considered feedback from three different groups: practitioners, government organisations and academics. In responding to feedback on the first draft of this document, we have maintained a focus on the original purpose of the document, which was and is to focus on a set of competencies for universities and other tertiary institutions to use. We also acknowledge that this is a ‘living document’ and anticipate that it will be revised in three to five years’ time. Future revisions may incorporate the results of planned further research, which focuses on how to apply these competencies

Māori hauora ā-iwi competencies Māori public health competencies

Abstract Background: In Aotearoa New Zealand there are persisting health inequities between Māori and non-Māori. Equity is a fundamental component of public health practice, however a review of public health courses at the University of Otago found that, aside from dedicated content, the focus on Māori health was lacking. The Māori haurora ā-iwi/public health competency project sought to address this, initially in defining a set of core competencies for teaching purposes. This paper focusses on the subsequent phase of the project, which expanded on the core competencies to enable their use in workplaces, adding progression across multiple levels. Methods: The research was completed using kaupapa Māori methodology in four stages which included: the development of draft levels of competence for the core competencies identified during phase one, consultation hui to acquire feedback, analysis of the feedback and redrafting of the competencies including their associated levels, and respondent validation. Results: Key themes emerging from the consultation process addressed both the content of competencies and their associated skills, knowledge and attitudes, as well as the application and presentation of the competency framework as a whole. Increasing expectations were identified in relation to language and tikanga (correct practice and protocol), and participants highlighted the importance of strength-based approaches and self-determination. There were recommendations to emphasise context, contemporary needs and action, as well as individual responsibility in order to decolonise public health practice. Reflective practice was deemed a fundamental cross-cutting competency and there were proposals to include planetary health and political ideologies as additional socio-political determinants of health impacting equity. In terms of application and presentation, participants emphasised cultural safety and careful navigation of worldviews, while also ensuring that all public health practitioners would feel ‘seen’ in the competencies. The final competency document has been published under a Creative Commons licence. Conclusions: The process of drafting a set of Māori public health competencies has elicited key themes that could be relevant for promoting health equity in other countries. It has also resulted in a tool for universities and workplaces to help drive forward progress in Aotearoa New Zealan

Mental health promotion practice in Aotearoa New Zealand: findings from a qualitative study

Abstract Mental health promotion (MHP) is integral to improving the overall health and well being of individuals, communities, and populations. However, knowledge and reporting about MHP which occurs throughout Aotearoa New Zealand (NZ) is limited. This article reports findings from a qualitative study that sought to understand NZ health promotion practitioners’ (HPPs) MHP practice. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 15 HPPs employed at various health promotion organizations. Thematic analysis of interview transcripts identified three key themes. Two themes (planning and evaluation) related to practice directly and included various subthemes: needs assessment; principles/approaches/frameworks; operationalizing equity and te Tiriti o Waitangi; collaborative approaches; planning for evaluation; process evaluation domination; and evaluation challenges. The third theme related to the context of practice and encompassed various system influences restricting HPPs from practising as they wished. These were represented in four subthemes: contractual agreements; field fragmentation; in the shadows of mental ill-health and workforce capacity. Study findings highlight several opportunities to improve MHP practice in NZ. Most pertinently, the need for system-level action to address the factors restricting HPPs’ practice