A group of Māori medical students are getting hands-on work experience thanks to a new initiative called Tuakana Teina, led by the Māori Health Team at the Hawke’s Bay District Health Board (HBDHB).
Seven university students will spend their summer working on projects with the region’s health professionals that aim to improve Māori health outcomes.
Nurse Director of Māori Health Ngaira Harker and Māori Workforce Advisor Heneriata Paringatai developed the programme because young Māori told them they were keen to have work experience within their communities, whanau, hapū and iwi. Four of the students identify as Ngāti Kahungunu.
“It is exciting to have so many talented young Māori health professionals who applied for this internship and even better that we are able to provide this opportunity to support iwi development,” Mrs Harker says.
“Our learnings from the Nuka System of Care and their RAISE programme has taught us that starting young and including students in their workplace settings bodes well for future recruitment.”
The RAISE Program is founded on the belief that everyone wants to succeed and will respond to expectations when given the opportunity.
Mrs Harker and Miss Paringatai hope the internship will attract some students back to the region once they’ve qualified.
“Recruiting a younger health workforce in an increasingly competitive environment is challenging. Providing experiences that support their cultural and clinical development through manaakitanga within the HBDHB for Māori students will hopefully influence their decision making when looking at prospective careers and help grow the regulated Māori Health workforce.”
HBDHB has a dedicated Māori workforce programme called Tūruki and is working towards increasing the total Māori health workforce from 14 per cent to 16 per cent. This is part of the larger national Māori Health workforce (Kia Ora Hauora) drive to grow the number of young Māori health professionals.
“We hope the interns will see our team as whānau and experience manaakitanga and aroha during their time with us,” Mrs Harker says.
“We would like to thank Health Hawke’s Bay, Kia Ora Hauora and Hawke’s Bay health professional for supporting this initiative.”
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