Kaimahi / staff from Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust and Piki Te Ora Health Centre Trust came together to celebrate the signing of their renewed Memorandum of Understanding, and one year partnership.
This marks the second year of the formal partnership between the two Trusts; which aims to improve hauora / health for whānau Māori. The partnership is a response to the needs of client whānau and extends the way in which primary care is provided. It provides a funded pathway for client whānau of Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust to access health care; modelling a collaborative whole-of-general practice and hauora Māori provider, primary community health care service.
Piki Te Ora Health Centre is a very low cost access (VLCA) practice, working predominately with priority populations that include Māori, Pacific, migrant and high deprivation communities. This partnership enables the Health Centre to work with Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust to provide holistic, whānau-centred care that upholds the shared values of manaakitanga (caring, compassion and kindness), whanaungatanga (connection), kotahitanga (working together) and rapuora (seeking excellence in health).
In a video released today about the partnership, Registered Nurse and kaimahi of Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust, Kiri Manihera said the partnership allows her to follow through with her clients as they navigate their health journey and support the wider team who are often at capacity. When in the home Kiri states, “I can see the whole picture, the whānau katoa” and bring that realisation back to the practice to support whānau in their hauora journey.
Another significant benefit to the partnership is the ability to grow and enhance the Māori health workforce enabling them to have rostered days with the Rapuora community health team at Te Puawaitanga and also within the health centre setting. Strengthening relationships with general practice teams, building kaimahi confidence and creating leadership pathways. This time allows for kaimahi to attend professional or cultural training, supervision, and mentoring. This way of working is reciprocal, we learn from each other, support each other and are an extension of the general practice model allowing kaimahi to take services to the community and in the homes of whānau. “This also helps our hauora Māori health professionals to stay at the top of their scope and stay connected with the health care system” said Renee Noble, RN and Rapuora Team Clinical-Lead at Te Puawaitanga ki Ōtautahi Trust.
