On Thursday, October 11, Materoa Mar provided an engaging presentation based upon her wealth of experience and observation working within the field of health for many years. Materoa comes from a clinical background with a concentration in mental health care and has worked primarily in the North Island of Aotearoa (New Zealand). Materoa currently works within the field of primary care, as a Director within an organization called Compass Health.
Materoa’s talk was entitled PUTTING AN INDIGENOUS CULTURAL LENS ON PRIMARY HEALTH CARE IN NEW ZEALAND. Below is a summary of her reflections in relation to the structure and function of primary health care in New Zealand:
- The importance of positive language, celebration of success and client-centered care are crucial to support improved health outcomes across the Maori population. Physicians play an important role in supporting clients and families in defining their health inspiration, goals and plans.
- There is a shift towards physicians working more collaboratively with allied health (physiotherapists, counselors, nurses, home care aides) Health professionals are encouraged to “work to the top of their license” to maximize their scope of work and to allow for physicians to focus on complex client needs.
- Given the large proportion of young Maori people, increasing investment in health promotion, disease prevention and primary care services is highly beneficial. Funding and health service, currently, continues to centre upon a sickness model with the majority of spending going towards disease treatment and management.
- The privatization movement of health care in the 1990s connected hand in hand with self-determination movements related to Maori health care and the development of the Maori health workforce.
- The Family Well-being Policy Platform has been very successful in New Zealand, supporting inter-generational health benefits for Maori communities. This platform emphasizes six key elements: 1. Self-management; 2. Family cohesion; 3. Economic wealth & development; 4. Reclamation of language traditions & culture; 5. Healthy lifestyles and 6.Participation in wider society.
- Maori understandings and knowledge of wellness and healing can benefit all in New Zealand. Movement has been made to apply Maori approaches to health care across general practice.
Materoa Mar closed her talk by singing a traditional song with colleagues Yvette Grace and Piri Robinson.
Aboriginal Health Strategic Initiatives would like to thank Materoa Mar again for her wonderful presentation.
Participants who attended this talk are encouraged to fill out an online evaluation of the event.
The talk was organized as part of the Aboriginal Health Strategic Initiatives on-going cultural competency initiatives.