The vocational education programme filling a healthcare gap in Northland

They may be based at two different schools in two different communities, but Northland’s two new health academies were both born out of a similar need: getting more Māori into health careers.

The academies, based at Bay of Islands College in Kawakawa and Te Rangi Āniwaniwa in Awanui, launched in term 1. While they are still in the beginning phase, schools are already seeing benefits.

Addressing workforce needs

“How do we get more ākonga Māori and more young people into a health career path?”

Principal of Bay of Islands College Edith Painting-Davis says this is the question that launched discussions about starting a health academy at the school.

 It was asked by a healthcare provider during workshops held at the school for the E2E (education to employment) teacher-only day last year.

“The presenters from the health sector stated that we need a lot more Māori students entering the healthcare system, especially for our Māori patients. We need more people who are familiar with that cultural sensitivity,” explains Edith.

“I said, ‘Well, you come to see us when the students are Year 13 and it’s too late. Quite honestly, by then they’ve already made the decision whether they’re going to go into a vocational pathway or choose a tertiary pathway such as becoming a doctor or a lawyer or a teacher’.”

Edith proposed the idea of establishing a once-a-week healthcare course for students in Years 11–13 to create pathways into the industry.

She says the school has partnered with education provider Work Ready to deliver the programme. A facilitator from Work Ready goes into the school on a Tuesday every week to teach the students.

Keringawai Evans, wānanga/gateway pouarahi at Te Rangi Āniwaniwa, says the health academy at her kura was established to address “the need to recruit Māori” in the workforce of the health sector.

“We came up with an arrangement with Te Hiku Hauora to provide an experience and support for the development of a hauora academy at Te Rangi Āniwaniwa to showcase a career in hauora,” she says.

“We wanted to expose our young people to an inspirational career, and part of that journey is about letting them get a better understanding of what the different careers are, and to visit those organisations or those workplaces.”

Students are learning rongoā Māori, the traditional Māori healing system, including finding plants and learning tikanga.

Creating pathways and opportunities

Despite the health academies being in their beginning phases, students have already gained a wide range of experiences.

Rose Loveridge, a teacher at Bay of Islands College, says the students have learned rongoā Māori, the traditional Māori healing system, including finding plants and learning tikanga.

In term 2, they learned about databases and hauora services and visited local organisation Ngāti Hine Health Trust to see what healthcare looks like from a patient and provider perspective. They’ve also had the opportunity to hear from a real doctor in their community.

“We’ve got some kids on the course who are already saying ‘Yes, I’m going to be a doctor. This is what I’m going to do’. I’ve got one vet and two that want to be nurses. There are some that are on the fence, but they’re loving it.”

Edith says the school also recently met with Te Whatu Ora – Te Tai Tokerau. As a result of the meeting, students will now be able to do visits to Kawakawa Hospital with potential work experience for students in the areas of their interests.

Meanwhile, Keringawai says there are eight students involved in Te Rangi Āniwaniwa’s hauora academy, and the kura is very lucky to have an “amazing” tutor in Callie Corrigan, along with the opportunity to learn about rongoā Māori with experts Jo Murray and renowned kaumatua
Joe Body at the Tuia Mara Whenua.

“Our students are being exposed to different parts of the hauora sector, from understanding their hauora needs to social care models such as the basic understanding of caring for whānau. This term it has moved into understanding the body and looking at anatomy.”

Keringawai says the kura is still in the pilot phase of the hauora academy and is therefore exploring the different types of credits available to students while also looking at how to connect kura kaupapa students – who have a strong understanding of te ao Māori and whakapapa – with essential industry skills.

“We want our whole academy to be inspired and sculpted by our taitamariki (teenagers) – their needs, their own wellbeing – and ignite a passion towards a career in hauora.

“That is what our vision is and we’re lucky that we have got amazing people in Te Hiku Hauora and within the whole hauora sector.”

Students are gaining a wide range of experiences through the health academies.

Value across all aspects of life

Edith says health academies are important because they put students on a hauora pathway early.

“It helps them understand that you don’t have to be an academic to be working in healthcare. It takes all types of folks to make it run smoothly.

“It really is about looking after the wellbeing of the patients, because a lot of them are afraid. They need reassurance and they need to know somebody cares and is looking after them.”

Keringawai says the hauora academy at Te Rangi Āniwaniwa takes a te ao Māori approach to healthcare and the knowledge students gain will have value across all aspects of life.

“It’s beautiful. All our tauira (students) come with a strong background in te reo Māori and te ao Māori. We’ve got an amazing tutor who is bridging that for them so they can go and explore hauora in a supportive and encouraging way and see there is a need for more Māori in health,” she says.

“It’s giving them a healthy mind and changing their outlook on life. It doesn’t matter whether they choose to stay in a hauora career or whether they take the learning and foundations with them to a new career path, it is valuable.”