More than 30 Tamariki Ora providers of kaupapa Maori Well Child services met in Hastings in late March to further their professional development and discuss important health issues facing whanau and their tamariki (children).
Speakers from the Ministry of Health, the Well Child/Tamariki Ora (WCTO) organisation, and respected academics discussed topics including nutrition and breastfeeding, safe sleeping, oral health, the MOH maternity quality framework and a proposal to form a new national body.
Gravida was proud to have representatives join the speaking line up. Dr Wendy Lawrence from the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit at the University of Southampton explained the framework and results of the Healthy Conversation Skills Training (HCS) programme, which will be offered to maternity and child health care workforces here in from 2015 under the Gravida Healthy Start Workforce Project.
HCS training provides health professionals with skills that help them encourage pregnant mums, children and their wider whanau to make healthier lifestyle choices, particularly around nutrition and physical activity (read the latest evaluation here).
HCS is being adapted for use here in and Dr Lawrence's presentation is part of a widespread consultation process with WCTO and whanau ora providers to decide what model might be most useful and culturally appropriate for workforces dedicated to supporting whanau.
Discussions and consultations will continue over the next few months.
Dr Lawrence was joined by Jackie Gunn, Gravida's Lead Education Developer for the project, who explained more about the wider Healthy Start Workforce Project – including outlining a new, national education programme that will focus on translating the latest research and official guidelines in nutrition and physical activity for pregnancy, postpartum and a child’s early years.
Several options and formats of HCS Training and the education programme will be offered to midwives, Plunket nurses, all Well Child/Tamariki Ora providers and DHB staff from 2015. Other staff from other related roles and organisations will be offered the programmes in stages following this.
The hope is that participating in both programmes will increase the skills and confidence of maternity and child care health professionals to talk to their clients about healthy lifestyle choices, in order to prevent the risk of non-communicable diseases (like diabetes, heart disease and obesity) later in life.
Download Dr Lawrence's and Jackie Gunn's .
You can also find out more about the Tamariki Ora National Conference 2014 by visiting the website.