Evaluation Report On the Leadership in Maori Public Health Programme

 
Report Summary
 
The Public Health Workforce Development Plan project, commissioned by the Public Health Directorate of the Ministry of Health, has identified through foundation analysis work that efforts must be directed to grow the Maori public health workforce to address the disparate public health needs of Maori communities.  Leadership development is an important component to grow the Maori public health workforce.  The Public Health Workforce Development Programme Maori Public Health Leadership work objectives are to:

• grow Maori public health leaders to lead the development of the workforce delivering public health services to Maori in New Zealand and
• to strengthen the delivery of public health services to meet Maori public health need.

Evaluation Methodology
The evaluation looked at effectiveness according to the following programme aims:

• To develop leadership skills, knowledge and confidence – self development
• To develop leadership skills, knowledge and confidence of others – building capacity in others
• To be able to apply leadership skills and knowledge in the workplace/health sector – creating change
• To establish a support network with others – whanaungatanga

Evaluation Findings
Throughout the period 2002 – 2005, 31 participants participated in the LIMPH and 30 completed the programme.

Participants identified three main reasons for completing the programme

1. To affirm and strengthen their knowledge base of Public health for Maori
2. To develop leadership skills, knowledge and confidence in self and others
3. To establish a support network with others in the sector.

A key benefit of the programme is that a supportive environment was created for the discussion, debate and critical reflection of Maori public health practice. 

Programme Effectiveness
The programme is meeting its aims and strategic objectives for Maori health sector capacity in the following ways:

• Increased knowledge and confidence of individual participants in relation to Maori public health issues, resulting in positive feedback from peers and the community and more active engagement with other colleagues, peers and within the sector
• The establishment and development of existing networks within the Maori public health field and;
• Improved relationships with other health practitioners, resulting in better communication and coordination of services.

Programme Applicability – Strengths and Weaknesses of the Programme

• The programme provided a foundation for the wider Maori Health and Public Health context and an increased understanding about the disparate health need of Maori in our communities.
• The availability of programme funding enabled minimal cost factors to participants.
• The programme structure was suitable to participants personal and work situation.
• The programme presenters were seen as fully competent with a great depth of knowledge and added value to the programme.
• Teaching methods used included a combination of wananga, discussion groups and presentations from guest presenters.
• Organisation and facilitation of the programme by MOA was of a high standard, presented in a professional manner in a kaupapa Maori setting that was relevant to the course. Continued follow-up post-course was also appreciated by participants.
• The cultural components of the programme such as the marae based wananga type format enabled whanaungatanga and networking to occur.

A unique factor was also that the programme gave participants permission to be Maori, to think Maori and to focus on Maori aspirations for Public Health.

Overall, the LIMPH is meeting its strategic objectives to grow Maori public health leaders to lead development of the workforce delivering public health services to Maori in New Zealand and secondly, to strengthen the delivery of public health services to meet Maori public health need.

The only significant obstacle to the programme meeting its strategic objective is the fact that unless the programme and its objectives are fully endorsed and supported by the Ministry of Health and employing agencies then the programme becomes an event and not part of a shared commitment to growing this workforce.