Pacific public health priority work areas
Te Uru Kahikatea: The Public Health Workforce Development Plan, has an overarching objective specific to Pacific public health workforce development.
Goal 1
Develop an effective and sustainable public health workforce.
Objective 3
Strengthen the Pacific public health workforce and the capability of the non-Pacific workforce to improve Pacific health and reduce inequalities.
Actions
3.1 Support the development and implementation of a strategic approach to strengthen the Pacific public health workforce and increase the capability of the non-Pacific workforce to improve Pacific health and reduce inequalities.
3.2 Maximise opportunities in all the other PH WDP objectives to further Pacific public health workforce priorities.
The first step to progressing Pacific public health workforce development is to improve the information available about this section of the workforce. First stage research has been completed, which informs the overall approach and priorities for Pacific public health workforce development.
In 2006 the New Zealand Institute of Economic Research (NZIER) and Niu Vision were jointly commissioned to undertake a three stage needs assessment of the Pacific public health workforce.
The work included desk research and National fono to obtain foundation information to identify practical strategies to improve the representation of Pacific peoples in the public health workforce, including in leadership roles, and to address a number of workforce development issues. The study was undertaken in the context of the development of Te Uru Kahikatea: The Public Health Workforce Development Plan.
Similar to the overarching goals identified in the Pacific Health and Disability Workforce Development Plan (1), The NZIER Final Report (2) made the following recommendations:
- continue to develop the information base about the Pacific public health workforce
- enhance access to training and development opportunities
- strengthen career pathways and meet the professional support needs of the Pacific public health workforce
- assist small providers to address recruitment and retention issues.
The Ministry of Health is currently reviewing and prioritising the actions that fall out of these recommendations. Feedback fono with the reserach participants are planned for August 2007 to confirm the information and priorities identified in the NZIER report.
_______________________
(1) Ministry of Health. 2004. Pacific Health and Disability Workforce Development Plan. Wellington: Ministry of Health.
(2) New Zealand Institute of Economic Research. 2006. Pacific Public Health Workforce Needs Assessment: Final stage strategy development: Report to the Public health Directorate of the Ministry of Health. Wellington: Ministry of Health.