Delivering a new approach to diversity in the Allied Health Workforce
Jacqui Lunday Johnstone1 1Te Whatu Ora Waitaha, New Zealand
Abstract
The Allied Health Strategy 2020-25 for Waitaha and Te Tai o Poutini set out our ambition to deliver a step change in our diversity and enhance our skill mix, so that we more closely resembled the population we serve. This ambition aligned with the Māori Health Tumu Whakarae around growing the Māori workforce in Health and was an active expression of our commitment to the principals of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
This mahi aligned with the introduction of our newly formed Mana Tauriti Team, within People and Capability, whose focus was to introduce new pathways to support Māori and Pasifika to join our workforce and enable them to develop their career within the health sector. The Director of Allied Health Workforce and DAHs from across Te Whatu Ora Waitaha and Te Tai O Poutini worked with the dynamic and future focussed Mana Taurite team to engage with a variety of rangatahi Māori and Pasifika and recruit into a range of Allied Health roles. The focus was initially on mana enhancing recruitment processes, including information days, rōpū and group interviews. The successful introductory pilot resulted in 20 kaimahi Māori and Pasifika being appointed into predominantly AH roles such as AHA’s, Dental assistants, Sterile services technicians, and Operating department assistants. This approach has gone on to deliver a step change in the way we positively recruit from our Māori and Pasifika communities, and has delivered significant value to both the rangatahi now in our health whanau and to the Allied health teams.
Biography
Jacqui is a strategic allied health leader who has been based in New Zealand for the last 5 years. She has a track record of significant system transformation and value-based healthcare improvement.
Her experience spans the public and private healthcare systems in Scotland including 16 years as the Chief Allied Health Officer in Scottish Government and technical advisor the WHO. In 2015 Jacqui was made a member of the Order of the British Empire for services to healthcare and the health care professions.