Whanau Ora : Report of the Taskforce on Whanau-Centred Initiatives

We need to be passionate,
visionary, willing, clever,
wise and inclusive.
Whānau Practitioners
6.3.7 While many practitioners intuitively adopt a whānau-centred approach
to <strong>the</strong>ir work, opportunities to develop skills in whānau interventions are
none<strong>the</strong>less limited. A whānau approach is not usually built into contracts
and is <strong>of</strong>ten added on as a logical but optional step, without explicit
recognition. Whānau <strong>Ora</strong>, however, focuses directly on whānau and carries
an expectation that practitioners will be well equipped to intervene at
that collective level. Moreover, <strong>the</strong> conversion <strong>of</strong> a whānau crisis into an
opportunity for enhanced whānau capability will require an approach that
is generally outside models <strong>of</strong> crisis intervention.
6.3.8 Whānau practitioners come from a range <strong>of</strong> backgrounds, including
community work, social work, nursing, health promotion, public health
and youth justice services. The introduction <strong>of</strong> Māori models <strong>of</strong> practice
into health and social services has accelerated <strong>the</strong> emergence <strong>of</strong> a
whānau-oriented workforce which is able to combine intuitive skills with
learned practices. Over time a distinctive body <strong>of</strong> practice based around
whānau-centred interventions will emerge as a specialist area <strong>of</strong> work.
6.3.9 The <strong>Taskforce</strong> considers that <strong>the</strong> implementation <strong>of</strong> Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> will require
expert practitioners. Experience in whānau settings, Māori communities and
multiple provider organisations will be needed, complemented by dedicated
training in whānau-centred interventions.
Service Delivery Goals: Recommendations
6.3.10 The <strong>Taskforce</strong> recommends that <strong>the</strong> main goal for Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> providers
and practitioners should be to make substantial contributions to whānau
outcomes by:
• delivering integrated and coherent services
• increasing gains for individuals and <strong>the</strong> whānau as a whole
• demonstrating high levels <strong>of</strong> expertise in whānau interventions.
6.4 Goals for Efficient Governance and Management
National Coordination and Leadership
6.4.1 National coordination and leadership <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> whānau-centred initiatives
programme will be essential. Because Whānau <strong>Ora</strong> embraces many
sectors and will impact on a large number <strong>of</strong> statutory providers as well
as iwi and Māori providers, non-government organisations (NGOs) and
<strong>the</strong> private sector, it will be important that a facility is established to ensure
national oversight and responsibility. The national focus will provide a
point <strong>of</strong> contact with government and o<strong>the</strong>r agencies currently involved with
whānau, and will also enable a coordinated evolution so that duplication is
avoided and resources can be applied efficiently. While <strong>the</strong>re has been some
debate about <strong>the</strong> type <strong>of</strong> national focus that would best suit <strong>the</strong> intended
functions, <strong>the</strong>re is agreement that an independent entity should facilitate
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