Around 40 students from seven Tauranga schools attended Te Whe pilot
programme for Year 10 rangatahi.
Increasing Māori health workforce
focus of day-long event
Around 40 students from seven Tauranga
schools have taken part in a day-long event
focussed on increasing the Māori workforce
in health.
The Te Whe pilot programme for Year 10 rangatahi (young people)
was held at St Johns Ambulance Tauranga headquarters on 17th
Avenue. The students enjoyed an ambulance tour and rescue
helicopter visit as well interactive exercises on IV (intravenous)
injections, wound management care, use of a resuscitation kit, and
an introduction to CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation).
“I enjoyed all of it but liked doing the IV injections into the dummy
leg the most,” says 14 year old Nathaniel Tane from Te Wharekura
O Mauao. “It has made me interested in health and to help people
by wanting to become a doctor. I want to study health to be a
doctor.”
It was a wonderful opportunity for Māori rangatahi to be exposed
to health related activites says Kia Ora Hauora Coordinator, Mau
Tane.
“The objective is to highlight health career opportunities to
rangatahi and provide them with an opportunity to meet health
professionals from all different specialities, see what sparks
their interest and to encourage them to think about their subject
selections in high school,” says Mau.
“The event ran smoothly from the whakatau at the start to the
karakia at the end. The programme was well received by all
involved.
“It was a great success with teachers, rangatahi and St John staff
all enthusiatic about this pilot programme, and we are hoping to
make it an annual collaborative event.”
The event was run collbaoratively by the BOPDHB Kia Ora
Hauora, St John and Whakapiki Āke (Auckland University Faculty
of Medicine). The schools involved included Te Wharekura O
Mauao, Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Te Kura Kōkiri, Tauranga Boys
College, Tauranga Girls College, Otumoetai College, Aquinas and
Te Puke College.
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