Education the key for Ma¯ori, say graduates
Two South Canterbury Ma¯ori nursing graduates hope to give back to the community through education.
The South Canterbury District Health Board (SCDHB) welcomed two Ma¯ori nurses among the 12 recruited in its Nursing Entry to Practice Programme (NETP) at Timaru Hospital this year.
Kylie Hough and Emma Te Raki hope an increase in education will help community members to make healthier life decisions.
‘‘The increase in education can possibly save lives. Ma¯ori have a lower life expectancy and sometimes it’s not the physical health, it’s the knowledge and the health literacy that needs to be improved,’’ said Te Raki, who works at a Timaru age care home.
‘‘Holding health education services for family and children. Doing things like vaccinations for children and screenings for women will educate them as to what the risks are.’’
Te Raki said she always had an interest in working with and helping people.
‘‘I found that I thrive better when working within a team. When I was at school I watched the role of the nurse and thrived off that.’’
Hough, who is from the Chatham Islands, said the lack of facilities in her home region convinced her to take up nursing.
"I had a previous occupation – hairdressing – and I felt I just wasn’t giving back what I believed I had to give to the community,’’ she said. ‘‘My family were heavily involved with community so I’ve grown up with community unity spirit, giving to the community and doing what you can to benefit others, and I guess I’m following in their legacy.’’
Hough said she would love to take what she has learnt back to the Chatham Islands one day.
‘‘I am aware I could go home and I can be teaching my family what they can be doing to put motions in place earlier rather than waiting till later even if it’s something like going to the GP once a year and doing health checks,’’ she said.
‘‘Letting them know that there are people out there who care even if they are not on the island.’’
Te Raki said she was proud to be working alongside residents who had been through a long life.
‘‘I’m caring for them at the end stage of their lives.,’’ Te Raki said.
‘‘It’s not about prolonging life. It’s about making them comfortable, and making sure what they have left [time] is the best possible.’’
South Canterbury District Health Board’s Nursing Entry To Practice (NETP) and resident nurse programme co-ordinator Megan Stark said two graduates had identified as New Zealand Ma¯ori nurses ‘‘which is awesome’’.
‘‘That’s certainly what the ministry looks at with regards to Ma¯ori grads for our Ma¯ori population. Two out of 12 is a high percentage.’’