Preparing aakonga for the collaborative future of healthcare

This news release is originally from the Wintec | Te Pūkenga website.

A newly built home for an aakonga-assisted health and wellbeing service has been officially opened and blessed at the Rotokauri campus of Wintec | Te Pūkenga.

Te Kotahi Oranga | Health and Wellness Centre focuses on embedding interprofessional collaboration in training.

“Lifestyle related health challenges and chronic disease such as diabetes and an aging population has made the needs of patients more complex,” says Adjunct Professor Sharon Brownie of Wintec’s Centre for Health and Social Practice.

Chief Executive Dennis Turton speaking at Te Kotahi Oranga opening.

“Growing evidence suggests that the future of healthcare needs to be patient-centred with high levels of team-based collaboration – different professions working together within our system to achieve better outcomes.”

“To develop collaborative competencies, aakonga need access to work placement opportunities supporting the development of interprofessional skills.”

The advancement of better health and learning outcomes for the community at Te Kotahi Oranga is made possible through the generous support of Trust Waikato and a $1.5 million Community Impact Grant.

Services available at the centre were designed in partnership with local providers, these include:

Currently, Te Kotahi Oranga offers placement opportunities to aakonga in Bachelor of Nursing, Diploma of Enrolled Nursing and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy programmes, under the supervision of their tutors.

“International research shows student-run services improve learners’ clinical skills, while also enhancing interpersonal communication, leadership, empathy, while enhancing understanding of community and underserved patient groups,” says Prof Brownie.

Consultation room at the new premises.

The new premises, located in a purpose-built extension of the campus’s student hub, include four consultation rooms and a teaching – community room for the delivery of care, centred on patients and their whaanau.

“The approach allows for longer appointment times, leading to more comprehensive assessment of client need,” says Customer Services Manager, Michelle Young.

“We also conduct home visits in the community. In the case of fall prevention for the elderly, this helps us work with clients to ensure these environments are safer.”

Wintec | Te Pūkenga wishes to publicly acknowledge the contributions of all kaimahi who have made this possible and the awhi of partners including Rauawaawa Kaumātua Charitable Trust who engaged on site in the design and pilot of the first programmes along with other providers including The Asian Network Incorporated, Asthma Waikato, Te Kōhao Health and Geneva Healthcare partnered with the centre.

“On behalf of Te Pūkenga, I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to all those at WINTEC and in the region, who have made this a reality,” says Dr Angela Beaton, National Ako Director – Community, health, social services, education.

“Your vision to pursue better, more innovative models in both healthcare and training is inspiring, benefiting the aakonga and people of Waikato, as well as our national network for vocational education.”

The blessing and opening of the centre was followed by a symposium presenting research on interprofessional approaches to healthcare.

Prof Sharon Brownie presenting research findings at the symposium following the Te Oranga Kotahi opening.

You can learn more about Te Kotahi Oranga | Health and Wellness Centre on the Wintec | Te Pūkenga website.