Otago Pasifika secondary students visited Dunedin Hospital to explore health career options
Te Whatu Ora Southern warmly welcomed over 40 Pasifika secondary students and their school faculties at Dunedin Hospital in June, marking the debut of Pasifika Mapu o le Kaha'u: Pasifika Young People of the Future.
This programme aims to encourage Pasifika youth to explore diverse career options in the health sector. Waitaki Girls High School, South Otago High School, Queen’s High School, King's High School and Otago Boys High School participated in this programme which was held on three consecutive Friday afternoons.
The genesis of this programme can be traced back to the Pasifika Navigators of Tomorrow Expo in May, when a group of Southern Pasifika staff, which included Kym Makanesi, Health Care Assistant - Women and Children’s Service, and Pam Markby, Nurse Consultant - Recruitment & Retention, received significant interest from Pasifika students who wanted to learn more about career options at Southern.
Pasifika Mapu o le Kaha'u: Pasifika Young People of the Future was then developed to provide an opportunity for these students to visit Dunedin Hospital, where they were hosted by Pasifika health professionals who work at Queen Mary Maternity Unit, Children’s Unit, 3 Surgical Ward, and Radiation Oncology, enabling the students to gain valuable insights into the various roles.
Dr Rowena Peters, Paediatrics Registrar, emphasised that the programme is a positive step forward as we need to create a Pacific workforce that truly reflects our community’s diversity and meets its needs.
“We are very grateful for the commitment of our staff who enabled this to happen,” said organisers Kym and Pam. “The Southern Pasifika staff involved have formed a strong team to effectively engage with the students, showcasing their various roles during a hospital walkabout.”
The highlight for many students was the visit to the Skills Labs where they took part in a simulation exercise. The students participated enthusiastically with the guidance of Pasifika health professionals and the Skill’s Labs facilitators.
The feedback from the students has been positive, with one student stated, “I enjoyed learning and expanding my knowledge on different jobs, especially [the] ones I never knew of.” Another student expressed their excitement, saying, "I definitely look forward to the possibility of working alongside you in the future."
Mrs. Margaret Beagley, a career advisor at Kaikorai Valley College, shared that the students were impressed by the friendliness of all the staff and the family type atmosphere. She added, "They also mentioned the rise in Pasifika events and how they felt a lot more supported this year as Pasifika students for career options.”
The initial programme outcomes in Otago will be reviewed in July, paving the way for future proposals on how Southern can sustain and expand this invaluable opportunity for our wider Pasifika community.