Aotearoa
is growing more and more diverse.
New Zealand
Stats NZ Released
data from the 2018 census on ethnicity, culture, and identity showed that 27.4 % were born overseas.
The census also revealed that the Asian ethnic group remained the third largest in Aotearoa New Zealand.
World Wide Mosaic
This programme is designed to address the evolving cultural landscape within the Aotearoa, New Zealand population.
Our proposal covers aspects of cultural competence, emphasising its role in promoting diversity, fostering inclusivity, and enhancing societal harmony.
New Zealand
– counted at 4,669,755 in the 2018 Census – is growing more and more diverse. Stats NZ released data from the 2018 census on ethnicity, culture, and identity showed that 27.4 % were born overseas.
The census also revealed that the Asian ethnic group remained the third largest in Aotearoa New Zealand, after European 70.2 % of the population and Māori 16.5 %of the population, 15.1 % people identified with at least one Asian ethnicity.
The increasing level of cultural diversity in Aotearoa New Zealand population means that to be safe, health services need to be culturally appropriate and responsive. In healthcare environments across the country, staff and clients are from numerous ethnic communities.
By 2043, it is expected that more than one in four people in Aotearoa New Zealand will be migrants from different ethnic groups. Health care involves basic principles that apply to all patients regardless of cultural or linguistic background. However, any health care system is necessarily based on the predominant culture and medical system, and all of us, including health professionals, make assumptions based on our own culture. These assumptions influence practice and interactions with clients. It is important to be aware of your own values, beliefs, expectations, and cultural practices, and consider how these impact on your responses, interactions, and service provision to people from cultures different from your own. It is also important to be aware of other factors that influence interactions such as socioeconomic status, urban/rural origin, educational level, language proficiency, age, and gender.
The clinical setting within Aotearoa New Zealand Health also has a significant impact on interactions. For instance, health system procedures, protocols and time pressures may influence the use of words and language and the communication styles between staff and patients/clients. It is pivotal that healthcare education meets the needs of our population.
Research suggests that migrants continue to encounter widespread racism, isolation, and lack of cultural understanding in Aotearoa New Zealand. Also, healthcare is not always reflecting what New Zealand’s ethnic communities want. As Aotearoa become more diverse, this s an exciting opportunity to embrace multi-ethnic education in healthcare.
Overview
Our cultural competency training programme priced at $250 plus GST per participant.
In addition to the four-hour workshop, we offer online resources to support participants in continuing their professional development.
These resources cover aspects of communication tailored to various ethnic and religious groups. This programme aims to:
- Educate: Provide insights into cultural awareness, diversity impacts, and strategies for positive interactions.
- Empower: Equip workers and professionals with the skills and knowledge necessary for engaging effectively with diverse populations.
- Create Inclusive Environments: Foster inclusive environments where everyone feels valued and respected. Workplaces should celebrate the cultural diversity of their staff and promote pride in diverse languages, cultures, and identities. This involves supporting cultural maintenance and understanding the challenges faced by workers living in two different cultures.
- Promote Cultural Literacy: Educate on the country's history, diverse peoples, and the importance of cultural celebration and understanding.
- Offer Continuous Training: Provide ongoing professional development to ensure support staff with cultural competence and inclusive practices.
Key Takeaways and Reflections:
Our programme emphasises education as a driver of change, empowering workers, creating inclusive environments, fostering cultural literacy, celebrating diversity, and offering continuous training and professional development.
Testimonials
Our cultural competency training program is designed to meet the evolving needs of New Zealand's society. We believe that investing in cultural competence will not only benefit individuals and providers but will also contribute to a more inclusive and harmonious society. We recently ran a workshop for Plunket some of the feedback we received from staff is below:
- My first time, brilliant speakers, very relevant. Awesome networking day, can’t wait to have them come back.
- Great to hear multi-ethnic and refugee speakers, learnt a lot from this, they should speak more often as very relevant.
- Great to hear multi-cultural presentations - we need more of this.