There was an excellent turn out of over 60 people to this thought-provoking Symposium.
Dr Monique Faleafa and Dallas Hibbs introduced the participants to the innovative ways they are harnessing technology to support our mental health and addiction workforce, tāngata whai ora, their families and communities achieve better outcomes and reach their full potential.
Dallas, chief executive of He Waka Tapu, introduced the audience to their new online outcome tool, Whaiora Online. He spoke about the impact and positive outcomes they are experiencing working with tāngata whai ora, but even more importantly how it’s encouraging changes in staff approaches in the way they work with tāngata whai ora in terms of best practice. Not only is Dallas “making recovery beautiful” for our families, the tool is achieving hard outcomes – behaviour change, reduced readmission rates, and quality of life improvements related to effective support at the time that matters most. Dallas received many questions from the audience. You can connect with He Waka Tapu here, www.hewakatapu.org.nz
Dr. Monique Faleafa, chief executive of Le Va, focussed on technology based innovations in mental health like cultural competency in cyberspace. (See the video for Engaging Pasifika e-learning modules.)
Digital stories for suicide prevention were touched on, and the BRAVE video was received a special applause and requests for copies – view and share B.R.A.V.E.
Le Va’s online tool www.AuntyDee.co.nz was a highlight. Based on structured problem solving with foundations in cognitive behavioural therapy, Aunty Dee is enhancing access to Māori and Pasifika young people to evidence-based help that works. It was great to see supporters present that have contributed to Aunty Dee, like Virginia McEwan of the Health Promotion Agency in relation to thelowdown.co.nz. Dr David Codyre’s wise question to the panel about the need for online support providers to work together better hit the mark. Andrew, chief executive from Homecare Medical was also there to support and already in conversations regarding Aunty Dee!
The presentations were received well by the audience, the types of questions that followed ranged from having the Aunty Dee translated into Pacific languages, the development and next stages for Whaiora Online and Aunty Dee, through to the use of technology in sport. A comment was made of our young people with technology “smartphone rich but data poor” referring to access for our young to which both our speakers responded to with knowledge, grace and humour!
Great experience by all, very well presented by the speakers who were engaging, humorous but very informative.
Mili Mili lua Pati! Buffalo! Tiger!
Malo lava fa’afetai mo le avanoa. Ia manuia
