Whānau Ora Navigation is an example of Indigenous self determination in health and social service provisioning, "by Māori for Māori, by Pasifika for Pasifika". This presentation shares preliminary findings of my PhD research 'Whānau Ora: the voices of Māori and Pasifika whānau". This research seeks to raise up the voices and narratives (stories) of Māori and Pasifika whānau (families) who have experienced Whānau Ora approaches and programmes delivered by Whānau Ora Service Providers in Aotearoa New Zealand.
From my research I wanted to understand the experiences of these whānau and answer the following questions:
1. What do whānau say is different about a Whānau Ora approach? How does it differ from other approaches/interventions they have experienced?
2. What barriers did whānau experience on their Whānau Ora journey and how did they overcome them
3. If these approaches/programmes have led to transformation and positive outcomes for whānau. What's different about their whānau now?
Key findings : Whakapiri (the engagement) was different, whānau led, what whānau want, connection and participation in culture, whānau involvement in co-design. Advocacy, brokerage and coaching led to Whakamana (Empowerment). Whānau had to overcome physical, personal and systemic barriers that often required whānau to change their mindset. Of the 21 whānau interviewed, across four regions, all shared stories of their whānau transformation/success. Six of these stories are, briefly, included in this presentation. Conclusion: Whānau Ora approaches work.