National implementation of rongoā Māori in Aotearoa (New Zealand) through social rehabilitation services at the Accident Compensation Corporation
Tracks
Room 3 - In-Person Only
| Monday, October 21, 2024 |
| 11:40 AM - 12:00 PM |
| Room 3 |
Overview
Pollyanne Taare, ACC
Speaker
Pollyanne Taare
Māori Health Lead
Accident Compensation Corporation
National implementation of rongoā Māori in Aotearoa (New Zealand) through social rehabilitation services at the Accident Compensation Corporation
Abstract
Rongoā Māori is a holistic system of Māori healing practices that is deeply rooted in Māori culture and traditions. The knowledge and practice of rongoā has historically been impacted through policy, legislation and the Tohunga Suppression Act (1907) as Western medicine has been prioritised, access to and knowledge of rongoā Māori had almost been lost.
In 2019, ACC conducted a Māori-led survey to understand barriers to ACC services and provide innovative solutions. Findings found rongoā was critical to Māori for their recovery from injury. As a result, ACC funded rongoā through its social rehabilitation services from June 2020. Since implementation, nearly 9,000 ACC kiritaki (clients) have received rongoā services across Aotearoa (New Zealand).
As these services grow and mature, to learn how ACC kiritaki (clients) benefit from rongoā Māori, surveys and text analyses have been done to capture kiritaki experience from a holistic perspective. At the 2023 Te Matatini Festival, a survey (n = 336) found 92% of kiritaki reported that rongoā Māori was their preferred choice for rehabilitation. The text analysis of over 1,000 ACC case reports found that kiritaki receiving rongoā expressed it had a positive impact on their rehabilitation. This included improvement in functional activity as well as positive shifts in wairua (spiritual) and emotional wellbeing.
The successful national roll-out of rongoā since 2020 has had phenomenal uptake and enabled ACC kiritaki to successfully rehabilitate from their injury from a physical and spiritual perspective. However, there is still work to be done to grow and improve the service and increase awareness and access to it.
In this presentation, we will discuss the journey of rongoā Māori at ACC, the positive health outcomes it has had for kiritaki and whānau and how we will continue to grow and sustain this service into the future.
In 2019, ACC conducted a Māori-led survey to understand barriers to ACC services and provide innovative solutions. Findings found rongoā was critical to Māori for their recovery from injury. As a result, ACC funded rongoā through its social rehabilitation services from June 2020. Since implementation, nearly 9,000 ACC kiritaki (clients) have received rongoā services across Aotearoa (New Zealand).
As these services grow and mature, to learn how ACC kiritaki (clients) benefit from rongoā Māori, surveys and text analyses have been done to capture kiritaki experience from a holistic perspective. At the 2023 Te Matatini Festival, a survey (n = 336) found 92% of kiritaki reported that rongoā Māori was their preferred choice for rehabilitation. The text analysis of over 1,000 ACC case reports found that kiritaki receiving rongoā expressed it had a positive impact on their rehabilitation. This included improvement in functional activity as well as positive shifts in wairua (spiritual) and emotional wellbeing.
The successful national roll-out of rongoā since 2020 has had phenomenal uptake and enabled ACC kiritaki to successfully rehabilitate from their injury from a physical and spiritual perspective. However, there is still work to be done to grow and improve the service and increase awareness and access to it.
In this presentation, we will discuss the journey of rongoā Māori at ACC, the positive health outcomes it has had for kiritaki and whānau and how we will continue to grow and sustain this service into the future.
Biography
Ko Hikurangi te maunga, ko Waiapu te awa, ko Ngāti Porou te iwi
I have over 20 years’ experience in health management and leadership roles across the sector. I have worked in government organisations, public and population health, primary care, national health promotion and mental health. I have a particular interest in indigenous, holistic wellbeing and the use of traditional and cultural healing methods and knowledge.
In my current role, I lead and implement the ongoing delivery of our indigenous service that has seen over 9,000 clients access traditional Māori healing methods as a preferred choice of rehabilitation from injury.
