Five minutes with Chiquita Hansen, Regional Wayfinder for TeWaipounamuSouthlsland
Regional Wayfinders play an important part in our progress towards achieving Pae Ora as anorganisation,butwhatdoestheroleactuallyinvolve?Werecentlysat downwithRegional Wayfinder for Te Waipounamu South Island,ChiquitaHansen, to find out.
Q: Tell us about the term Regional Wayfinder? What does it mean? What does the role involve? What do youwant to achieve in it?
A: The Regional Wayfinder term is a fresh approach to meeting Pae Ora. The role involves supporting localities and IMPBs (Iwi Māori Partnership Boards) to develop plans encapsulating ‘what matters to whānau and communities’. I want to ensure whānau and communityvoiceisheard,andourprimaryandcommunitypartnersareenabledtorespond to their voice.
OvermyfirstfourweeksIhavemetwithourteamsacrossTeWaipounamuandsomeoftheir primary and community partners. The talent I have met across Te Waipounamu is impressive, and the feedback has been really positive, with providers acknowledging the willingness to listen and to get a feel for what is happening on the ground in their communities.
Chiquita Hansen (front centre) pictured with the Te Tai o Poutini West Coast planning and funding team and Kaupapa Māori providers on a recent visit to Hokitika.Q: Can you share your definition of what Commissioning is, and how decisions are made within?
A: Commissioning is a process, and relies on high levels of engagement and relationships built on trust. It brings together many stakeholders to develop plans that inform investment decisions.The purchase of servicesis only one element ofthe process. Successismeasured by what matters to whānau and communities.
Q: What is the purpose of the Regional Integration Teams? What do these teams do?
A: TheRegionalIntegrationTeams’ roleistoweavetogether allpartsofthesystemacross a regiontorespondtothewhānauandcommunityvoiceandthenationalplans.Weareinthe processofdevelopingregionalplanswhichwillbecriticaltooursuccess.Overtheyearsthey will include more whānau and community voice, as the locality plans are developed.
Q:Whatdoesitmeantobeaco-chairoftheRegionalIntegrationTeams?Whyisitimportant to have partnership with Te Aka Whai Ora at this level?
A: This is demonstrating our commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and will ensure an equity focus to all our mahi. Personally, this is a very comfortable natural space for me, and I have seen the positive outcomes of partnership in my previous mahi.
Q: Can you tell us a little bit about your journey, and what has led you to this mahi?
A:MyparentsbothworkedinhealthandwelivedinhospitalgroundsinHanmerSpringsand Levin. Conversations at the dinner table were predominantly about how to improve healthcare. I have been working in the health system for just over 40 years, half of this time in clinical primary and community nursing roles and the other half in nursing and system leadership roles. I often say primary and community is in my DNA!
My most recent role was the Chief Executive of THINK Hauora (MidCentral district PHO) for 10 years where we worked in partnership with iwi and health and social partners to ‘connect communities for wellbeing’. This experience led me to my current role as the Regional Wayfinder for Te Waipounamu.