INCREASING DIVERSITY IN THE HEALTH WORKFORCE

Supporting diversity through investing in the health workforce is an ongoing focus for Pegasus. This year, 28 aspiring health professionals were awarded scholarships, almost double what is usually awarded, to celebrate 30 years of Pegasus. The scholarships were established by Pegasus in 2001 to support members of our priority communities in their journey to working in healthcare. Pegasus is committed tocreating anequitablehealth workforcetoassistNewZealandtowardsequitable health outcomes.

In an emotional speech, keynote speaker Professor Suzanne Pitama (Ngāti Kahungunu) acknowledged that achieving health equity was the responsibility of all the health workforce.

“There will be a lot of pressure on you when you graduate to meet our equity goals, but every single graduate is supposed to contribute to health equity, it does just not rest on your shoulders. I want you to honour your dreams and aspirations for yourself. Iwant you tochoose thefieldthat moststimulates you,that makesyou excited. Because the more you follow your own passions, the more we will retain you in our health workforce and that is really our overall goal,” Suzanne said. Third-yearnursing student,Kirstyn Macdonald(NgātiKahungunu),knowsfirsthand the challengesMāori women experience. “As ayoungMāori mother,I experienceddiscriminationfromhealthcareservicesand as a result I was afraid of judgement when attending the Well Child checks which is crucialfor monitoringyourpēpi'sgrowth anddevelopment,”Kirstynsaid. “I am not alone in experiencing discrimination from healthcare services. Discrimination isacontributing factorto whyMāori havepoorerhealthoutcomes,” she said.

This has motivated Kirstyn to study nursing so she can have an active role in improving health disparitiesin Māori health. Akerita Alatimuis in hersecond andfinalyear ofaMasterisinHealth Science.Akerita took time to acknowledge the professionals that have worked for equity in health. “I chose this course, not only because I wanted to see change in our communities, but I also wanted to be part of that change to better our health outcomes. I know that it is notgoing to beeasy, butweare precededbyso manywarriorsin ourindividualfields that I know it is doable with a whole lot of grit,” she said. 2023 scholarship applications will be out around April. Keep an eye out on our website and Facebook page for more details.