Secondary students across Auckland are being encouraged to enter health professions, inspired by an open day for Māori and Pacific students, held recently at the Tamaki Campus.
The aim, according to Director of Vision 20:20 Dr Elana Curtis, is to promote the Certificate in Health Science (CertHSc) programme and all health career options for Māori and Pacific students studying at secondary school and within the CertHSc programme. Up to 100 Year 13 students received a full day programme aimed at showcasing what the School of Population Health offers in health. They combined with 50 CertHSc students for an integrated programme offering an inspirational session with Tāwera Nikau (Māori sporting icon), a 2 hour health expo, health/science workshops and exposure to Māori and Pacific health role models from the community.
Showcasing the CertHSc programme was an important aspect to the open day. The aim of the CertHSc is to bridge the gap between secondary school studies and university. The one year course has been running since 1999 with 50 students enrolled in 2009. The CertHSc course covers physics, chemistry, biology, population health, mathematics and Māori and Pacific Health. Dr Curtis said this extra learning in science-related topics was an important precursor for courses offered by the Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences (FMHS), such as Medicine, Nursing, Pharmacy and Health Sciences.
Dr Curtis said she was keen to encourage more Māori to enter the programme and the open day, given the significant inequities in educational outcomes for Māori students leaving high schools in New Zealand. Having the opportunity to bridge into health programmes via the CertHSc is a key component of the Faculty’s commitment to achieving equity in health via workforce development.
The Māori and Pacific Health Careers day is being supported by the Whakapiki Ake Project and FMHS Marketing to ensure success. The team is also thankful for support received via the Faculty’s Equal Opportunities funding round for 2009.
About Elana Curtis
Dr Curtis is a Public Health Physician and has been a Senior Lecturer at Te Kupenga Hauora Māori since 2005. She currently directs the faculty’s Vision 20:20 initiative including the CertHSc programme, the Māori and Pacific Admission Scheme (MAPAS) and provides strategic oversight of the Whakapiki Ake Project for Māori recruitment. She is passionate about Māori Health and eliminating inequities in health.
