Working with Māori to keep our tamariki safe
We're part of a cross-agency initiative to ensure tamariki and their whānau are supported early in life.
ACC is investing in a new initiative aimed at keeping tamariki safe and giving them the best start in life.
The whānau-centred early intervention prototype, Ngā Tini Whetū, is a cross-agency initiative with Oranga Tamariki, Te Puni Kōkiri and the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency.
The prototype is designed to ensure tamariki and their whānau are supported earlier and faster.
Isaac Carlson, the ACC Head of Injury Prevention, says this initiative signals a significant step forward for ACC in partnering with Māori to achieve better health outcomes for whānau.
"This initiative puts whānau at the centre and empowers them to realise their own solutions that are more holistic and culturally grounded," he says.
"We want to explore and evaluate how whānau ora and mātauranga Māori practice can improve the prevention of injury and harm across a range of often inter-related areas."
At the end of 2019, the Minister for Children met with the Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency and initiated an opportunity for agencies to work collectively to co-design a model of early intervention.
The Whānau Ora Commissioning Agency invited Oranga Tamariki - Ministry for Children, Te Puni Kōkiri and ACC to participate in the co-design process.
The Whānau Ora approach will enable kaiārahi (navigators) to work alongside whānau, to develop a whānau plan, and guide them towards achieving their aspirations. This work may include addressing immediate whānau needs through to connecting whānau members to appropriate services and supports.
The whanau-centred early intervention prototype aligns with ACC's Whāia Te Tika Māori strategy to improve outcomes for whānau by integrating kaupapa Māori principles in the way we work and engage with our customers.
"We know the best way to prevent injury is to focus on protective factors early in life that build resilience and support social, physical, mental, spiritual and emotional wellbeing," Carlson says.
ACC will invest $10.4 million in the prototype over the next two years, alongside $16m from Te Puni Kōkiri and $16m from Oranga Tamariki.
