GPS 2017 Satellite Seminars

Growing Pacific Solutions Satellite Seminars

Background

Le Va’s national ‘Growing Pacific Solutions’ bi-annual conferences have demonstrated that they are an effective platform to showcase innovative and integrated solutions that meet the needs of our Pasifika families. 

As an outcome of Le Va’s 2016 GPS Conference , participants identified a need to support the mental health and addiction workforce at regional and local levels to do the same.  Le Va responded by co- facilitating GPS one-day regional seminars in Auckland on 28 June, Christchurch on 17 August, and Wellington on 6 September in collaboration with Drua for the Cutting- Edge Conference.

Introduction

Regional mental health and addiction leaders co-designed GPS, prioritising cross-sector issues important for each region where integrated solutions are necessary. Suicide prevention was high priority.

The World Health Organisation posits that for effective prevention of suicide, coordination and collaboration among multiple sectors of society is required. A top priority of New Zealand’s national mental health and addiction workforce action plan is to have a workforce that is integrated and connected across the continuum of care.

With this in mind, Le Va arranged an excellent line-up of speakers  from across the continuum, including: community-based approaches, primary care, policy, research, district health boards, and post-vention services from within each of the regions.

Objective

The purpose of the GPS Satellite Seminars is to provide a platform, where mental health and addiction workforce are provided with integrated solutions that support services and people to achieve the best possible outcomes for Pasifika people and their families.

Each seminar was made relevant by co-designing the programme with local leadership – alumni of Le Va’s Le Tautua leadership programme – to address local workforce needs.

The overarching objectives of the GPS Satellite Seminars were to:

•   identify integrated solutions across systems and sectors 
•   facilitate relationships across boundaries and opportunities for cross-pollination and co-design
•   provide a platform for professional and strategic networking
•   share innovative clinical, cultural and community practice 
•   curate knowledge and translate evidence informed policy and practice for the Pasifika workforce

Outcomes

In general, feedback regarding Le Va's inaugural GPS Satellite Seminars has been positive, with keen interest to see them continue in a regional capacity with local flavour.  The following infographics and data outline evaluation and processes including:

•   Appropriateness of programme by regional theme(s)
•   Methodology used
•   Opportunity for professional and strategic networking
•   Relevance of information shared to regional theme(s)
•   General participant feedback

Regional themes

Identifying integrated solutions across systems and sectors within each region involved careful CollaborAction with Le Tautua Alumni and local service providers. Feedback was sourced both from the local leadership, and the community (via survey monkey) to identify the needs of the community.

With Canterbury again being identified as having the highest suicide mortality rate by region in New Zealand, it was timely and appropriate.

Feedback was strong regarding Suicide Prevention strategies, followed closely by Self-care.  Given the current state of play, suicide prevention featured in every seminar even though the Wellington Region seminar also included an Addictions focus to align with the Cutting-Edge conference, working closely with Drua (Pasifika Addiction Network), as requested by the network.

Methodology

Le Va recognises that addressing mental health issues, in particular suicide prevention, requires a multi-layered approach.  Le Va facilitated relationships across boundaries and opportunities for cross-pollination and co-design by first connecting with mental health leaders, including Le Tautua Alumni.  Secondly, a survey was sent to networks and community to identify what was needed.  Thirdly, connecting with local service providers across primary health, mental health, government, and public health, to provide different perspectives and strategies within each region.

Le Va are grateful for the continued invaluable insight and support of our Pasifika leaders.

Strategic networking approach

The local representation and ability to network was well noted as an area of the seminar that worked well with comments such as:

•   “The network with other people was helpful”
•   “Regional sessions provide a more local voice and targets local responses and needs”
•   “The presentations and networking was helpful”

​Relevance

The GPS Satellite seminars aimed to share innovative clinical, cultural and community practice through representation of a number of organisations, stakeholders and external agencies e.g. MSD, MOJ

Most presentations were received well, although some noted certain presenters were less relevant and engaging than others.  Positive feedback included:

• “All the speakers had their own contribution to make therefore it was helpful to get more insight from them around the work that has taken place or is currently taking place.”
• “It was good how there were a range of speakers and how they spoke of the work they're doing but more so where more research is needed.”

Workforce feedback

Curating knowledge and translate evidence informed policy and practice for the Pasifika workforce is no easy feat.  We take our role in providing support, resources, and development to our Pasifika workforce.  Generally, the seminars were received well, with feedback such as:

•   “Professionally run seminar with community leaders engaging and inspiring. Really enjoyed the sense of community and pacific values shining throughout the seminar.”
•   “Good selection of presenters, that provided a higher-level viewpoint to frontline solutions.”
•   “I found the presentations to be relevant to the area of talk and engaging. The venue was beautiful and food was delicious. Overall all it was an amazing day, very well planned and executed. I was able to take home information and relay this on to others.”
•   “Having different perspectives from policy to practice and research to application was really helpful for me to gain insight in to things that work.”

Further comments suggest continuation of the seminars would be ideal:

•   “Best workshop I have attended.  Fantastic engaging speakers within a beautiful culture. Thanks for the welcome. “
•   “Safe warm environment to learn and converse shared common interest. Really awesome meitaki koveveka!”
•   “Very informative, encouraging, and there was good networking and food.”

Read our GPS Satellite seminar presenter's biographies.

Find out more about the GPS bi-annual national conference.