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Kaupapa Maori Pre Entry Nursing Course
An extreme shortage of Kaupapa Maori Registered Nurses within the rohe of Tauranga Moana, Te Puke and Maketu, prompted Te Manu Toroa to address this gap with a workforce development initiative.
Discussions between Te Manu Toroa (Primary Care sector), Te Puna Hauora (Secondary Care sector) and Te Wananga o Aotearoa, led Te Manu Toroa to establish a clinical training unit.
From the discussions the Kaupapa Maori Pre Entry to Nursing Programme emerged, which in effect is a Bridging to Tertiary Course for Bachelor of Nursing Studies. The uniqueness of the Kaupapa Maori Pre Entry to Nursing Programme, is that the programme is structured under a total Kaupapa Maori framework. The year long course was designed, developed and implemented by Te Manu Toroa. It was delivered by Maori for Maori wanting to pursue a career in Nursing, in particular as a Kaupapa Maori Registered Nurse.
The Nursing School situated at the Faithway Centre, Tauranga, was officially opened on 5 March 2002 with an enrolment register of thirteen students, all wahine Maori. Semester One, 5 March to 28 June 2002 was delivered, funded and sourced by Te Manu Toroa. Financial constraints led to an alliance between Te Manu Toroa and Te Wananga o Aotearoa (an established Tertiary Maori Provider) to continue the course into the second semester. The course in Semester Two, 15 July to 15 November 2002, was coordinated by Te Wananga o Aotearoa with Te Manu Toroa acting in a support role. An alliance was also formed with Waiariki Polytechnic in Rotorua. This alliance resulted in a "cultural safety" paper which is taught in Tauranga every year.
The course for 2003 was officiated at the Faithway Centre with a full intake of seventeen students, one male.
Te Manu Toroa opened the pathway for Kaupapa Maori nursing development and leadership to transpire. Another milestone has been achieved.
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