| Supporting Pacific Health Leaders | | Print | |
 www.pacifichealthleaders.co.nz The alumni programme began in 2007 and is funded by the Ministry of Health from its Pacific Provider Development Fund (PPDF). It offers ongoing professional development for alumni with a focus on effective leadership skills in the health sector. The programme is delivered in a variety of ways - through training workshops, coaching and mentoring, peer learning groups and online discussion forums. The overall aim is to foster a supportive, participant-centred environment and encourage alumni members to network formally and informally with colleagues and other professionals. The primary point of contact for the network is a dedicated website (www.pacifichealthleaders.co.nz). This acts as the central source of information and support for programme participants who can register for upcoming workshops, read the latest newsletter, participate in online forums and sign up for coaching or mentoring. The alumni programme also includes an annual conference, allowing members to engage with key figures and discuss issues of topical importance. The first conference for the Pacific Health Leadership Development Alumni programme will be held in early 2009. Coaching and mentoring services are available to alumni to further develop their leadership capability. These are designed for those who: • are stepping into a new role or are facing complex or difficult challenges; • want to change an aspect of their leadership behaviour; • are seeking guidance, counsel and advice from a respected mentor. Alumni can receive up to four one-hour sessions of coaching or mentoring per year. This is provided either in person or by telephone, depending on the location of the coach and the alumni member. Over two-thirds of coaching is provided by telephone and each session lasts around an hour. Several free workshops are also offered each year with speakers and presenters, covering a range of topics relevant to Pacific health leaders. A recent one explored critical cultural issues with respect to leadership in the Pacific health sector. Other workshops have covered business communication and media skills, negotiation skills and leadership in the public sector.  Malia Hamani Malia has been working in the elder care area for 15 years and manages five staff. Her commitment and passion for improving the care of Pacific elder people means in addition to running her own organisation, she is also a part of several advisory committees and networks involved in the area. Malia believes the alumni programme has helped her leadership. “When you are the leader of a small organisation, you are everything. Because the funding that is available to you is limited, you need to think like a funder, be able to track and report on your progress and also be a good networker and advocate.” Promoting the rights and wellbeing of the Pacific elderly and their unpaid carers can be a challenging role. Malia says the programme has given her confidence in her negotiating skills. “I am working with and advocating for older people who are some of the most vulnerable people in our community. I’m lobbying the funders on their behalf so elder people have the support and protection they need. “The negotiations and communications training was fun. Those skills are a must-have for any Pacific health leader. You’ve got to be able to overcome the fear factor and take your proposal to funders and justify your funding. That can be hard when you are a really small community organisation. This programme has given me the confidence to have my say and to challenge what others say and put my case. It makes you stronger as a manager and more likely to state things the way they are. That’s part of the journey I’ve been on. It has encouraged me and made me realise that I’m not doing too badly.” Malia was impressed by the calibre of people who joined her on the programme. “It made me realise that just getting on the programme was an achievement. The other people were all highly experienced and qualified professionals who shared their insights. That makes you more aware of the quality of your own leadership practice. A lot of what we do requires innovation, finding solutions to Pacific health issues while still making ends meet. You have to respond to these special needs and service gaps with fresh thinking. Meeting and getting the support of other people who face similar challenges is really encouraging. There are great opportunities for networking and catching up with people doing similar work. “Doing the leadership programme was a challenging and enriching experience. I found it very energising and I’d definitely recommend the programme to others,” says Malia. Reflecting on what it takes to be an effective Pacific health leader, Malia concludes: “You need to be Pacific and value what it means to be Pacific in terms of culture. What gives you your edge is your understanding of the uniqueness of the people you work with. I work with eight different ethnic communities. Understanding their commonalities and respecting their differences is essential.” Feedback on this story (0)
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