Kia mārama tātou ki te mana o te Kaimanaaki:
Recognising and valuing our Kaimanaaki Workforce
Mai i ngā whetū i te rangi ki ngā kākano i ruia mai ai i te papa, e mihi ana ki a tātou. Ka rere tonu ngā mihi ki a koutou kua roa nei e manawanui ana ki te manaaki tangata, e kore e mimiti te aroha.
Kua whakaritea tēnei taonga hei whakatauira mai i tō mātou titikaha ki te kotahitanga, kaitiakitanga me te manaaki i ngā kaimanaaki huri noa i Aotearoa. Ko tā te taonga nei, he takoto i te mānuka kia noho tahi tātou hei whakaora i ngā moemoeā kei roto i te taonga nei. Nā reira, āta pānuitia hei kai mā te hinengaro me te wairua anō hoki.
Kāti, e tika ana kia mihi ake pēnei i runga i te whakaaro nui, arā te whakaiti – tēnā koutou, tēnā tātou katoa.
As the Industry Training Organisation for the wider health and wellbeing sectors, including the critical area of social services, Careerforce has embraced the role of a kaitiaki – guardian, in facilitating the development of the workforce development plan that advocates for and recognises the importance of the Kaimanaaki workforce.
This journey follows on from our whanaungatanga – connection and partnership, with Health Workforce New Zealand in developing the Kaiāwhina Workforce Action Plan. That was an ambitious five-year plan (2015-2020) across the health and disability sectors and carried the specific objective of acknowledging, understanding and enhancing the visibility of the Kaiāwhina workforce – a workforce previously known as ‘unregulated’ but now recognised as qualified and capable. At October 2019, 80% of the originally agreed actions have been completed.
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At the time we recognised there was another workforce, that had even less visibility. A workforce that is key to changing outcomes for whānau and communities. This workforce encompasses the significant ‘unregulated social services workforce’.
We listened to understand how we could best describe this workforce and have made the intentional shift from the term ‘unregulated’ to ‘Kaimanaaki’ representing one step in acknowledging the phrase ‘He mana tō te kupu – words have the power to either enhance or diminish a person’s mana and wairua’.
The terms ‘unregulated’ or ‘unregistered’ do not acknowledge the contribution and role that the Kaimanaaki workforce have in supporting the hauora/wellbeing, of Aotearoa. (A whakapapa of the term is provided in the plan)
While proposed as the overarching term, it was chosen to ensure it still respects the individual mana of each diverse and varying role. The social service roles that are captured within the Kaimanaaki workforce are many and varied, ranging from family/sexual violence workers, to Māori wardens, to housing support workers.
The whāinga matua, the ultimate purpose and vision of the Kaimanaaki plan is to improve the visibility of this workforce and acknowledge their contribution to improving hauora outcomes for some of the most vulnerable whānau in Aotearoa. Estimates of the size of the workforce are equally varied, but certainly stands at in excess of 30,000.
At the SSPA conference in 2018, the exploratory development of a Kaimanaaki workforce development plan was workshopped by delegates. In the time since, significant progress has been made, with the initial focus on the development of an 18 month ‘entrée’ plan – the last action within this plan is the creation of the 2021-2025 plan.
Ngā whanonga pono – guiding principles:
There are three important guiding principles that underpin the development of the plan:
- Recognising te Tiriti o Waitangi and living the articles to support whānau tino-rangatiratanga
- Providing opportunities to engage with and listen to those with lived experience
- Living whakawhanaungatanga; making connections and demonstrating true partnership
Ten objectives have been identified, and at the time of going to print, Careerforce had partnered with SSPA to establish an advisory group for the first 4. For the remaining six, Careerforce is seeking expressions of interest from passionate sector stakeholders to participate and contribute:
- Growing leaders and managers
- Improving workforce data
- The social sector registered workforce recognises the value of Kaimanaaki, and their role in improving wellbeing outcomes
- Identifying opportunities for the Kaimanaaki workforce to support improved wellbeing outcomes
- Recognising regional differences and celebrating successful local initiatives
- Developing a 2021-2025 workforce skills plan
Mō ētehi atu kōrero – To read more about the Kaimanaaki workforce action plan, including the proposed outputs for each objective, download the plan and come join the whānau!
E hauora ai te whānau, whakamanatia te Kaimanaaki.
To enhance the wellbeing of whānau, we must recognise the mana of the Kaimanaaki.
More information
To read more about the Kaimanaaki workforce action plan, including the proposed outputs for each objective, you may wish to download the plan.
Download the Kaimanaaki Workforce Plan
How to get involved
If you would like to get involved in the development and implementation of the plan, and are passionate about lifting the veil on our wonderful Kaimanaaki workforce, please email penny.barrett@careerforce.org.nz.