Workforce development in the addiction treatment sector has not addressed all the workforce needs of the Māori workforce nor progressed Māori responsiveness. The development of the Takarangi Competency Framework has built on desires expressed at the National Summit held at Manu Ariki in 2000, previous work including Tikanga Totika (MoH) and Te Piringatahi (ALAC), and pilots over the past two years.
The development of the Framework has been a collaborative effort over time, involving Ngā Manga Puriri, ADHB Māori Mental Health and the Northern Region Māori Workforce Development Group. A range of practitioners from AOD, problem gamblng, mental health and primary care have been involved in the pilots which have not only led to fine tuning of the competencies but also the assessment processes and workshop resources.
Engagement with the Takarangi Competency Framework is voluntary and is very useful for services which do not have a quality assurance or workforce development tool for addressing work with Māori. For those who are engaged in other competency requirements of their profession (e.g social workers, nurses etc) or sector (e.g DAPAANZ) they have found the framework a useful complement to evidence their Māori responsiveness requirements.
If you are interested in the framework and or having your team take part in the introductory workshop contact Terry Huriwai (
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) at Matua Raki.
The Takarangi Competency Framework provides a yardstick against which practitioners in the alcohol and other drug, problem gambling and mental health sectors can measure their professional capacity and capability to work with Māori. Last year we had successful introductory workshops in Auckland, the Bay of Plenty, Lakes and Tairawhiti. We continue to field enquiries for our introductory workshop and for information about the framework. In December we had the opportunity to attend a hui of framework participants from Hauora Whanui.
It was awesome to see the progress the 30+ practitioners were making. We are currently evaluating the impact of the framework for services and practitioners and we will be engaging in an independent review to offer suggestions for the future implementation. As part of this evaluation we have been interviewing people who are engaged with the framework. You can now view the video clips of some of these stories online (below) Please check it out, it is an easy way to find out more about this inspirational framework. Special thanks again to everyone who has shared their whakaaro and korero with us.
Terry Huriwai and Ana Mules
Takarangi Competency Framework – Why
Takarangi Competency Framework – Who
Takarangi Competency Framework - What
He Tētē Kura -- Maori Addiction Treatment 1980-2008
Cave T, Robertson P, Pitama S and Huriwai T. Matua Raki. Ōtautahi, Christchurch, NZ. 2008.
He Tētē Kura reviews the growth of the Māori addiction treatment sector and examines the lessons for a new generation of workers and leaders. The title comes from the whakataukī ‘Mate atu he tētē kura, ara mai he tētē kura’. The koru which is often associated with this whakataukī represents birth, regrowth and regeneration and symbolises sustainability and the passing of knowledge and resources from one generation to the next.
The annual Matua Raki-facilitated Māori hui provides an opportunity pre-Cutting Edge for the gathering of a group of like-minded people (those working in addiction) with a common kawa (recovery and addiction related harm) to hear and discuss matters that influence us as opposed to issues pertaining to others. It is a chance to hold our leadership accountable and also to celebrate with them the achievements of the addiction treatment sector. In other words it is a Hui-a-Tau.
