Counties Manukau
Health

Implementation

Counties Manukau Health (CM Health) partnered with local schools, identified by expression of interest, to become Health and Science Academies (HSAs). The HSA program is designed around supporting students to gain direct entry into tertiary level sciences, through extra tuition in science, maths and English, and other activities, including hospital visits, panel sessions with health professionals and academic mentoring.

Organisational strategies

• CM Health has embarked on a number of equal opportunity initiatives to complement the HSAs.
• All Maori and Pasifika candidates are short-listed for priority workforces.
• A senior Maori or Pasifika representative is always included in interview panels for priority workforces.
• Workforce recruitment targets are set to ensure that the diversity of the workforce reflects the diversity of the local population by 2025.

Partnership strategies

• Initially three schools were selected to become HSAs.
• Initial funding to implement the HSAs was provided by a partnership with the Tindall foundation, a charitable foundation that operates across New Zealand. In 2016, CM Health agreed to fund the three colleges directly.
• A Grow Our Own Workforce Governance Group meets up to four times a year to provide strategic guidance and monitor the ongoing implementation of the academies.
• An operational leadership group was established between CM Health and the Principals of each of the colleges to improve collaboration and share best practice.

Program design strategies

• The academies support Maori and Pasifika students with an interest in, and aptitude for, careers in health. Selection is made on students evidencing commitment, alongside some academic ability.
• The HSA program is a joint endeavour between families, community and teachers and regular parent information events are held.
• To profile the wide range of possible health careers, CM Health provides events, hospital visits and talks with health professionals. The provision of hands-on experiences of health sector jobs, and opportunities to talk to Maori and Pasifika health professionals, helps to increase student motivation and sense of purpose.
• The HSA program is designed to support students to gain direct entry into tertiary level sciences. Compared to mainstream students in Year 11, who have five lessons of science in a six-day timetable, students in the HSAs have ten lessons.
• The program is recognised as a long-term strategy. Once the students transition into tertiary study, depending on their area of studies, they won’t be ready for employment for a minimum of three years after that.