Supporting palliative care for underserved communities

Jackie and Stella had the privilege of sharing their work with the Hepatitis B team in Whakatāne on Tuesday 2 Dec. They presented He Tapu Te Tangata The Sacred Person approach for engaging and connecting with whānau who are underserved by palliative care. He Tapu Te Tangata is a conceptual framework developed from the HRC funded Te Whakahekenga (Dying as a health and social justice issue) project findings. The framework acknowledges the need to respect the sanctity or the wholeness of a person. We are getting lots of feedback that it could serve as a really helpful practice guide for healthcare professionals.

Jackie and Stella used this opportunity to create an interactive wānanga (learning) space. Participants worked in small groups to share insights based on their experiences as Eastern Bay of Plenty whānau and kaimahi (worker/staff). It was humbling to hear their stories and reflections on how He Tapu Te Tangata could support their communities. Stella and Jackie are excited to continue this work and develop a plan for integrating He Tapu Te Tangata into the work of health professionals.

Jackie Robinson talking with members of the Whakatāne based Hepatitis B Team