September 2021 Strategy Update

Published

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Pasifika and Māori Health and Wellbeing Strategic Framework and action plan for Brisbane South 2020-2025.

Launch of the DESMOND program

On 30 May 2021, the culturally adapted DESMOND Program was launched. The DESMOND program supports our community to be able to receive education about how to manage type 2 diabetes from DESMOND trained members of the community. Two of our community members have been formally trained and accredited to deliver this program with support from Diabetes Queensland.

Objective: 1.2, 1.5

Related Action from Strategy:

  • Develop and deliver evidence-based prevention and management programs that are co-designed and delivered with community. 
  • Continue and expand ‘train the trainer’ programs – training community members to deliver culturally tailored chronic condition management education programs.

Priority Area from Strategy: 

  • Long Term Wellness

Integral Structures engaged in health literacy campaign

Integral Structures (Pasifika owned consultancy and content developer) have been engaged to spear-head a health literacy campaign which will focus on supporting our community to navigate and utilise services in a timely and appropriate way. The key focus areas of this campaign will be appropriate use of emergency departments, getting ready for baby and COVID-19 Vaccines. Integral Structures will develop high quality content suitable for mixed media platforms that will resonate with our community perspectives and experiences. 

Objective: 1.3

Related Action from Strategy:

  • Co-design health literacy and health service navigation education strategies for the community 

Priority Area from Strategy: 

  • Long Term Wellness

Funding extended for Community connector team leader role

Community connector team leader role with Village Connect funded for another 12months (1st July - June 30 2022) to continue support integration of services with the Village Connect hub 

Objective: 2.4

Related Action from Strategy:

  • Continue and expand community controlled maternal and child health programs that deliver integrated services 

Priority Area from Strategy: 

  • Maternal and Child Wellbeing 

Village Connect establishes cross-sector partnerships

Village connect have established many cross-sector partnerships to support with the delivery of place-based services within Maternity Hub. Some of the news partnerships established include working with HeadStart Queensland who are delivering allied health services for children attending the hub and working with Children’s Health QLD who are providing access to child health nurses to support the health and wellbeing of Pasifika Children. 

Objective: 2.1

Related Action from Strategy:

  • Develop cross-sector partnerships to deliver place-based services across the continuum of health and social needs 

Priority Area from Strategy: 

  • Maternal and Child Wellbeing 

Village Connect hosts Early Years Educators Network meetings

Village Connect have been supporting/hosting the Early Years Educators Network meetings. This has been co-ordinated by the Department of Education. It gives an opportunity for Early Years Educators to gather and receive support for professional development and exchange ideas on how to better support our Pasifika children and educators within the early years sector 

Objective: 1.6, 2.1

Related Action from Strategy:

  • Provide networks forums and workshops for innovators to create and implement innovative ideas 
  • Develop cross-sector partnerships to deliver placed-based services across the continuum of health and social needs 

Priority Area from Strategy: 

  • Maternal and Child Wellbeing 
  • Long Term Wellness 

IBELONG Pasifika Youth Holiday Program for Pasifika youth 

Village Connect - IBELONG Pasifika Youth Holiday Program for Pasifika youth (15-18 yrs.) 

  1. Overcome barriers to inclusion and belonging within community.
  2. Feel a greater sense of belonging with their local and broader community.
  3. Gain relevant experience and/or mentoring support through social and economic participation in the community. 
  4. Building on their existing knowledge and skills to feel more confident within themselves and their abilities. 

The program is focused around supporting young people to write and develop their stories with selected stories adapted into a short film. Young people are supported by industry Mentors and a Youth Village incubator team of 15 team leaders aged from 18-25 years. 

Objective: 3.1

Related Action from Strategy:

  • Embed a strengths-based approach to service co-design and delivery 
  • Continue and expand programs for Pasifika and Māori people that increase awareness of cultural strengths and assets 

Priority Area from Strategy: 

  • Mental Wealth 

Mana Pasifika schools mentoring program

MANA Pasifika continue to deliver their schools mentoring programs which focuses on embedding a strengths based approached to promoting cultural strengths and assets. This year they partnered with the Brisbane Broncos to deliver additional mentoring to 6 new schools across the Brisbane Region. 

Objective: 3.1

Related Action from Strategy:

  • Embed a strengths-based approach to service co-design and delivery 
  • Continue and expand programs for Pasifika and Māori people that increase awareness of cultural strengths and assets 

Priority Area from Strategy: 

  • Mental Wealth

Mana Pasifika’s Working with Pasifika Peoples course

MANA Pasifika are also continuing the work they have been doing to deliver the working with Pasifika people’s course to health services and organisations across the region. The Working with Pasifika Peoples course has attracted interest from many other sectors who have successfully attended the workshops including Youth Justice, Education, Local councils, Social services and other community services 

Objective: 1.5, 2.3, 3.4

Related Action from Strategy:

  • Continue and expand on culturally responsive training and support for health professionals, services and organisations 

Priority Area from Strategy: 

  • Long Term Wellness
  • Maternal and Child Health
  • Mental Wealth

‘Lanuola’ Gestational Diabetes and Nutrition Education program 

The ‘Lanuola’ Gestational Diabetes and Nutrition Education program is co-facilitated fortnightly by Metro South Health, Health Equity and Access Units Nurse Navigator/Diabetes Educator and Community Nutritionist. The program provides practical information about Gestational Diabetes, food, nutrition and meal planning. They work closely with Village Connect Community Connectors to review and update the program ensuring it incorporates Pasifika values and practices. 

Objective: 2.2, 2.3

Related Action from Strategy:

  • Co-design and deliver culturally tailored education programs and resources for Pasifika and Maori mothers and young women 
  • Embed Pasifika and Maori frameworks into mainstream antenatal, child and family services that consider culturally nuance health perspectives 

Priority Area from Strategy: 

  • Maternal and Child Health
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