First Masters graduates capped for the Aniva Programme

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

16 March 2017

FIRST MASTERS GRADUATES CAPPED FOR THE ANIVA PROGRAMME

Today, the Aniva programme will celebrate the first graduation where three graduands will be awarded the inaugural Master of Professional Practice (Leadership) by Whitireia Community Polytechnic.

The Aniva programme was instigated in 2012 in response to disappointing statistics, with fewer than 25 percent of Pacific learners completing Masters of Nursing qualifications.

The Ministry of Health commissioned the Aniva programme to support Pacific nurses to achieve postgraduate qualifications. The Postgraduate Diploma in Specialty Care (Pacific Health) was designed and is delivered collaboratively by Pacific Perspectives, Dr Margaret Southwick QSM and Fuimaono Karl Pulotu Endemann MNZM, through Whitireia Community Polytechnic. Graduates then went on to enrol in the Whitireia & WelTec Master of Professional Practice (Leadership).

Dr Suitafa Debbie Ryan, Director of Pacific Perspectives says nurses make up 78% of the Pacific regulated health workforce but few have taken on further studies or advanced training.

“The Aniva programme was established as a pathway to advance nursing education to respond to the increased demand for achievement of qualifications by Pacific nurses. The core of the programme is the Masters pathway.”

“This pathway involves a three-year, part-time, Masters level qualification designed specifically to motivate and encourage progression, with an in depth understanding of health issues affecting Pacific people.”

Dr Ryan says there has been an increasing level of demand for enrolment into this qualification since it started in 2012 with continued interest from District Health Boards and employers to support their Pacific nursing and midwifery staff to complete the programme.

“The graduation of the first three Masters students – the first of a class of 15 to be awarded the Master of Professional Practice (Leadership) – marks a milestone for the Aniva programme and the Pacific health workforce.”

“We are seeing the results of a rigorous and well-designed programme offered to support the Pacific health workforce to develop the knowledge, skills and abilities they need to deliver evidence-based health care for Pacific people and their communities.”

Dr Ryan says it is a milestone worthy of celebration and demand for entry into the programme is expected to increase.

“The programme is part of an integrated design that puts specialised knowledge of Pacific health at the centre of learning and delivers workforce development relevant to Pacific health professionals and their employers.”

“As we have delivered the programme, we have witnessed the increasing numbers of Pacific health professionals enrolling and being able to make a difference in their organisations and respective communities. We are very proud of the graduates.”

Dr Ryan says alongside the formal qualifications, Pacific Perspectives is also delivering a leadership programme with a focus on supporting participants to develop the skills, knowledge and attitudes for leadership in Pacific health.

120 Pacific nurses and midwives have participated in the programme from 2012 to 2016.

Today, 23 students will graduate with a Postgraduate Certificate in Specialty Care (Pacific Health), 12 students will graduate with a Postgraduate Diploma in Specialty Care (Pacific Health), and three students will graduate with a Master of Professional Practice (Leadership). The majority of graduands are from Auckland.

The Aniva programme supports the Pacific health workforce to participate in higher level postgraduate learning and research.

ENDS.

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