Whanau Ora Diploma creates whanau history

Whanau Ora Diploma creates whanau history

Five Waipareira kaimahi are the first students in the country to graduate with a Diploma in Whanau Ora.

At Whanau Centre in Henderson, Western (Willie) Tahuri, Khadine Topia, Vivian Cope, Annette Seakins and Aunia Forsyth, received their official parchments – qualifying them as Whanau Ora Practitioners. They are the first to participate in the two year Level 5 diploma.

Acquiring a tohu through the Whānau Ora Diploma allows the kaimahi acknowledgement for the mahi they do for the community.

Waipareira designed and rolled out the Whanau Ora Diploma as a pilot in September 2012. Six kaimahi from Wai-Health, Wai-Educate and Wai-Social were enrolled.

The students were presented their parchments today by National MP and Alfred Ngaro.

He said the graduating students should feel proud of that they had achieved and it was an honour for him to present the parchments.

“I congratulate you on this special day and encourage you to continue along this journey,” he said.

As each student was given their parchment, whanau performed Waiata and haka to acknowledge their achievements.

Vivian Cope, who spoke on behalf of the students said their goal now was to empower whanau.

“”We must offer on-going support to allow them to take ownership of their past, live to decided their present to enable them to become decision makers of their own futures,” she said.

The Whanau Ora Diploma is supported by workforce development funders, such as the Ministry of Health (MPDS).

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