Youth health workforce
We understand the challenges and opportunities for youth health kaimahi.
Young people need a health workforce that can deliver the care they deserve
Since 2022 we have worked with young people and youth health kaimahi across the motu to understand how best to strengthen a workforce to deliver improved School Based Health Services (SBHS).
Work started with describing the current state of the workforce. We partnered with The Collaborative Trust for Research and Training in Youth Health and Development to gather and review information to describe the current state of the existing SBHS workforce and how they experienced the day-to-day challenges and saw opportunities for improvement. The work was captured in the report on current state of the SBHS workforce and also informed the report on what the SBHS workforce needs to be in the future.
Guide for youth health nurses
He Kōhanga Whakaruruhau - Youth Health Nursing Practice and Development Guide - coming soon
We know that youth health nurses want help to better meet the needs and aspirations of their rangatahi, particularly in school based health service settings. In response, Te Whatu Ora asked us to update the 2014 National Youth Health Nurses Knowledge and Skills Framework and ensure it used the values framework Te Ūkaipō as its foundation. Te Ūkaipō was developed by Te Rōpū Mātanga o Rangatahi as an expression of Te Ao Māori, Mātauranga Māori and Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles.
Young people, youth health kaimahi and many others working in youth health and school based health services have contributed to He Kōhanga Whakaruruhau (the Guide) to ensure it covers the important clinical knowledge areas and provides practical examples to illustrate the attitudes and values that rangatahi have told us are essential.
Update
We seeking feedback on the final draft and will be sharing sections of the Guide at the INVOLVE conference on 7-8 August in Christchurch. Look for Jodi Cash at our stand and see how this may play a role in your development in youth health. We plan to launch the final document at Te Tūhono Rangatahi Youth Health Conference in Hamilton 22-23 September 2025.