AUT helps to develop a healthy nation

Leading researchers unite this week to help improve the health of the nation at AUT’s Health - The Wealth of the Nation Symposium.

The symposium looks at the socio economic impact that poor health has on the country’s productivity and the increasing burden of long term conditions on our communities.

Associate Minister of Health, the Hon. Tariana Turia will also speak at the symposium about Whānau Ora integrated health services.

Dr Anita Bamford-Wade, Joint Head of AUT’s Nursing School, says research will be presented on ways to improve upon current primary health care delivery through integrated and interdisciplinary models, with a particular focus on the role nurses play in improving health outcomes.

"The definition of health is being redefined and nurses play a key role in the provision of better, more efficient and more convenient healthcare. Poor health has a significant socio economic impact on the country's productivity, and yet the current medical model does not adequately address this aspect of care.”

“There needs to be more inclusiveness of other health professionals who are also key in developing a healthy nation. In the next five to 10 years we need more nurses and nurse practitioners in primary health care as frontline health professionals. Nursing’s potential is yet to be realised in the New Zealand health care system, which is heavily medicalised.”

The symposium has attracted key leaders and researchers in health care. Topics covered at the symposium include: access to healthcare in New Zealand, the tension between economic paradigms and good health policy, inter-generational illness, health literacy and resilient leadership to drive all of this.

Event Information:

Event: Health – The Wealth of the Nation
Date: 24 - 25 November 2010
Location: Awataha Conference Centre (AF114), AUT University, North Shore Campus, 90 Akoranga Drive, Northcote, Auckland.

For further information please contact:

Anthea McLeary, Communications Manager, AUT's Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences,
0212256427 or email anthea.mcleary@aut.ac.nz

or

Dr Anita Bamford-Wade, Joint Head of Nursing, AUT’s Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, 021921776 or email anita.bamford@aut.ac.nz


Further details about AUT’s Health - The Wealth of the Nation Symposium are available below or at: www.healthwealthsymposium.co.nz/programme.htm

Programme Information:

Day One: Wednesday 24 November 2010

1000 – 1100: Professor Jenny Carryer, Executive Director, College of Nurses Aotearoa, NZ, Long Term Conditions: A Mirror for our Challenges in Delivering Health Services Aligned with Community Need.
1130 – 1230: Professor Glenn Gardner, Director of the Centre for Clinical Nursing, Queensland University of Technology, Nursing: The Elephant in the Room of Health Service Reform.
1240 – 1320: Special Session: Associate Minister of Health, Hon. Tariana Turia, Whānau Ora.
1330 – 1415: Professor Marilyn Waring, The Tension between Economic Paradigms and Good Health Policy.
1415 – 1500: Chris Clarke, CEO, World Vision New Zealand, Resilient Leadership.
1500-1530: Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop, The relevance/usefulness of genetic indicators.
1600 – 1700: 'On the Couch' Session. Facilitator: Ruth De Souza. Panel: Prof. Marilyn Waring, Prof. Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop, Prof. Jenny Carryer and Prof. Glenn Gardner.

Day Two: Thursday 25 November 2010

0730 - 0930 Knowledge Café Breakfast:
1. What do we mean by Whanau Ora and how can this benefit the youth of our country?
2. ‘Better, Sooner, More Convenient Primary Health Care:’ What will it look like for marginalised people and communities?
3. How can communication technology support healthy communities?
Session Facilitators: Mary-Anne Boyd, Sue Adams, Michal Noonan
0930-1015: Associate Professor Toni Ashton, Access to Services in New Zealand: Evidence, Issues and Ideas.
1015-1100: Professor Elaine Rush, Intergenerational Illness.
1130-1200: Dr Matire Harwood, Clinical Director, Tamaki PHO, Health Literacy
1200-1245: Chris Farrelly, CEO Manaia PHO,The Road Less Travelled: If Maori are Well, the Nation is Well.