Invitation to Te Whiuwhiu o te Hau alumni

Kia ora

The Te Whiuwhiu o te Hau team at Wintec are currently undertaking an evaluation of the programme. They would like to extend an invitation to Te Whiuwhiu o te Hau graduates/tutors to participate in completing their evaluation questions. There is also an invitation to participate in two hui/gatherings - however if you can't attend please send in your completed questionnaires. Below is their questionnaire and invitation letter. If you are interested please forward your feedback or queries to David, Maria and Carol. As a member of the first team who set up the programme, it is healthy to revisit the goals, aims and purpose of the programme to check its relevance and uptodateness. So, good on this team for having the vision to seek feedback at this stage of the programme's journey, its nearly at its 18th year. Kia kaha, Taima


24th July 2009


Kia ora Koutou


We are tutors from the Te Whiuwhiu O Te Hau Maori counselling programme run at the Waikato Institute of Technology, we teach from bi-cultural practices and perspectives incorporating Maori and western perspectives, theories and frameworks. We are reviewing the program to discover if what we teach benefits counselling and social service agencies.

Te Whiuwhiu o te Hau – Maori Counselling has been running since 1990 and this review will support the teaching staff in ascertaining if the program still has the same needs that it did when it began, or if it needs redevelopment. This is an opportunity to have input into a Maori counselling program especially with those social service agencies that deal with clientele that are of Maori descent.

We are holding a series of Hui at Wintec on Wednesday the 12th August 2009 and Wednesday the 19th August 2009 from 12pm till 1pm at the Gallagher room 2. Afternoon tea will be provided. These Hui are with various social service agencies for two reasons, to create dialogue as well as establishing relationships on top of reviewing the program and are inviting your organization to be a part of this process, as we would greatly appreciate your participation. If these dates are unsuitable, but you would still like to have a say we would like to come and speak with you in your agency.

Some of the topics that will be discussed are our strengths, and what are the gaps. Would flexible delivery work, and what are mixed modes of delivery. Te Whiuwhiu O Te Hau Maori Counselling has generally been generic based training but now what are social service agencies needs around specialist knowledge. Another issue is having a relationship and creating a rapport with the Social service agencies that we send our students to, to enable us all to gain the best benefit in terms of what social service agencies needs are, and how we as Te Whiuwhiu O Te Hau can address them.

Our goal is to graduate students who are competent and confident professionals, who have the relevant and necessary Maori and western counseling skills to be able to work safely and effectively with-in any agency.

We would appreciate if you could respond by Friday 31st August 2009 for catering purposes and to also RSVP so that Wintec parking can be made available. If you have any questions please make contact via the details below.



Kia ora ano



………………………
The Te Whiuwhiu o te Hau
Maori Counselling team
Rawiri Waretini-Karena
Carol Aupouri Mc Clean
Maria Ranga

Phone: 834-8800 ext 8515
David.waretini-karena@wintec.ac.nz

Potential questions for evaluation hui

The facilitator could explain that the Te Whiuwhiu programme is conducting a review / evaluation to help with future planning. Therefore, the questions for the hui cover the past, present and future. Staff have discussions points to raise under each question, and will record the feedback.

1. What feedback can you give to us about graduates of the programme?

Prompt with:
- What reputation does the programme currently have?
- Were / are our graduates good employees in your agencies
- What do you think the programme’s strengths / weaknesses have been?

2. In what ways does the current curriculum and delivery of the programme meet / not meet the needs of:

A) Employment agencies

Prompt with:
- Are Maori / Mauri counsellors needed in you agencies?
- Would you consider enrolling your staff in the program at present?

B) Potential students

Prompt with:
-Would you consider Maori / Mauri counselling as a career?
-Are the exit points ( 3 year degree only at present) appropriate?

3. What changes could the program make to better meet the needs of:

a) Employing agencies

Prompt with:
-Bringing the programme to the agencies, using delivery ideas below
-running program at an agency as staff training
-use mix mode/ flexible delivery (electronic+ kanohi kit e kanohi)
Develop specializations, such as sexual abuse; drug & alcohol training;ACC;DSMIV; Maori mental health / counselling / facilitation / mediation / supervision / Kaupapa Maori supervision.

b) Potential students

Prompt with a list of possible ideas to better meet agency / student needs;
-offering a 1 year Graduate Diploma in Maori / Mauri Counselling ( Targeting year 2 social work students)
- introducing multiple exit points, e.g. at year 1 Certificate and Year 2 Diploma level



Thank You