He Wānanga Whakarite: preparing Māori for surgical selection interviews

Area of Science:

• Medical Education
• Surgical Training
• Health Workforce Diversity

Background:

• Māori are significantly under-represented in Aotearoa New Zealand's surgical workforce.
• Addressing this inequity is crucial for community healthcare.
• Proportional representation is needed to improve Māori access to surgical care.

Purpose of the Study:

• To support and prepare Māori Non-Training Surgical Registrars for Royal Australasian College of Surgeons Surgical Education and Training (SET) interviews.
• To review the inception, content, and experiences of a kaupapa Māori wānanga.
• To address the lack of diversity in the surgical workforce.

Main Methods:

• An independent kaupapa Māori wānanga was developed.
• The initiative utilized a 'by Māori, for Māori' approach.
• Tīkanga Māori (Māori lore and protocols) were adhered to.

Main Results:

• Attendees unanimously agreed the wānanga dramatically improved SET interview preparation.
• In 2020, 80% of wānanga attendees were selected for SET training positions.
• The initiative demonstrated a significant success rate.

Conclusions:

• This kaupapa Māori initiative is a successful active measure to support Māori doctors in surgical training selection.
• The wānanga directly addresses inequity in the surgical workforce.
• Such initiatives are vital for achieving proportionality in surgical training programs.