How might we improve support for Māori midwifery students?

The Māori birth rate is 25.2% of the total New Zealand birth rate, but Māori women are not always able to access care from a midwife who identifies as Māori and shares their cultural world view. More Māori midwifery graduates are needed.

To this end our School of Midwifery undertook research into the experiences of current Māori midwifery students to identify opportunities to help them succeed. To ensure that lecturers Dr Jean Patterson, Professor Sally Baddock and Bridget Kerkin did not know which students participated in the study, only Erica Newman from the University of Otago  met with the students.  The Otago Polytechnic team worked with a report which Erica wrote in consultation with the Māori midwifery students to ensure it faithfully captured their words without identifying them.

The Māori midwifery students generously shared their experiences and suggested ways to improve our programme. Their suggestions included:

• Providing the timetable sooner to help with planning travel and childcare
  
• Breaking up the difficult bioscience topic into smaller modules
• Using video in online tutorials so the students can see the tutor's face
• Having the opportunity to meet their ākonga learning group members face to face when on their first block course
• More contact with Māori support services
• Having Māori facilitators for the teaching of tikanga Māori

These suggestions have been gratefully implemented by the School of Midwifery. The role of a dedicated Māori midwife already available online to the students has also been strengthened.

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