How can I progress as a new grad Māori physiotherapist?
Seek whanaungatanga and support early in your career
I want to develop as a Māori physiotherapist, but how?
Are you feeling like you don’t see a pathway of progression, or you simply wonder what else there is for you as a Māori physiotherapist?
This article explores factors that have contributed to the career development as a Māori physiotherapist for Bridget, one of the kaitiaki o Tae Ora Tinana. These factors include, seeking whanaungatanga, taking all opportunities, and seeking support from kaimahi Māori
Whanaungatanga
At countless points in our careers, we hit speed bumps that make us question what to do next. These moments highlight the power of finding other kaimahi to awhi you.
As Māori physiotherapists, when we prioritise whanaungatanga with other tauira and kaimahi, we bring awareness to being in the waka together and drawing from each others’ learnings and experience.
One of the Tae Ora Tinana kaitiaki, Bridget, reflects that she had a mana wahine at her physiotherapy clinic, who Bridget reached out to about interest in contributing to Māori in the physiotherapy profession. This eventually led to becoming a kaitiaki in Tae Ora Tinana, and Bridget still sees her as a role model as she progresses in her career.
Is there someone you could reach out to? Please message us to reach out on Instagram!
Seek support to attend events
Seek support to attend events
It can be expensive to do professional development courses or attend events.
As a tauira or kaimahi, we strongly recommend seeking out support from Tae Ora Tinana for ideas on attaining support to attend the events you choose. As we develop our website, we strive to connect you with more kaupapa Māori opportunities for your professional development.
One option is the tangata whenua allied health roopu, Ngā Pou Mana, who host online and in-person wānanga regularly. We recommend you check out their membership options.
As an example of support for attending events, tauira have often been able to get funding for travel, accommodation, and registration to attend the bi-annual Physiotherapy New Zealand Conference. At the 2022 conference, the representation of Māori and Pacifica workshops and sessions were more than any conference before. As kaitiaki we got the chance to meet current tauira who had sought out support to attend the conference. This led to opportunities for whanaungatanga for all of us, something we were all craving coming out of COVID lockdowns.
In conclusion, if you are looking to develop as a Māori physiotherapist as well as connect with others, seek support - a starting place is attending our free webinar in March!