Central region

Welcome to the central region workforce development page. Here we hope to provide information on the workforce development activities the central region mental health and addiction sector is engaged in.

An overview of the sector and some key regional organisations and groups are described. Relevant, upcoming events will be listed here, such as hui, conferences, workshops, training, scholarships and publication releases.

This page will also be used to spotlight some of the excellent work that is going on in the sector in this region. You are encouraged to tell us of your organisation's initiatives so that others may be informed.

On this page:

• Central region DHB geographical coverage
• Central region DHB overview
• Organisations and groups
• Central region workforce development plan
• Monthly updates
• Let's get real engagement activity in the central region
• Regional workforce coordinator contact details

Central region DHB geographical coverage

The six central region district dealth boards (DHBs) include Capital and Coast, Hawke's Bay, Hutt Valley, MidCentral, Wairarapa, and Whanganui. The central region encompasses the lower portion of the North Island and while the overall regional population is relatively small, the geographic area of the region is significant. The region includes a variety of geographically different areas and diverse populations.

The central region stretches from Hawke's Bay in the North, to Wellington in the South and Whanganui in the West. The DHB boundaries are illustrated in the map (click the image to see in a larger view).

Approximately 838,950 (2006 estimated "usually resident" census population count) people live in the region, representing 20 per cent of the New Zealand population. Capital and Coast is the largest DHB in the region with a population of 277,990; the smallest DHB is Wairarapa with a population of 39,550.

The distribution by age group in the central region is very similar to the New Zealand distribution but there are some variations by DHB - Capital and Coast DHB has proportionally more people aged 15-44 years, Hawke's Bay has the highest proportion of children less than 15 years and Wairarapa has the highest proportion of people aged 45-64 years and 65-84 years

Seventeen per cent of the central region population are Maori, five per cent of the central region population are Pacific people. The six DHBs have diverse ethnic distributions - Hawke's Bay and Whanganui DHBs have the largest proportion of Maori (24.1 per cent and 24.3 per cent), with the largest number of Maori living in Hawke's Bay DHB. Capital and Coast and Hutt Valley DHBs have both the largest number of and the largest proportion of Pacific people.

(Source: Regional Health Needs Assessment Central TAS)

 DHB overview

Capital and Coast DHB

Together, improve the health and independence of the people of our district.
Capital and Coast DHB funds and provides health services to the lower part of the North Island. It serves a population of about 270,000 residents and provide some specialist services for a regional population of about 900,000 people.

Hutt Valley DHB

Working together for health and well-being...
Hutt Valley DHB provides and funds health services to nearly 140,000 people in the lower North Island of New Zealand.

Wairarapa DHB

To improve, promote, and protect the health status of the people of the Wairarapa, and the independent living of those with disabilities, by supporting and encouraging healthy choices.
The area covered by Wairarapa DHB is the lower southeast of the North Island, extending from the Rimutaka hill and Ocean Beach in the south to Mount Bruce in the north. Slightly more than half of the Wairarapa population live in Masterton, where the district hospital is located. The current population is about 39,000. Maori make up 14 per cent of the total population, have a younger age profile and make up an increasing proportion of the population. Pacific people make up less than 2 per cent of the population

Whanganui DHB

To improve health and independence through a responsive and integrated health system.
Whanganui District Health Board is home to a population of 62,210 (Census 2006, Statistics New Zealand) which includes the Wanganui and Rangitikei Territorial Authority areas, and the Ruapehu Territorial Authority area Wards of Waimarino and Waiouru - known as South Ruapehu. The Provider Division of the Whanganui District Health Board, Wanganui Hospital & Health Services, currently provides services from four sites - Base Hospital in Wanganui, Rural Health Centres at Taihape, Raetihi and Marton.

MidCentral DHB

Improving, promoting and protecting" the health of local residents and the communities in which they live.
MidCentral DHB's district stretches across the North Island of New Zealand from the west to the east coast and is distinguished by the Tararua and Ruahine ranges that traverse the centre of the district. MidCentral DHB's population is over 158,000 people, and the majority live in Palmerston North City. Around 14 per cent of the population are aged 65 years or older. Maori make up 17 per cent of MidCentral DHB's population.

Hawkes Bay DHB

Working with others to maximise the health and well-being of people in Hawke's Bay and the Chatham Islands.
Hawkes Bay is situated on the east coast of New Zealand's North Island. With a population of 146,000 people, most reside in or around the twin cities of Hastings and Napier. Hawke's Bay Hospital Soldiers' Memorial is a 400 bed hospital, based on the Heretaunga Health Village site in Hastings. It provides acute services and is supported by satellite facilities in Napier, Wairoa, Waipukurau and the Chatham Islands.

Central region organisations and groups

Central Technical Advisory Service (TAS)

Since 2001, TAS has provided support to the central region DHBs with an emphasis on service planning, facilitating regional collaboration and using in-house expertise and information technology in innovative ways to provide the best possible services to customers.

Central Region Workforce Development Strategy Group

The Central Region Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Development Strategy Group is a result of the recommendations from the Central Region Workforce Development Plan 2008. This plan was completed by the regional workforce development coordinator at the request of the central region mental health and addiction portfolio managers. The purpose of this group is to provide regional leadership for workforce development planning, implementation and evaluation.

Download the Central Region Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Development Strategy Group booklet (PDF, 472KB) to learn more about the group.

Central Region Workforce Development Strategy Group meeting resources

• Terms of reference (PDF, 154KB)
• Meeting minutes 15 September 2009 (PDF, 263KB)
• Meeting minutes 13 October 2009 (PDF, 217KB)

Lower North Island Mental Health Nurse Educator Group

The Lower North Island Mental Health Nurse Educator Group is a quarterly forum to identify, acknowledge and value nurse educator expertise through supporting professional development and strengthen the effectiveness of nurse educators within the lower North Island.

Central Region Workforce Development Plan

The Central Region Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Development Plan is inclusive of the broader context of mental health and addiction sector developments and initiatives and has been informed by and linked to Tauawhitia te Wero - Embracing the Challenge: National mental health and addiction workforce development plan 2006-2009 (Ministry of Health: 2005).

The primary aims of the plan are to:

• facilitate an increased understanding of workforce development opportunities across the national, regional and local spectrum
• recommend a beginning process for establishing regional workforce development capacity and capability within the central region
• make recommendations for central region workforce development budget spend.

The workforce development detailed in this plan is informed by the whole of systems approach based on the five strategic imperatives from Tauawhitia te Wero. These imperatives are:

• workforce development infrastructure
• organisational development
• retention and recruitment
• training and development
• research and evaluation.

This plan has drawn on a range of information gathered from a number of sources and stakeholders and should be considered as a starting point to guide future direction for workforce development within the central region.

Click here to read the download the Central Region Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Development Plan (PDF, 254KB).

The Plan focuses on the following key areas as priorities for the central region:

• primary mental health
• mental health of older persons
• child and youth mental health
• co-existing problems.

The plan also includes the facilitation of four regional forums to share information on national and regional workforce development initiatives, inform central region workforce development planning, identify workforce development needs and network with others in the region.

The central region mental health and addiction planners and funders continue to support the role of the CRWDSG in regional workforce development. The group is currently seeking expressions of interest for a representative in the Hawkes Bay area. For further details please contact Janet Edmond.

Monthly updates

• February 2010 PDF (60kb)
• March 2010 PDF (74kb)
• April 2010 PDF (69kb)

Let's get real engagement activity in the central region

See Let's get real engagement activity

For more information on the central region

Janet Edmond
04 3816392
0272074038
janet.edmond   "at" tepou.co.nz
PO Box 6169
Marion Square
Wellington

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Page last updated: 10 June 2010