Examples of projects from the first SPARK NZ workshop.
Annick developed a methodology to capture on video stories shared by parents of disabled children during a leadership development programme. These stories have been shared with families, consumers, planners and funders. Read more about the project on the Te Whanau Kotahi website.
Frances started a peer-led, peer-support choir for positive mental wellbeing. Peer support is known to improve social interaction and sense of belonging as well as lower stress levels. There is also evidence that music in general and participative singing specifically contribute to overall mental and emotional well-being. The group has a wide range of participants, and Frances is looking for ways to expand the concept to reach a wider audience.
Leigh’s project looked at supporting DHB staff to respond appropriately to family safety issues in specialist mental health services. Leigh undertook a scoping exercise to determine the effectiveness of the family violence intervention resources developed in the previous pilot project, the current response of mental health staff alongside available community interventions, and stakeholder views. The scoping exercise involved a staff survey, clinical file audit, a survey of NGOs providing interventions, and consultation with family/whānau. One year later, a comprehensive set of data has been gathered on strengths and gaps for the service with the establishment of baseline measures and indicators. As staff participated in and viewed results from staff survey and file audits, their awareness has increased on the need for training, and the pathways and protocols that will guide best practice responses to family safety issues. Some staff also indicated an interest in being trainers/champions.
Ellen recently completed a Doctor of Health Science though AUT University which looked at how a community of occupational therapists constructed and translated knowledge to transform their practice. Her project set out to address well-known issues relating to the accessibility of research findings to support community partners and stakeholders. Her innovation was to design an online portal for the dissemination of research findings directly to the public. She also looked at ways to improve capacity and capability of researchers to share their knowledge by designing a workshop series called KT4R: Advancing a Conversation.
Laura introduced a best practice family meeting model into the inpatient unit at Hutt Valley DHB. Laura used this example to show how we can reduce the gap between what we know (evidence) and what we do (practice). Key people were eager to get involved in the project and this helped increase communication and consistency across DHBs. Laura has looked at how this model is experienced in real time by families, whānau and consumers as well as through formal audits to ensure that the best outcomes are occurring.
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