Hōkai Rangi – the new Corrections Strategy 2019-2024 - sets out an awesome kaupapa/vision for Corrections in the future. It also reflects on problems in the current system. Language is one of the problems. Some terms commonly used in the corrections system are dehumanising eg “muster.” It reminded me that some language we use in…

There's been a lot of change in law, policy and practice recently affecting social, health and disability services. There is likely to be more. In this post, we overview some key changes to consider when reviewing and updating your organisation's policies and procedures. If policy review and updating feels like a makimaki/monkey on your back,…

Kia orana, Turou, ’āere mai ki te ‘epetoma o te reo Māori Kūki’ Āirani. Welcome to Cook Island Language Week.  The theme of the week is "Taku rama, taau toi: ora te Reo" - "My Torch, Your Adze: The Language Lives." In honour of the week, this post uses words of te reo Māori Kūki…

The first report from the Waitangi Tribunal of its Kaupapa Inquiry into Māori health  - Hauora - was released this month. It concluded that our primary health care system has failed to achieve Māori health equity; that New Zealand's legislative, policy and administrative framework is not, in fact, fit to achieve this outcome. News reports…

  Informed consent is a human right. But honouring it for clients who are mandated by a court or statutory agency can be a challenge. We look here at how your organisational policy on informed consent can be helpful.   Is this you? Your organisation has a policy on consent. It has never been an issue…

Changes to support information sharing about family violence are due to commence on 1 July 2019.  Here’s some Q&As about what’s coming. Q-Why is information-sharing being changed? answer Death reviews have shown missed opportunities to respond to family violence. The new information-sharing provisions aim to address this. Q-Who’s affected? answer The new law applies to…