Latest News
Introducing This Page
This page introduces you to News publicised by the West Coast DHB. If there are any news you expected to find and they aren't shown here try our News Archive, or contact the West Coast DHB Communications Officer.
Latest News Listing
This section contains links to the latest West Coast District Health Boards news.
Incubator
August 19, 2008
Incubator is a strategy that has been developed to "grow" the local youth for future careers as part of their workforce planning and development.
It is a career awareness and mentoring programme for secondary students.
This programme introduces health professional role models to students and is an effective conduit of information to students on the wealth of opportunities available in careers within the health sector.
The programme focuses on healthy populations, wellness, primary health and emergency response information as key drivers to gain the students interest. This programme has a huge potential for health promotion whilst encouraging students into a health career.
The West Coast DHB’s participation in this programme will increase its profile in West Coast secondary schools and their students will also see our staff as positive role models. It is an opportunity for the DHB to work collaboratively with the secondary schools to help bridge a growing recruitment issue.
The first Incubator session on the West Coast was at Greymouth High School on Wednesday 13th August. There are 22 students registered to participate in the programme this year and the initial feedback has all been very positive.
We will be taking a minimum of 2 health professionals in per session to talk about their jobs; there are a further two sessions scheduled for this school year. A big thanks to Karyn Kelly and Dr Carol Atmore for their help with the first session.
We are still looking for staff who wish to participate in this programme and either come to a school session or be an online mentor.
If anyone is interested in hearing more about this exciting programme please contact Kim Hibbs, Phone: (03) 768-0499, Ext.2736# in Human Resources.
Technical and Scientific (TAS) Website Released
June 13, 2008
The Technical and Scientific (TAS) website for the technical and scientific workforces employed in DHBs, is now live!!
Click here to find out more about this new DHBNZ website section.
This website is designed to help TAS workers develop connections with each other and build job satisfaction by establishing and strengthening career pathways.
The TAS site provides information on the Technical and Scientific Workforce Strategy Group's projects and information from the Technical and Scientific Network.
The site can be reached via this link:
www.dhbnz.org.nz/Site/Future_Workforce/TASH/Default.aspx
This is a dynamic site and your feedback is welcomed.
Background Information
The Technical and Scientific workforce (TAS) is very diverse with at least 20 occupational groups ranging from anaesthetic technicians to medical physicists and radiation therapists. TAS people often work in relative isolation from each other. At last count there were only seven nuclear medicine technologists in District Health Boards, eleven audiology technicians and 57 operating theatre technicians (HWIP June 2007).
Because they work alone or in such small professional groups, many TAS workers miss out on the support and career development bigger workgroups have on offer.
The TAS Workforce Strategy Group includes clinicians, union representatives, senior managers and policy analysts and is lead by Bay of Plenty CEO Phil Cammish.
This group's core role is to aid and support all Technical and Scientific workers towards the goal of a strong, innovative and responsive workforce.
A TAS Network is being established across DHBs. The network contacts are able to assist with enquiries regarding TAS workforce within their DHBs.
TAS Workforce Strategy Group leads the following TAS workforce development projects
Health Education Scholarship Recipients - 2008
February 01, 2008
The West Coast DHB recently announced its health scholarship recipients for the 2008 academic year. The students come from various localities on the West Coast and are studying for a variety of health related qualifications at tertiary institutions throughout New Zealand.
Click here to find out more about the scholarship recipients.
The pen portraits below illustrate the wide scope of recipients' interests and studies.
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Beth Wiechern Westport
2008 will be the first year of study towards a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology at the University of Canterbury for Beth. Beth hopes that the future will bring some travel and success in her chosen career.
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Candace McGirr Greymouth
Candace returns to Dunedin for her third year of study towards a Bachelor of Physiotherapy degree at the University of Otago in 2008. Over the 2007/08 holiday period Candace has worked as a physiotherapy assistant for the WCDHB.
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Elizabeth Ward Greymouth
After a busy year of study at high school and volunteer work for St John, Elizabeth heads off to the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology for the first year of a Bachelor of Nursing degree.
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Emma Cochrane Cobden
Emma has completed three years of study towards Bachelor of Biomedical Science and Bachelor of Medical Laboratory Science degrees at the University of Otago. She is looking forward to being able to do her part of her final year of study placement at Grey Base Hospital’s laboratory.
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Emma Knudsen Westport
Emma heads to Nelson in 2008 to commence a Bachelor of Nursing degree at the Nelson Marlborough Institute of Technology. Her longer term ambition is to return to the Buller and specialize as an oncology nurse.
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Jessica Overweg Hokitika
After a final year of study at secondary school, Jessica heads off to the University of Otago in Dunedin for the first year Health Science course with the intention of studying in medicine or anatomy.
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Joanne Durkin Westport
Joanne is heading off to the University of Canterbury to study for a Bachelor of Arts degree majoring in Psychology and Social Work. Joanne hopes to work as a social worker or child and family psychologist in the future.
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Lauren Smith Hokitika
In 2008 Lauren will be undertaking her sixth year of a Medical degree at the University of Auckland. This will be a busy time for Lauren as she completes her degree and looks forward to gaining her Medical Council registration.
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Leah Jones Runanga
Leah has completed the tough first year of the Health Science course at the University of Otago in Dunedin and is returning to Dunedin in 2008 to attend Medical School.
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Philip Daniel Hokitika
Philip starts the fifth year of his medical degree at the University of Otago. As a student on the Rural Immersion Programme, he will spend much of his year at the WCDHB.
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Sarah Bushby Kaiata
Sarah has completed the tough first year of the Health Science course at the University of Otago in Dunedin and begins a pharmacy degree in 2008.
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Sophie Ferguson Ikamatua
Sophie starts year 2 of her Bachelor of Nursing degree at Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology in 2008. She has ambitions of working on the West Coast amongst the community.
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Tash Bergin Greymouth
The second year of study towards a Bachelor of Speech and Language Therapy degree at the University of Canterbury will occupy Tash in 2008. Thoughts of travel and possible post graduate study beckon her in the future.
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Rachel Whitcombe Greymouth
A career in nursing beckons Rachel as she embarks on a course of study to gain a bachelor of Nursing at Otago Polytechnic.
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Helen Martyn Westport
Helen has just completed an honours degree in Biomedical Science at the University of Otago and is currently awaiting news on her application to attend Medical School.
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Leah Russ Greymouth
Leah returns to Christchurch Polytechnic Institute of Technology in 2008 for year three of her Bachelor of Medical Imaging degree. Leah has spent time with the WCDHB on clinical placement during her study and looks forward to returning to the Coast once fully qualified.
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Bryce Jackson Westport
After completing a Science honours degree, Bryce returns to the University of Otago for his second year at the School of Medicine.
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Jo Slater Hokitika
Jo returns to the University of Otago in 2008 to pursue a course in Human Nutrition with the longer term ambition of returning to the West Coast to work in her chosen career.