Te Ara Whānau Ora (A pathway to whānau wellbeing) : exploring the practice of Kaiwhakaaraara/Whānau Ora navigators : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Social Work at Te Kunenga ki Pūrehuroa (Massey University, Manawatū), Aotearoa (New Zealand)

Abstract

This thesis is about Whānau Ora, whānau-centred practice and an aspirational strengths-based whānau-centred practice framework called Te Ara Whānau Ora (a pathway to whānau wellbeing), it explores the practice of Kaiwhakaaraara/Whānau Ora Navigators who work in the Te Tihi O Ruahine Whānau Ora Alliance.This insider research explores and illustrates the unique combination of knowledge from Te Ao Māori and Te Ao Pākehā that Kaiwhakaaraara/Whānau Ora Navigators at Te Tihi O Ruahine Whānau Ora Alliance use in their practice. It explores how this skilled workforce is able to go beyond crisis intervention and empower whānau to dream and achieve their moemoeā (dreams and aspirations).Six Kaiwhakaaraara/Whānau Ora Navigators were interviewed to find out how they define whānau-centred practice and how they use it to generate social and transformative change for the whānau they walk alongside. A qualitative research method that utilises a Māori-centred approach and is underpinned by the principles of Kaupapa Māori research was used to explore the practice of Kaiwhakaaraara/Whānau Ora Navigators.Kanohi ki te kanohi (face to face) interviews were used to explore the knowledge, wisdom and experience of Kaiwhakaaraara/Whānau Ora Navigators.Thematic analysis was used to analyse the rich data generated from the interviews. A Te Ara Whānau Ora framework was then used to confirm the applicability of the themes generated by this analysis. The findings of this research indicate that Kaiwhakaaraara/Whānau Ora Navigators define whānau-centred practice as: whānau led, whānau determined, whānau controlled, promoting whānau leadership and building whānau capabilities. Kaiwhakaaraara/Whānau Ora Navigators entered their profession with the cultural capital necessary to operationalise ‘Te Korowai O Te Ao Māori’ (the protective cloak of the world of Māori). Te Ara Whānau Ora is a transformational process that focusses on the moemoeā (dreams and aspirations) of whānau, what whānau want. It is the focus on whānau moemoeā that enables Kaiwhakaaraara/Whānau Ora Navigators to work in a way that is not deficit, challenge or issue focussed. When you focus on the moemoeā of whānau the crises solve themselves and whānau achieve sustainable change.