Covid Care in the Community - Māori and Pacific Pathway

The WellSouth Manaaki Welfare staff sitting in the CCitC Hub are proactively making contact with every Māori and Pacific patient who tests positive for Covid-19 to assess their welfare needs during isolation. The team will refer the patient and their whānau to an appropriate Māori or Pacific provider whenever a need is identified.

Supports offered are food parcel deliveries, cultural support, mental health and clinical referrals within the Hub, and assisting with the enrolment of patients in general practice (if they are unenrolled). Navigators are also able to connect patients with Māori and Pacific providers for continuous support well after their isolation period is over, and are currently supporting the Dunedin and Southland hospital outpatient departments to improve engagement amongst the community.

The staff in the Navigator team are:

Tuihana Taiaroa-Smithies - Pou Manaaki (Māori Navigator)

Georgia Te Au - Pou Manaaki (Māori Navigator)

Louisa Faga - Tautai Pasifika (Pacific Navigator)

Riiti Conway - Pou Tōkeke (Project Manager)

Anyone can get in touch with the Manaaki team between the hours of 9am-5pm Monday to Friday on 0800 200 119. Alternatively you can also email navigator@wellsouth.org.nz