The Public Health Workforce Development Plan (PH WDP) provides a national strategic approach to public health workforce development for the next 10 years (2007- 2016). It is a broad, intersectoral and co-ordinated approach to workforce development that encompasses an expansive view of public health action. The vision is that inequalities will be reduced and the health of all peoples in New Zealand will be improved through public health and societal strategies that are:
- delivered by a properly configured, responsive, well-trained and competent workforce (including culturally competent)
- strengthened with core public health skills and knowledge
- supported by infrastructure and workplaces that actively encourage and develop the public health workforce.
Implementation of the PH WDP framework will, over time, build a whole-of-sector systems approach to public health workforce development. The work builds on existing workforce development activities, will adapt to emerging challenges in the public health environment, and will link to and engage with workforce development happening in other sectors.
Purpose
The PH WDP provides a national strategic approach to public health workforce development that is mandated and influenced by high-level government strategies. It aims to further two high level government priorities; improving Māori health (Minister of Health and Associate Minister of Health 2002a) and reducing inequalities (Ministry of Health 2002), particularly for Māori and Pacific Peoples. These two priorities sit at the heart of the PH WDP work. Opportunities to further these two priorities are to be included in the implementation of all the PH WDP actions. A Māori public health workforce development approach will strengthen the capacity and capability of the whole of the public health workforce to respond more effectively to the health needs of Māori, and will positively influence inequalities in health status. Similarly, the PH WDP includes specific workforce development initiatives to improve Pacific health gain.