IT solutions for Maori Health Organisations

IT solutions for Maori Health Organisations

Like any sector, public health knows only too well about the importance of technology.

Arataki Communications Limited (ACL) describe themselves as “a 100% Kiwi owned Communications Technology Service”, and has been doing some unique work with Maori health providers around the country.

Founded in 1996 by Ngaire and Steven Schmidt ACL has been working with small to medium sized companies evaluating and implementing computer technologies tailor-made to the needs of the customer. ACL’s aim is to ensure customers have the know-how and confidence to best utilize the technology. “On-site visits and assessments – regardless of how remote our customer is - ensure we develop systems that take account of unique and individual requirements,” emphasizes Ngaire.

“We get to know our customers and we ensure they have the backup and support they need to operate the technology effectively”.

ACL’s recent work has included ICT capacity reviews for some 20 health providers under contract to Poutiri Charitable Trust, a Maori Development Organisation in the Bay of Plenty region. Many of the service providers are rurally based and as Ngaire explains, “rural communities often share similar ICT problems that their urban counterparts don’t face such as power cuts, additional costs and limited access to Broadband”.

An example was a review of the current IT capacity of Ngai Te Ahi/Ngati He Hauora, a Poutiri Trust service provider located in Tauranga servicing their local Iwi and other parts of the community.

“They had the equipment, it just wasn’t set up correctly and effectively - the staff were too busy doing their hands on work with clients to have the time to figure it out. The problems have been resolved and staff have been taught how to manage it for themselves” says Ngaire.

Currently the government is seeking submissions for the Telecommunications Digital Strategy, Community Partnership Fund. In partnership with Poutiri Trust, ACL have submitted a proposal to create Community Technology Centres (CTCs).

Located in 14 of the 20 health provider buildings under the Poutiri Trust umbrella, the CTCs would be high-tech computer lab facilities allowing rural communities to utilize technology and online services. The CTCs would be used to deliver training and support in the use of technology and would aim to incorporate community projects to strengthen and inform the community’s health and social networks and needs.

Ngaire envisages “numerous possible applications such as video and audio conferencing services for people with disabilities or establishing local internet based radio stations”.

The CTCs are modeled in part on international models, in particular the ‘Telecentre’ which is used in some overseas under-developed and rural communities.

“The key is to promote community use of the facility, through community ownership”, meanwhile “the health providers housing the Centers benefit from the use of the high-tech facilities during their working hours and attract the community to utilize health services and technology under the same roof”.

Another major project for ACL has been providing the technical support for Tuhoe On Line (TOL) Communications Ltd, which has now become the first Iwi-owned and branded Internet Service Provider.

Prompted by limited internet access the Iwi decided to provide their own service allowing them to meet other Iwi initiatives such as education and iwi registration. “We provide the ongoing support to TOL helping them manage both technical customer enquiries and administration – what to do if they can’t connect, managing their customer database that sort of thing” says Ngaire.

Ngaire reflects that key to their rapidly growing base of customers may be ACL’s commitment to work at their customers pace rather than impose ICT solutions before customers are ready to absorb them; similarly, their interest in promoting ICT solutions that advance community and collective goals may provide further appeal to particular customers.

ENDS

© Scoop Media