The PSNZ Education Fund empowers paediatric professionals to deepen their knowledge, strengthen networks, and champion equitable health outcomes for tamariki and whānau.
Nicola Lean, Clinical Nurse Manager for Child Health Community Services at Te Whatu Ora MidCentral, used her grant to attend the 2024 PSNZ Annual Scientific Meeting in Ōtepoti, Dunedin. There, she engaged with a wide range of research and clinical insights, particularly around maternal and child health inequities.
The Leo Buchanan Memorial Lecture by Liza Edmonds was a standout, it challenged us to use our circles of influence to advocate for Māori whānau and highlighted the leadership role nurses play in cultural safety.” – Nicola Lean
Nicola’s key takeaways included:
- Deepening her understanding of the ethnic disparities in abusive head trauma (AHT), and the importance of including fathers and wider whānau in prevention strategies
- Gaining insights from multidisciplinary approaches like the Te Mātai Manawa a Whānau heart screening study
- Reinforcing the value of evidence-based practice and the role of nurses in leading culturally responsive care
Since the conference, Nicola has shared these insights with her team and is integrating them into service delivery, particularly through programmes like Power to Protect. She also continues to collaborate nationally across networks focused on SUDI prevention, eczema care, and child protection.
Nicola’s commitment to equity and cultural safety ensures that her learnings will have a lasting impact on the communities she serves.