Do you believe that NZ's health system needs more investment? Tayla, a passionate advocate for health equity, joins Altbays Table Talk to discuss shortages in the health workforce, the lifestyle and responsibilities of health professionals, and much more! We are stoked to have our dear friend, the speech therapist, Renee Taylor, joining us for this epic korero!
Growing up in the close-knit community of Whitianga, Tayla Thompson's journey has always been about dedication and care, which stems from a sense of responsibility to others.
Being raised bilingually, emersed within two cultures and world views, Tayla gained a cultural perspective of hauora, oranga and well-being, through a diverse lens. Through caring for her grandfather with complex long-term health conditions and experiencing firsthand the challenges of accessing timely, appropriate and acceptable levels of care, Tayla was inspired to pursue a career in health. Her mother's nursing career has further encouraged her path, and the support from her whānau on her journey has been her driving force.
Tayla has worked as a rural primary health care Registered Nurse for the past 7 years and during the last 4 years she has been employed by a kaupapa Maori health organisation in Hauraki. During her time as a Registered Nurse, she has seen first-hand that too often whanau are not receiving timely care which results in worsening health conditions and a mistrust in the health system that leads to secondary care solutions. She has witnessed the impact of the unequal distribution of the social determinants of health and how these factors significantly impact on whanau's ability to live well. She has also grown up in a region that is geographically diverse and has the added element of rurality and has seen how this impacts on people’s ability to engage in the health system.
As a nurse she has been privy to the shortages the health workforce is experiencing and the need to further grow the workforce that is currently in place. Coming from a rural area, she understands the difficulty of securing health professionals. Tayla believes that sometimes we need to be our own solution to our challenges. This has been one of the key drivers for her further pursuing a career in health.
Tayla believes that as communities, by investing in our young people and growing and supporting them into their careers of their choice, we are more likely to secure a workforce in our area that is long term and likely to remain, as these young people are more inclined to return home and stay and work in the places they grew up. This is often because they have strong ties to their community and/or a responsibility in terms of whakapapa.
ALTBAYS Table Talk invites awesome people to have an honest, laid-back conversation. Our platform focuses on bringing communities together and thrive.
