Tēnā koe, nau mai haere mai ki tēnei akoranga whakataki
Welcome to this introductory course on Māori health and cultural safety. This course is designed specifically for people working in Ophthalmology across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Learning Objective (1): Define positionality and reflexivity and their influence on ophthalmology clinical practice.
This module explores how who we are shapes how we see and engage with the world and how we work in our professional roles. We will unpack positionality (your social location and perspective) and reflexivity (critically examining your own assumptions and influence), and introduce a reflection model designed for this course to put these ideas into practice.
Learning Objective 2:
Describe the history of Aotearoa, the impacts of colonisation, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and the concept of equity in ophthalmology practice.
This module looks at Aotearoa before colonisation, the history and contexts of Te Tiriti o Waitangi, and why it matters for ophthalmology. We explore Māori health and equity, and the specific determinants shaping eye health outcomes for Māori today.
Learning Objective 3: Understand the key ocular pathologies disproportionately affecting Māori, and their connections to the broader determinants of health.
In this module we examines cataracts, keratoconus, and diabetic retinopathy as key priorities in Māori eye health, alongside the evidence gaps that remain in this space. Together we consider the implications for practice, and what this means for delivering equitable eye care across Aotearoa New Zealand.
Learning Objective 4: Be able to distinguish between cultural competency and cultural safety in ophthalmology practice.
In this module, we unpack the difference between cultural competency and cultural safety. We explore practical approaches to both cultural competency and cultural safety in ophthalmology, and what they mean for Māori health outcomes.
Learning Objective 5: Identify principles and approaches for effective engagement with Māori as an Ophthalmologist.
This module covers key principles for meaningful engagement with Māori, along with an overview of models and tools to support this in practice. We explore what it means to engage effectively with Māori, while learning how to recognise and avoid cultural loading in our approaches.
This course equips Aotearoa New Zealand-based ophthalmology trainees and consultants with foundational skills to address Māori health inequities through culturally safe, reflexive practice.