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- Nayda Heays (RN, PG Cert, BN) -
- Waimarie Onekawa (Midwife) -
- Dr. Wiremu MacFater (Surgical Research Fellow/Registrar)
KOH CONNECT
OFFICIAL LAUNCH
KOH Connect has been officially launched and is available for all students, graduates and registered Kia Ora Hauora members
25 FEBRUARY 2020
The Hon Peeni Henare, Associate Minister of Health launched the online tool that enables students to connect with employers and promote their skills as they begin their professional careers.
“KOH Connect bridges the gap between tertiary study and employment – it means students will get into employment quicker and easier,” says Cazna Luke, Kia Ora Hauora National Coordination Centre Programme Manager.
Students can create a customised professional online profile that promotes their personal brand, skills and specialties. They can also nominate the top three DHB districts they want to work for when they graduate. HR teams within the country’s 20 DHBs will be able to access the tool and the profiles of students who have indicated that they want to work in their district. It is also available to some major private sector health employers.
DHBs are the largest employers of new graduates entering the health sector and Hector Matthews, Canterbury District Health Board, Executive Director, Māori and Pacific Health, says DHBs know that the majority of our future health workforce will come from rangatahi and young adults, so they need to get better and be more savvy about how they engage and connect with communities.
“Kia Ora Hauora Connect is one way we can do that and I’m excited about what it can achieve for Māori workforce development,” he says.
ARA Institute of Canterbury has the largest population of Māori tertiary students in the South Island in its nursing, midwifery and allied health programmes. ARA Director Māori Development, Te Marino Lenihan says the new tool will be huge for the institute and the students.
“They come to study and to get jobs, and commit to the communities where we come from, so we need to transition them into employment, this is going to be massive for them.”
The tool will streamline the process for both graduating students and employers. Students will be able to build and update their profile over the course of their studies and DHBs will know in real time what graduates are searching for work, when they will be available and what skills they have.
“It will also assist Kia Ora Hauora to develop talent acquisition strategies and processes to match graduates to potential employers,” says Cazna.
In December the tool was made available to 1,800 registered tertiary students after first completing the Kia Ora Hauora annual online survey. So far nearly 500 surveys have been completed and students profiles are being uploaded to Kia Ora Hauora Connect regularly.
“It’s still new, but we’re confident that we will have near 100% of third and fourth year students using the tool. While it’s aimed at those nearing graduation KOH Connect is also about continuing our relationship to support rangatahi to gain their first graduate job, it is also a way we can support our people throughout their career pathway,” says Cazna.
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