Victoria's Journey: Embracing te reo Māori in healthcare
A passion for integrating te reo Māori into her work as a nurse has enriched Victoria Richmond’s connections with patients and her own personal growth.
She was fortunate earlier in her career to have guidance on te reo Māori from an equity for Māori group.
“The group educated me in the basics, like pronunciation and what was important to Māori clients, like getting to know someone and where they’re from. The little things that make a big difference,” she says.
When Victoria started work at a private clinic in Te Whanganui-a-Tara, she continued building on her foundations by enrolling in Papa Reo, an online programme with Te Wānanga o Aotearoa.
For her, the focus is not just about learning a language, it's about deepening her cultural competencies and despite her busy schedule the flexibility of the online programme allows her to do so.
“That was the drawcard for me because with juggling work and home life, the ability to revisit exercises and catch up on missed tutorials have been crucial for my progress,” she explains.
Whether Māori or not, Victoria believes it’s important for all industries in Aotearoa to embrace and incorporate te ao Māori, especially in the health sector.
She’s realised that knowing more te reo Māori has helped her build rapport with patients and kaimahi.
Victoria listens to podcasts, uses the programme resources and borrows dual-language books from the school library to help reinforce her learning.
She especially loves the programme resources, saying,“we use the flash cards at home, they’re awesome to improve vocabulary. I get bilingual books out to read with the kids. It’s made bedtime a learning journey for both of us.”
Her advice to others is simple, “don’t be afraid to give it a go, and share what you’re learning along the way.”
“The tutorials make a big difference. I’ve found the kaiaromatawai helpful and their lessons well-coordinated. You can sit and learn all you want on a device but the real effective way to cement your learning is sharing with others,” Victoria says.
By taking steps to learn te reo Māori in a way that works for her busy life, Victoria is working to bridge cultural divides and be a better nurse.
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