Vaka Tautua Confirms Strategic Direction
Vaka Tautua’s strategic direction and work programme for the next three years was confirmed at its annual national strategic planning fono in Auckland last week.
Vaka Tautua Staff at Annual Strategic Planning Fono
More than 45 staff from across the country attended the two-day fono. Board Chair, Tunumafono Ava Fa’amoe presented Vaka Tautua’s strategic vision, mission, and goals that were confirmed by the Board in October. He encouraged staff to look ahead and design services “for the future.”
The Disability Information Advisory Services Team Presenting Draft Work Programmes
“Like our forebears, use your navigation skills for the collective good of our people,” said Mr Fa’amoe.
“Design and deliver services for the future, for the impossible, the next level, high-quality services. Prioritise relationships, and work collaboratively with our partners. Look for the competitive advantage that will sustain us and prioritise our culture and Pacific-ness.”
Innovation Manager, Bernice Mene, also challenged staff to think about what “success” looks like for our Pacific peoples and to design services accordingly.
“We invited Vaka Tautua staff to challenge the way we have been delivering services, look at possibilities and new ways of working, then collectively set our measures of success to best support our Pacific communities.”
Draft regional work programmes for Vaka Tautua’s service areas were developed by the end of the fono. Management and staff will spend the next month finalising them, ready for the new year.
Vaka Tautua Chief Executive Officer, Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop, was pleased with how the fono went, and the fono outcomes.
“Over the past 12 months, we have experienced a lot of change… we have delivered services within two COVID-19 lockdown periods, undergone a change process, and experienced considerable growth,” said Dr Dunlop.
“It was important for us to come together to re-group, re-connect, and to bring all our experiences and insights to the table to help strengthen the vaka (the organisation), our navigators (the staff), and plot the pathway forward. And we did that.”
The next national strategic planning fono is planned for April 2021.
Vaka Tautua is a national Pacific health and social services provider with a strong regional presence in the greater Auckland, Wellington, and Canterbury regions. It delivers disability, mental health, older peoples, social services, and financial capability services.