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Te Pū rauemi KOWHEORI-19 COVID-19 resource hub

Support for people working in health during the COVID-19 pandemic. Find information about how you can support yourselves and others, including consumers, teams and colleagues which complements and aligns with Ministry of Health resources.

Kia āta kōwhiri Choosing Wisely

The Choosing Wisely campaign seeks to reduce harm from unnecessary and low-value tests and treatment.

Te whai wāhi me te whai rauemi mō te mahi tahi ki te kiritaki, te whānau me te hapori

Accessibility and resourcing for consumer, whānau and community engagement

This page has information, resources and practical advice about accessibility and resourcing for consumer, whānau and community engagement to support implementation of the code of expectations for health entities' engagement with consumers and whānau

What do we mean by accessibility for consumers, whānau and community?

What do we mean by accessibility for consumers, whānau and community?

Accessibility is about removing existing and potential barriers that may make it difficult for consumers and whānau to participate. Removing these barriers allows the knowledge, voices and experiences from diverse communities to influence improvements in health services.

Examples include meeting any physical or communication needs for disabled people such as having wheelchair access for a venue or having an NZ Sign Language interpreter available. They also include considering the timing and location of an event or meeting, providing documents in more than one language, ensuring cultural needs are met, providing support for transport costs and so on.




‘...ensuring that information, resources, and engagement opportunities are accessible to all consumers, whānau and communities, and removing any barriers that may hinder full and effective participation and engagement.’

'...resourcing consumers, whānau and communities to contribute and engage meaningfully and having policies to reflect this.'

– The code of expectations for health entities’ engagement with consumers and whānau

Waiho i te toipoto, kaua i te toiroa  

Let us keep close together, not wide apart  

This whakataukī speaks to the importance of being connected and maintaining relationships to keep moving forward together.

Video resources

Enhancing accessibility: how to begin

Enhancing accessibility: how to begin

Mary Schnackenberg, consumer and disability advocate, highlights the key factors to consider while embarking on the accessibility journey, emphasising the importance of including diverse people at the table.

Practical accessibility tips for producing consumer resources

Practical accessibility tips for producing consumer resources

Learn cost-effective accessibility tips for creating consumer resources and communications by watching this video.

What is the code of expectations and are we achieving what’s required?

What is the code of expectations and are we achieving what’s required?

Discover why partnering with consumers is essential for effective collaboration, as explained by Mary Schnackenberg, a disability advocate and consumer, in this insightful interview.

Find out more about accessibility and resourcing to enhance consumer engagement in health service improvement

Resources

Further reading

If you have feedback on the implementation guide, you can get in touch here

Page last updated: June 2023