Who we are

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Health Navigator NZ started off in 2006 as a grass roots project out of work started by the Self Management Network. As interest in the project from around the country grew, a more permanent structure was required and in July 2008, the Health Navigator Charitable Trust was registered with the Charities Commission in New Zealand.

 
History

Back in 2005, a small group of passionate clinicians started meeting and discussing what was happening locally and regionally within the area of self management. As interest grew, an informal, non-profit, voluntary group of nurses, psychologists, doctors, allied health professionals, consumers and managers interested to encourage adoption of self-management principles across the health sector was formed and known as the Self Management Network. The initial purpose of the network was to provide a forum for sharing of ideas, knowledge, learning and collaboration across regions and the country.

Over time, a growing need for a coordinated source of reliable health information and self help resources was recognised. As we talked with more and more groups, everyone agreed – there are some great resources, both paper based and electronic, but for individuals or individual practices to find them and keep these up to date, is increasingly difficult. Furthermore, the degree of duplication and fragmentation was concerning with resources produced by literally hundreds of organisations – and this is just for New Zealand, with a population similar to many cities overseas!

Three years later, after much hard work and planning, the website was finally live in December 2008. Yet we realise, we are just beginning and there is still much to be done as we continually aim to refine and improve the database and gateway for the people of New Zealand.

Who we are

Health Navigator NZ is overseen by a Trust Board and Steering Group including a mix of 14 funders and providers from primary and secondary care. Additional integration and expertise is provided by 6 reference groups (one each for diabetes, cardiovascular, respiratory, arthritis, mental health and healthy living) involving a further 30 people from primary, secondary and community settings.

During the planning and website establishment phase, the project was overseen by the following Steering Group:

• Dr Jocelyn Tracey –MBChB, PhD, FRNZCGP, Project Sponsor
• Dr Janine Bycroft – MBChB, Dip Obs, Dip Paeds, MPH (Hons), FRNZCGP, Project Lead, GP & Self Management Clinical Advisor
• Andrew McLachlan – MN (Hons). Cardiovascular Nurse Specialist, Counties Manukau DHB
• Mary-Anne Boyd – Manager Innovation, Waitemata DHB
• Charlene Pretorius – MSc (Hons) MBS (Dist) BSc PGrad Dip (HSM) Cert (Treaty of Waitangi Studies) FSMLT AFCHSE MNZPsS Self Management Consultant
• Caran Barratt-Boyes, Community Coordinator Diabetes & Maori Health, CMDHB
• Dr Dianne Roy – RN, PhD, Nursing Lecturer, Unitec NZ, special interest in arthritis
• Dr Celia Palmer, BM England, MFPHM Public Health Medicine Specialist & Clinical Leader, Planning & Funding, Auckland DHB
• Anna Smith, Lecturer & Pasifika Support, Unitec New Zealand
• Leani O’Connor, Pacific Manager, Auckland DHB
• Dr Tom Robinson, MBChB, Dip Obs, MPH, FACPHM, Public Health Medicine Specialist

We would like to thank and acknowledge each one for their fantastic input, support and expertise.

 

Trust Board

Since the establishment of the Trust, governance has shifted to the Trustees, on behalf of the wider community and sector. There are 7 trustees. Each bring unique skills, experience and expertise to oversee the ongoing development and work of the Trust and Health Navigator NZ.

Key Partners

Key partnerships have been established with the following organisations either as key supporting organisations or funders:

• Arthritis NZ
• Asthma and Respiratory Foundation NZ
• Auckland DHB
• Counties Manukau DHB
• Diabetes NZ
• Mental Health Foundation
• National Heart Foundation
• SPARC
• Waitemata DHB
   

Help make this website even better

If your organisation has similar aims and would like to be part of this project, please let us know.

We need to work together as much as possible to reduce duplication, improve quality and improve the effectiveness of our health system. We are also keen to hear from non-health organisations as so many health issues are more strongly influenced by economic, social, educaional, cultural and environmental problems (what we refer to as the wider determinants of health) which are outside the health sector.

• Help by recommending specific resources
• Join one of our reference groups
• Sign your organisation up as a supporting organisation
• Help out with writing content
• Submit an article for possible publication

• Send us your suggestions and comments: what you like, what you don’t, how we can make it better
   

Acknowledgements and Thanks

This project was only possible through the generous donation of time and effort by many, many people. Sustaining such a project is an ongoing challenge since one of our precedents is to remain completely independent of any drug company funding or influence. We need your help to keep this website up to date and relevant.

 
Funding

We are particularly grateful for initial seed funding from the following District Health Boards (DHBs) to help us get started:

Waitemata DHB,
Counties Manukau DHB
Auckland DHB