On Friday, 2oth September, the Canterbury Interprofessional Healthcare Team Challenge was held at Manawa. This years’ event was supported by Te Papa Hauora and featured participants and mentors across University of Otago Christchurch, University of Canterbury and Te Whatu Ora.

‘Mr Ioane Tino,’ a fictitious patient who presented themselves at Emergency Department with a range of medical needs, tested the many disciplines within each team. Participants included Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Speech Language Therapy, Nursing, Medicine, Occupational Therapy. Given 4 weeks to design a strategy for Mr Tino’s hauora, students were able to call upon experienced mentors within the health system, interview Mr Tino, and call on one other external discipline for guidance.

The presentation afternoon was the culmination of this work, with an added “twist” presented involving Mr Tino’s whanau. Judges messages to the participants included, “well thought out planning, particularly using the Fonofale Model”, “wrap around care for the whānau”, “consideration of all aspects of Mr Tino’s health” and “great collaboration and communication across your group’s disciplines and strengths.”

This challenge was put on by the Interprofessional Education team at University of Otago Christchurch. For more information, email Interprofessional Education UOC <ipe.uoc@otago.ac.nz>