Dear Rocketship Members, partners and beneficiaries,
What an absolute privilege I have as the Chair of this small organisation with an essential role in Pacific Clinical Workforce Strengthening and genuine community engagement. Thank you, Dr Dan Manahan and Dr Lachlan McIver, for the previous Chairpersonship and the ongoing commitment of all Directors. Our long-term vision is that the organisation would be owned and driven by Pacific Islanders and First Nations people who have deep and intrinsic cultural ties to their communities and islands, and we are well on the way to achieving this.
The Rocketship way of working is a collaborative and enabling framework through a problem-driven adaptive approach that emphasises cultural respect in every interaction, First Nations people engagement, and localised workforce strengthening through authentic training partnerships.
Cultural respect is essential for engaging with First Nations people and ensuring that their voices are heard and their perspectives are incorporated. The Rocketship approach emphasises the importance of immersing oneself culturally and professionally by always listening to the perspectives and experiences of First Nations people. This requires a deep understanding of the cultural and historical context in which they live and work, as well as a willingness to learn and adapt to their unique needs and perspectives.
First Nations people engagement is critical to ensuring that they are fully involved in the decision-making process and that their perspectives and community and family needs are taken into account. The Rocketship approach emphasises the importance of learning from consultation and previous gains and pains to inform decision-making and improve outcomes. This means gathering information and insights from various sources, including First Nations people, to ensure that the solutions are relevant, culturally appropriate, and achievable.
Indigenous workforce strengthening is essential to ensuring that First Nations people are fully involved in the decision-making process. The Rocketship approach emphasises the importance of designing inclusively, locally, and team-oriented to involve all stakeholders in the design process.
Reflecting on what has been learned is essential to continuous improvement and ensuring that the approach remains relevant and effective. The Rocketship approach emphasises the importance of reflecting on what has been learned and then reflecting again, to ensure that the approach is fit for purpose with every local community. This means continuously questioning and challenging the approach, as well as ensuring clear accountabilities and partnerships to enable effective implementation.
Acknowledging weaknesses and noting remote risk perception is essential to preventing potential negative outcomes. The Rocketship approach emphasises the importance of acknowledging weaknesses and noting remote risk perception, to ensure that potential negative outcomes are prevented.
Challenging the model – accountabilities and partnerships is critical to ensuring that the approach remains effective and relevant over time. The Rocketship approach emphasises the importance of challenging the model and ensuring clear accountabilities and partnerships to enable effective implementation.
Adapting to enable an environment of continuous learning and development is essential to ensuring that the approach remains effective and relevant over time. This means being open to feedback, actively seeking input from all stakeholders, and creating an environment that fosters open communication and collaboration.
In conclusion, the Rocketship way of working is a collaborative and enabling framework through a problem-driven adaptive approach that emphasises cultural respect, First Nations people engagement, and indigenous workforce strengthening. It recognizes the importance of immersing oneself culturally and professionally by always listening, learning from consultation and previous gains and pains, and designing inclusively, locally, and team-oriented. It also emphasises the importance of reflecting on what has been learned and then reflecting again, acknowledging weaknesses and noting remote risk perception, challenging the model – accountabilities and partnerships, and adapting to enable an environment of continuous learning and development. By following this approach, organisations can engage with First Nations people, build strong partnerships, and achieve positive outcomes for all stakeholders.
It is an absolute honour to have an active role in leading this organisation through the next phase of its service to Pacific Islanders.
Brett Cowling