Cultural competence when working with Pacific people in O&G Workshop

Date: Sunday 14 June, 2026 | Venue: Grand Millennium Auckland
1.30 - 5.00pm
Cost: $200 (discounted for pilot)
For: RANZCOG Fellows and Trainees and other aligned health practitioners working in O&G context

The development and pilot of this workshop have in part been funded by a Te Whatu Ora contract for an O&G Medical Specialists pathway for Pacific Doctors.

To register for this workshop please use the general ASM registration form as linked here and you can either add it to your ASM registration or choose early in the registration process to register solely for a Pre-ASM workshop.

RANZCOG Aotearoa offers for the first time a workshop focused on cultural competence when working with Pacific people, specifically in obstetrics and gynaecology. This includes Pacific patients and also considers working with / teaching / supervising Pacific trainees, junior doctors and medical students.

The workshop is aimed at all Fellows and trainees and will increase cultural competence and confidence working with Pacific people in O&G. It will better equip attendees to offer culturally responsive care for their Pacific patients and culturally aware support and guidance to their Pacific trainees, junior doctors and medical students.

The workshop will offer participants the opportunity to hear about, consider and discuss:

an overview of Pacific peoples in Aotearoa New Zealand: demographics, aspects of culture specific to different communities, commonalities and generational differences.
a Pacific model of health and how it applies to patient interaction.
aspects of O&G health in particular, applying the lens of the Pacific health models offered.
O&G case studies and implications for practice.
how we can best support Pacific trainees, junior doctors and medical students including unpacking scenarios and considering implications for practice as supervisors and leaders.

This workshop is being developed and delivered by members of our RANZCOG Pacific O&G Network, led by Dr Kara Okesene-Gafa and Dr Lana Hughes.

Programme

1.30pm	Overview of Pacific context in Aotearoa Pacific populations in Aotearoa Demographics Aspects of culture specific to each and commonalities First generation, generations born here
2.15pm	A Pacific lens on health Unpacking a Pacific model of health and wellbeing and patient interaction. Applying the model, unpacking an O&G case study. Application for the doctor - what are the considerations for their practice. Hear thoughts and experiences from panel of Pacific practitioners and those who work often with Pacific patients, discussing how they might apply the models or the considerations they would bring.
3.00pm	Afternoon Tea
3.15pm	A Pacific lens on obstetric and gynaecological health Discussion of aspects of O&G health in particular and a Pacific lens on these (threading the Pacific model of health offered into these discussions). Case studies unpacked at tables and then discussed with whole group and panel of Pacific practitioners and those who work often with Pacific patients to share thoughts as a panel.
4.15pm	Considerations when working with Pacific trainees, junior doctors and medical students With both our Pacific model of health and our Pacific lens on the aspects of O&G health we've considered, what are the implications for our Pacific trainees, junior doctors and medical students? How can we best offer culturally aware support and guidance to our Pacific trainees, junior doctors and medical students. (discussion and presentation from two Fellows – one Pacific and one non-Pacific). Scenarios unpacked at tables then discussed with whole group, panel of Pacific and non-Pacific Fellows who have worked with Pacific trainees, junior doctors and medical students to respond and share thoughts. Wrap up and reflection
5.00pm	Workshop ends