Register here

Register here to attend an upcoming wānanga (workshop) about how digital tools and technologies could help to make community healthcare in Aotearoa New Zealand more accessible for Autistic people.

This wānanga is part of a research project that aims to co-develop a digitally-enabled care framework for Aotearoa's community healthcare sector, in partnership with people who use and work within these services.

About the wānanga

The wānanga will bring together Autistic people with lived experience of using community healthcare (e.g., engaging with General Practitioners - GPs) and will be facilitated by Autistic and non-Autistic researchers who undertake autism and healthcare related research (e.g., neuro-affirming care, technology, human-centred design, health systems and quality improvement, and workforce support).

We are working together to improve community healthcare services for Autistic people, who often face significant barriers to getting the care they need.

We are committed to co-design. This means that your experiences and ideas will directly shape the digitally-enabled care framework we are developing.

Acknowledgement of your contributions

We recognise that sharing your experiences, knowledge, and ideas requires your time and expertise. To acknowledge your contribution to this co-design process, participants will receive a $50 koha after taking part in the wānanga.

About the research team

Professor Laurie McLay

(Faculty of Health, University of Canterbury)

Laurie is Director of the Autism Research Centre Aotearoa and researches and develops digital supports for neurodivergent tamariki (children) and their whānau (families). She works closely with the Autistic community to design resources that improve access to care and support.

Professor Ann-Marie Kennedy

(UC Business School, University of Canterbury)

Ann-Marie is Associate Director of the Autism Research Centre Aotearoa and is an expert in marketing for behaviour change and health promotion. She specialises in qualitative interpretive research methods including ethnography and participatory methods. Ann-Marie's main area of work is in systems level change, and collaborative decision making. She has undertaken research in alcohol harm reduction for Health New Zealand, NZ Veterans Affairs, Canterbury District Health Board, ACC, and the NZ Transport Agency. She works with vulnerable and under-represented groups including Autistic people, children, LGBTQIA++, and veterans.

Doctor Ruth Monk

(Faculty of Health, University of Canterbury; Centre for Brain Research, University of Auckland)

Ruth is a researcher working in the fields of neuroscience and autism, with a focus on community-led and co-designed approaches. Drawing on their lived experience as a neurodivergent academic, Ruth works as a researcher and Autistic advisor to ensure that autism research is co-developed with the Autistic community. They are the Chair of the Autistic Partnership of Aotearoa New Zealand (Autism Research Centre, University of Canterbury).

The wider research team also includes:

Professor Kevin Schulman (Stanford University, California)
Professor Stacy Wood (North Carolina State University)
Professor Bryan Bollinger (Dartmouth Tuck Business School, New Hampshire)
Associate Professor Elsamari Botha (UC Business School)
Associate Professor Cathy Andrew (Faculty of Health, UC)
Doctor Kylie Short (School of Health Sciences, UC)

How can I attend?

You can attend this wānanga either in person or online.

Date and time:
Wednesday 9 September, 12.30pm-5.00pm. The wānanga will run for approximately 3.5 hours. The final start and finish times will be confirmed closer to the date (within the 12.30pm-5.00pm window).

In-person location:
Meremere 526, University of Canterbury, Ilam Campus, Christchurch.

Further information about parking and campus access will be provided closer to the wānanga.

Online attendance:
A Microsoft Teams link will be emailed to online participants prior to the wānanga.

Please select your attendance type (in-person or online) when registering.

Who can attend?

The wānanga will be of interest to adults (aged 18 years or over), who:

Identify as Autistic (formally diagnosed or self-identify)
Have experience with using community healthcare (e.g, GP appointments) in Aotearoa

Important information (required for all attendees)

Please note that this wānanga is part of a research project and will be recorded.

To attend, you must:

Read the participant information sheet
Complete a short demographic survey
Complete the consent form

Please complete these steps after registering and before attending the w`ānanga.

Here is a link to the information sheet, survey and consent form: https://canterbury.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_3VhIZkhpOU5Re2W

The demographic survey will help us to understand who participated in the wānanga and the range of perspectives represented.

Questions?

If you have any questions about the research project after reading the information sheet, please don't hesitate to contact Professor Laurie McLay, at: laurie.mclay@canterbury.ac.nz

Professor Laurie McLay can also be contacted should you wish to meet with any members of the research team.

More about the research team

You are welcome to read more about the researchers involved in this project here:

Professor Ann-Marie Kennedy: https://profiles.canterbury.ac.nz/Ann-Marie-Kennedy
Doctor Ruth Monk: https://profiles.canterbury.ac.nz/Ruth-Monk
Professor Laurie McLay: https://profiles.canterbury.ac.nz/Laurie-McLay
Professor Kevin Schulman: https://med.stanford.edu/profiles/kevin-schulman
Professor Stacy Wood: https://poole.ncsu.edu/people/swking/
Professor Bryan Bollinger: http://bryanbollinger.com/
Associate Professor Elsamari Botha: https://profiles.canterbury.ac.nz/Elsamari-Botha
Associate Professor Cathy Andrew: https://profiles.canterbury.ac.nz/Cathy-Andrew
Doctor Kylie Short: https://profiles.canterbury.ac.nz/Kylie-Short

Contact the host of Co-Design Wānanga (Workshop): Developing a Digitally-Enabled Care Framework for Community Healthcare - Christchurch (In-Person and Online)