The West Coast Community Commissioning project has reached an important milestone with the appointment of Vicki Roper as Project Manager.
The West Coast was recently selected as one of three communities nationally to take part in the Social Investment Agency’s community-led commissioning work, providing an opportunity to explore how services and investment can be better shaped around the needs and priorities of West Coast communities.
West Coast Community Commissioning Governance Group Chair Lisa Tumahai said the project represented an important opportunity for Te Tai o Poutini.
“This is an opportunity for the West Coast to help shape how services are commissioned and delivered so they better reflect the realities of our communities. We know the current system does not always work well for our people, and there are gaps and barriers that need to be addressed. This work gives us the opportunity to understand what needs to change and ensure the voices of our communities and whānau are at the centre of designing a better approach.”
Vicki brings valuable experience from her involvement in the West Coast Localities work, where she worked alongside communities, iwi, service providers and agencies across the region to understand local needs and priorities.
Programme Lead Jo Birnie said Vicki’s experience through the Localities work provides a strong foundation for the project.
“Vicki knows the West Coast and understands the realities of delivering services across our region. Through the Localities work she gained significant insight into our communities; their needs and the challenges people experience in accessing services. This project provides an opportunity to build on that knowledge and translate it into practical action.”
The remainder of the project team is expected to be confirmed within the next few weeks, with engagement with the sector and communities to commence soon.A key focus for the team will be hearing directly from communities and those working across the sector to help build a clear picture of what is working well, where the challenges are and what is needed across the West Coast.
Vicki said she was looking forward to working alongside communities, iwi, service providers and organisations across the region.
“The first part of this work is about listening and understanding. There is already a huge amount of knowledge and experience within our communities and across the people delivering services on the West Coast. We need to hear those perspectives and use them alongside the evidence to shape an approach that is practical, locally relevant and capable of making a real difference.”
The project will continue through to 2027, with the initial phase focused on understanding the West Coast context and engaging with communities and the sector before the commissioning approach is designed.
Media enquiries to:
Jo@prestantia.co.nz