Practicing (with) Care: Exploring Care at Work in Healthcare in Aotearoa - New Zealand

Abstract

This design-led research explored ‘care at work’ as whakawhanaungatanga with a group of healthcare professionals in Aotearoa – New Zealand. Through an Appreciative Inquiry approach (participatory action research) we collaborated to empathise with notions of ‘care’, create space for appreciating what works and imagining how ‘care at work’ in a compassionate healthcare system could be. Participant engagement in the co-creation process online was facilitated through practicing whakawhanaungatanga and utilising creative methods, design thinking tools and processes. This informed the creation of a prototype facilitation toolkit for practicing co-creation with care. This contributes to emerging conversations around care and compassion at work in healthcare and the contribution of design for well-being at work. Care at work is complex and evolving – the potential for proactive connection and care could be facilitated through imagining, designing and practicing in more relational, inclusive and responsive ways of working.