Exploring creative approaches to hearing silenced voices

NOTE: We use Mana Whenua when referring to people throughout the world whose relationship with the land shapes their cultural, spiritual, emotional, physical, and social wellbeing. This reflects Māori, as Tangata Whenua right to self-determination within Aotearoa New Zealand. Background: People and communities are essential to the design, delivery and implementation of person-centred integrated care. Just as research is shaped by participants and methodologies, how we understand health and wellbeing needs also dependent on who we hear and the way we gather and hear community voice. How can one way of knowing (e.g. research methods and engagement approaches) adequately hear other ways? Silenced voices often belong to those who have other ways of knowing, and the ability to hear these voices are shaped by approaches to engagement and research that may feel alienating, clinical and transactional for communities. Hearing silenced voices requires more than ensuring that diverse groups are included in research/engagement. It requires us to consider the frameworks and assumptions that shape our engagement and research approaches and explore how we can create engagement that build connections, reduce power dynamics and facilitate continuous, sustainable, trust-based relationships. For 8 months, I worked intimately with iwi (Tangata Whenua of Takitoko in Aotearoa New Zealand) to elevate community voice for more equitable health outcomes, as part of Locality (placed based) Prototyping. Through reflecting on this work, I came to understand that the how of engagement is a critical game changer to the voices we hear, the knowledge that is exchanged and the reimagining of health outcomes for communities.In this workshop I share my experience and knowledge of working with community in engagement design and delivering creative and non-traditional ways of engaging with communities. We explore on-going opportunities for connection and sharing back and touch on creative approaches for evaluation. It provides an opportunity to play with tools including visual creations, liberating structures and reflective practices. Audience: This interactive workshop would be appropriate for anyone with a role in system improvement (including providers, patients/caregivers, leaders, researchers) who are interested in exploring new and creative ways to connect with, hear and elevate diverse communities and their voices.Approach - This is an experience-based workshop. Format:. Welcome, setting the scene and connecting (20min) - this includes participating in tools that can be used for community engagement2. Interactive presentation on elevating community and whānau voice (20min) this too involves an approach that allows the audience to participate in connection3. Crafting engagement, planning, designing and delivering - experiential learning of tools to takeaway (40 min).4. Question session and closing (0 min) OutcomesFollowing the workshop, participants will understand how reshaping and exploring different approaches to engagement and knowledge gathering can support stronger connections, build relationships and expand our findings to lead to better health and wellbeing outcomes. Participants will leave with some tangible tools and approaches for connecting with communities. They will also be invited to consider how this approach can also be built into evaluation processes. Speaker details:Dr Yumiko Olliver is a Connected Communities Manager at THINK Hauora where she draws on her experience as researcher, facilitator and Social Anthropologist to strengthen relationships with communities. Drawing on the tools of the trade she weaves these approaches into community voice and engagement. She has worked intensively with Tangata Whenua in Aotearoa New Zealand, young people, Pasifica, migrants, intellectually diverse and the rainbow community and facilitated in many sectors (including health, local councils, NGOs and business environments).Additional note - this could be considered Education/Training and Research.