CARE Home Support Workers (HSWs) Project

EXPERIENCES WITH PLATFORM TECHNOLOGY FOR HOME SUPPORT WORKERS – THE NEED FOR A HUMAN CENTRED APPROACH

Project Synopsis:

Platform technologies are being introduced by health providers in Aotearoa New Zealand to mediate relationships between care recipients and Home Support Workers (HSWs). They have been publicized by those providers as a potential solution to these challenges of health sector strain and ageing population. Much like in other sectors, platform technology is represented as offering autonomy for clients and empowerment for workers. This report critically investigates these claims and the broader impact of the introduction of platform technologies on the working lives of HSWs and their ability to provide dignified care for their clients. Drawing on 16 in-depth Zoom interviews and 1 focus group with Aotearoa-based support workers, we argue that technologies as currently used are exasperating pre-existing systemic failures, which have also been severely exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

CARE REPORT LAUNCH : EXPERIENCES WITH PLATFORM TECHNOLOGY FOR HOME SUPPORT WORKERS – THE NEED FOR A HUMAN CENTRED APPROACH

Wednesday 10th May 2023 | 7.00 PM – 8.30 PM NZST

Project Report

CARE Home Support Workers (HSWs)

LIVE ON : Facebook @CAREMassey & on CARE YouTube channel

with panelists: JAN LOGIE, GREEN PARTY MP, and ANDREA FROMM, ADVISOR POLICY & STRATEGY | PSA

Presented by Dr. Leon Salter and Lia Vonk

CARE Report Launch on 10 May 2023

Experiences With Platform Technology For Home Support Workers – The Need For A Human Centred Approach


LIVE ON : Facebook@CAREMassey:https://www.facebook.com/events/936443157592800 & on CARE YouTube channel

Youtube URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zbDe2s4YQE

Synopsis:
Platform technologies are being introduced by health providers in Aotearoa New Zealand to mediate relationships between care recipients and Home Support Workers (HSWs). They have been publicised by those providers as a potential solution to these challenges of health sector strain and ageing population. Much like in other sectors, platform technology is represented as offering autonomy for clients and empowerment for workers. This report critically investigates these claims and the broader impact of the introduction of platform technologies on the working lives of HSWs and their ability to provide dignified care for their clients. Drawing on 16 in-depth Zoom interviews and 1 focus group with Aotearoa-based support workers, we argue that technologies as currently used are exasperating pre-existing systemic failures, which have also been severely exposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

About the Panelists:

Jan Logie is a Green Party MP based in the Mana Electorate. Jan worked for Women’s Refuge, the New Zealand University Students’ Association, the YWCA and numerous other social causes before entering Parliament in 2011. She served as the Parliamentary Under-Secretary to the Minister of Justice from 2017-2020 with a focus on sexual and domestic violence issues, and is Green Party spokesperson for Disability, ACC, Women, Te Tiriti o Waitangi, Public Services, Children, and Workplace Relations.

Dr. Andrea Fromm is a policy advisor with the NZ Public Service Association Te Pūkenga Here Tikanga Mahi (PSA). After receiving a PhD in political studies from the University of Otago, Andrea continued to focus on issues related to the decent work agenda. Her work has concentrated on labour markets and employment, working conditions and industrial relations and public and community services. Andrea worked with international organisations such as the ILO and Eurofound, as well as with Statistics NZ. Andrea started her career as a social worker.