Abstract
Professional development is a requirement of every employee within an organisation, how this development is perceived and administered varies from organisation to organisation. How do indigenous Māori staff balance participation in professional development to encompass both their career and role they are employed to do, alongside the need to contribute and receive in return cultural support? This project seeks how an organisation does or may support the development of indigenous Māori staff by considering the development of the whole staff member, not just the skills needed to do their jobs but their cultural and non-cultural beings.
This evidence-based project, through face-to-face interviews with indigenous Māori non-teaching staff participants, in tertiary organisations, seeks to explore staff experiences of professional development and their cultural contribution to their organisations. It is hoped that this project will result in greater encouragement of professional development opportunities for indigenous Māori staff members. This study seeks to highlight good practice and identify ways that could be considered by tertiary education providers to enhance their practices in supporting allied and general staff in their continued voluntary cultural contributions to their organisations alongside professional and career development.
I have aligned my research with the opening whakatauakī which describes a dilemma that my tūpuna dealt with many years ago to save our iwi. I see this project as an opportunity to highlight the dilemma faced by some allied and general staff in balancing how they culturally contribute to their organisations whilst also seeking support for their professionally employed roles.