“We have trained people in a real clinic to be Osteopaths – it’s a unique, time-consuming and fantastic learning experience,” says Sue Palfreyman, Academic Programme Manager for Osteopathy, reflecting on what has been a hugely successful Osteopathy programme at Unitec-Te Pūkenga. The programme is now closed after a planned five-year teach out.
A legacy to be proud of
Sue has been with the programme for 16 of its 24 years and has seen changes in location and delivery, but never in the high-quality teaching or the excellent feedback the programme and community clinic have received.
Osteopathy is a relatively small profession in a small country, says Sue. She estimates that around half of all practising Osteopaths in New Zealand today have been through the Unitec-Te Pūkenga programme.
“We stay in touch with many of our graduates or hear what they’re up to. We get to see the success, see them loving it.”
Sue recently heard from a graduate who has been practising in Australia since she graduated in 2007.
She said, “There is SO much work here, I am treating 80 clients a week and need another associate or two to assist with demand… A few years ago, I came to Unitec and interviewed for a position and [the person I employed] ended up staying three years. Since then, I have employed Australian and UK-trained osteopaths and have not been as impressed as I was with [him].”
While the majority of graduates go into practice, some move to other areas of the health Industry.
“Recently we heard that one of our graduates had moved onto something different in public health but her confidence and passion for health was still there. For her, this programme has opened doors into not just Osteopathy,” says Sue.
When asked what the teachers have enjoyed most, Sue is quick to respond.
“The students – their engagement and commitment to what they’re doing. It’s a five-year commitment and by the time they reach the end, everyone is really keen to get out there and do the job – we see this as a success.”
A huge part of the students’ learning has been treating the community at the onsite Osteopathy clinic, overseen by experienced Osteopaths. The clinic has provided over 17,000 patient appointments in the last five years alone. Unitec staff and people from the local community have made use of the convenient location and great low prices and found the service to be excellent. One patient said:
“Thank you to you and the team for the great support and care you have provided; I have used the service off and on for 15 years or more and it was such a supportive and accessible service (I think I first came when I was a broke student and definitely could not afford good back care anywhere else!). Thank you so much.”
The closure of the Osteopathy programme
The decision to ‘teach out’ the Programme was made back in 2018 due to external factors relating to local competition in an already small market. The final cohort of Masters ākonga have recently completed their clinic and course work. Some students are still finalising their thesis and continue to be supported by supervisors in a collaborative approach, drawing on expertise from within the osteopathy team, across Unitec and beyond. . Throughout the planned five-year teach out, the Osteo teaching staff have remained committed and passionate about training future generations.
Katie Bruffy, Head of Community Studies said collegiality has been strong amongst the staff.
“They need to be acknowledged for their commitment and impact on our profession. Not every Osteo wants to be a teacher, so we’ve been so lucky to have had such an amazing set of Osteos who were passionate about teaching and giving back to the profession” says Katie.
The programme has received consistently excellent reviews, as shown in the 2022 accreditation report commending the leadership and teaching staff for their commitment and quality of teaching, with comments such as:
- This programme has a deeply committed team of people teaching and supporting students. It was clear that every staff member we spoke with had a ‘student at the centre’ philosophy.
- The leadership team of Katie Bruffy, Sue Palfreyman and Tim Friedlander have integrity and professional ‘mana’.
- Unitec as an institution appeared to have real commitment to their students and focus on assisting students to succeed but not at the expense of the standards set.”
Katie has worked alongside Sue and the team throughout the teach out, providing leadership and support. She’s proud of how the teachers have kept their focus on providing the best experience for our ākonga.
“Our staff’s commitment and dedication are clear in our students’ remarkable success. They’ve made significant contributions to osteopathy, improving patients’ quality of life. Collaborating with these devoted individuals has been a true honour and privilege, and I’m grateful for each of them. I’m proud of their hard work and dedication,” said Katie.
Official farewell
The final details are being tidied up over the next few weeks before the programme officially closes. The team will hold an official farewell in May in Te Puna, where they’ll celebrate the amazing legacy they’re leaving behind, with past staff members and supporters. Keep an eye out for details on Te Aka.
Really sad to see the end of such an amazing programme and community resource.
Sad to see such a wonderful programme close. The onsite clinic served so many of us kaimahi over the years and was widely recommended.
Sad to see them go. I’ve used their services several times over the years as a staff/kaimahi and the students and teachers have always been professional and given excellent service. Nga mihi nui
A real loss to the overall Unitec package. This programme was an exemplar of how to teach. The quality of the teaching was amazing. Was there more we could have done to keep it here…… we will never know. I am glad I was lucky enough to experience one of the finest programmes at Unitec.
A great loss to the College & the wider community. I’m happy to say I benefited from the skills & professionalism of the staff & students within this department & I’m very at the demise of this programme. Thank you & good luck in your future endevours.