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RESEARCH therapy programmes in a New Zealand context • Building capacity for community driven research amongst PhD students and research fellows in subjects such the health and wellbeing of adults with CP. The Cerebral Palsy Society has worked alongside these researchers to varying degrees, because over the years, our members have consistently expressed interest in understanding these aspects of CP better. Understanding health care for people living with CP in Aotearoa New Zealand A Cerebral Palsy Society-directed project is underway to help us get a better understanding on the health services delivered for people living with CP in Aotearoa New Zealand. Why? The information gathered from the project will help with: • Identifying differences that may exist across factors such as ethnicity, region, age or funding provider • Providing information for advocacy work • Informing on best practice. How is the project being done? The project is using several different ways to collect information. These include: • Part 1 - Reviewing what is already known about health services provided for people living with CP in Amy Hogan is the Cerebral Palsy Society’s Researcher and Member Support Advisor. Aotearoa New Zealand • Part 2 - Gathering details on the health services provided using national health data collections • Part 3 - Hearing from people living with CP about the health services they use and the impacts for them. What is happening now? Work started on Part 1 and 2 of the project in July 2024. In 2025 we will start planning out Part 3, which involves hearing from people with CP. To help plan Part 3, we are forming a small group of people with lived experience of CP to advise us on topics and questions that would be good to include. Early in 2025 we will share details on what will be involved in joining this online advisory group and how to express your interest in being part of it. Immediate action meets long-term strategy Advocacy in this space requires balancing urgency with sustainability. On one hand, we must act swiftly to address the immediate harms caused by system delays, funding shortages, and gaps in care. On the other hand, we are laying the groundwork for sustained change through efforts like this research, preparing briefing papers for government officials, and contributing to international collaborations under the UNCRPD (United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities). On a practical level this includes: • the Cerebral PalsySociety’s discussions with local government • shaping the Australian and New Zealand CP Strategy 2025 • collaborating with broader disability groups in collectives such as the Neurological Alliance • being on the list to advise Whaikaha and the new Disability Support Services Taskforce. This dual approach acknowledges that systemic change is slow but also that waiting isn’t an option for those feeling the effects now. Thank you for participating in our previous research and advocacy on CP topics. We look forward to sharing more opportunities with you in 2025. MARCH 2025 THE REVIEW | 17