Tuitui Tūturu – Weaving Real Connection Through Whānau Lived Experience in PICU
We are deeply proud of our incredible Josiah Mika Foundation whānau and founders – Dr Julie Wharewera-Mika, Jerome Mika, and their son Jerome Pakitua Feso Mika, who powerfully presented at the Australia New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) and Australian College of Critical Care Nurses Ltd (ACCCN) Intensive Care ASM in Ōtautahi🩵
The Australia New Zealand Intensive Care Society (ANZICS) and Australian College of Critical Care Nurses Ltd (ACCCN) Intensive Care ASM presentations were boldly titled:
1. Tuitui Tūturu: Partnering with Whānau in PICU – Lived experience insights for meaningful collaboration enabling a Mokopuna Centric, Whānau Focused model of care.
2. Tuitui Tūturu: Partnering with Whānau in PICU – Lived experience insights for culturally compassionate end-of-life care.
These powerful contributions continue to challenge and transform how healthcare systems view and work with whānau, not just as caregivers, but as partners, experts and essential holders of lived wisdom.
Key points shared:
★ Culturally compassionate care goes beyond clinical expertise, it supports healing in all its forms: spiritual, cultural, emotional, and physical.
★ Moving forward together – Genuine partnership with whānau in PICU means trusting, listening and respecting lived experience. When we do this well, we uphold mokopuna wellbeing at the heart of every decision.
★ Cultural safety is critical – Every whānau deserves to be seen, heard and respected. It’s not just what we do, but how we show up that matters.
★ End-of-life care must honour the whole whānau – By weaving together medical and cultural support, we uphold the mana of every child and their whānau, even in the most sacred moments.We are forever grateful for the heart, courage, and wisdom of Josiah’s whānau, who continue to serve our communities with aroha, advocacy and unwavering dedication🩵
Hononga tūturu, manaaki pono, mō ngā mokopuna - Real connection, real care, always for our mokopuna.
“Sharing the journey of our precious son Josiah and our whānau lived experience in the paediatric intensive care unit (PICU) was one of the most difficult things we’ve done, but also one of the most important” says Dr Jules.
“Our presentation offered a whānau perspective on the importance of being included in decision-making, and how emotional and cultural support shaped our experience. The process of reliving our most painful moments was challenging, but we did it for Josiah, and to help drive system change for future mokopuna and their whānau.
We also acknowledged the deep impact of those who walked alongside us, our wider whānau, and the dedicated Starship PICU kaimahi. Together, striving to create a truly mokopuna-focused whānau centred environment where clinical and cultural needs were held in balance.
Our message was clear: partnership with whānau is not an optional extra, it’s essential to equitable, compassionate care”. 🩵🩷