Action research – as part of the wider measurement activity for the Whānau Ora approach – is focused on providing evidence of provider practice, developing improved whānau-centred service delivery and the impact on whānau. The key research question is ‘how could agencies and providers most usefully contribute to best outcomes for whānau?’
The action research process requires researchers to work with Whānau Ora provider collectives to instil the notion of building ‘learning organisations’. The purpose and intent is to create a ‘change’ methodology within organisations. Therefore, a substantive amount of information in the initial stages of the action research implementation is focused on the provider collective shift towards transformation and collaboration.
Action research reports are analysed for evidence of a ‘shift’ or a ‘change’ for provider collectives in implementing the Whānau Ora approach. Initial benchmarking information currently gathered about whānau is to develop a baseline to demonstrate change or improvement they experience from a Whānau Ora service delivery approach.