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OurValues

Values

PONZPsychosocialOncologyNewZealand(Aotearoa)isacollaborativecollectionoftrainedprofessionalsworkingintheCancerCaredomainswithinAotearoa.

Whole Person Care

Integration of evidence based, Whole Person Care for patientis and their whanua, rooted in Te Tiri O Waitani and culturally appropriate models and approaches.

Multi-disciplinary & Multi-cultural

Ongoing education that keeps psychosocial oncology clinically sharp and culturally grounded. Strengthening multi-disciplinary practice while working across diverse communities and settings.

Promotion

Promoting self-care, peer support, and community connection to protect professional sustainability. With the demands of psychosocial work, a supported workforce is essential.

Connect & Collaborate

Connecting and collaborating with cancer services across Aotearoa and with relevant international agencies to share evidence, resources, and learning so best practice is solidified and shared.

PONZ Objectives

Objectives

To advocate for the integration of multi-disciplinary psychosocial care and support as an essential component of all cancer care
To provide a forum for discussion of national and international psycho-oncology practice, research and development, using networks of interested health professionals.
To develop recommendations for the provisions of services and care through all phases of the cancer trajectory, using well researched and evaluated national and international models of good practice.
To ensure patient and family participation in the identification and development of all phases of oncology care and service provision addressing psychological, psychosocial and physical issues.
To advocate for the assessment of psychosocial, psychological and informational needs and requirements at the time of diagnosis and subsequent intervals throughout the disease trajectory.
To advocate and support the requirement for research and evaluation of all facets of psycho-oncology development and practice.
To advocate and support the development of a multi-disciplinary psycho-oncology educational programme for health professionals providing oncology services.
To promote the development of a national framework for the provision of services that address the ethical and culturally appropriate issues and concerns of patients and their families during their experience of cancer care.

History of PONZ

History

InspiredbytheInternationalPsycho-OncologySociety(IPOS)conferencein1998,aPsychosocialOncologyInterestGroup(POIG)wasestablished,withadesiretobringthisfocustoAotearoa,NewZealand.

Thisgroupconsistedofasmallnumberofpassionateoncologyandalliedhealthprofessionals.TheiraimwastobringtogetherpractitionersfromacrossAotearoa,toshareknowledgeandadvancepsychosocialcareinoncology.EarlymeetingswereheldinWellingtonandChristchurch,andasinterestgrew,thefirstnationalconferencewasconvenedin2003.Atthenationalconferencethefollowingyear,theideaofestablishingaformalprofessionalsocietywasexplored.

PsychosocialOncologyNewZealand(PONZ)wasformallyestablishedin2005.Sincethen,PONZhascontinuedtogrow,withitsbi-annualconferencesremainingcentraltoitsmissionofpromotingandintegratingpsychosocialoncologyintocancercarethroughoutNewZealand.