SDG 3 – Good Health and Well-Being , Hauora Tangata

College of Health contribution

Massey University's College of Health's strong contribution to goal 3, had 3,121 students studying health-related qualifications in 2022. The college's top three qualifications in 2022 continue to be:

• Bachelor of Health Science, with 563 students enrolled in 2022 and more than 500 students enrolled each year for the last 10 years.
• Bachelor of Nursing, with 523 students enrolled in 2022 and more than 500 students enrolled each year for the last 10 years.
• Bachelor of Social Work, with 389 students enrolled in 2022 and more than 350 students enrolled each year for the last 10 years.

As expected, the proportion of students enrolled in College of Health qualifications increased during the COVID-19 pandemic to 12.1 per cent of all Massey students in 2021.

In 2022, 11.3 per cent of our students were enrolled in College of Health qualifications.

Increasing numbers of Māori and Pacific nursing students

The numbers of Māori and Pacific students enrolled in the university's Bachelor of Nursing increased over the last three years:

• 49 Māori students were enrolled in 2020, 56 in 2021 and 54 in 2022. In 2022, 10.3 per cent of all Bachelor of Nursing students identified as Māori.
• 25 Pacific students were enrolled in 2020, 31 in 2021 and 32 in 2022. In 2022, 6.1 per cent of all Bachelor of Nursing students identified as Pacific.

Despite these increases, the proportion of nursing students who are Māori or Pacific is still lower than the equivalent proportions of the New Zealand population: 14.5 per cent and 7.3 per cent (Statistics NZ 2022 population estimates, 18 years and over).

Dietetics students improving the lives of young people in the community

Each year, Massey's dietetic and nutrition students teach hundreds of Year 10 students how to make healthy, tasty and affordable meals together through community outreach nutrition programmes. These include the Nestlé Cook for Life programme run at several South Auckland schools, including Alfriston College, James Cook High, Otahuhu College and Manurewa High.

Massey's dietetic students enjoy thinking up creative ways to convey healthy eating messages and help impart practical skills for life.

After having fun learning about nutrition and cooking a nutritious, affordable and healthy meal together, the high school students take home recipes and cooking skills to share with their wider families and community.

Read more about the community outreach nutrition programmes

Revolutionary smart robotic capsules for early detection of gastrointestinal diseases

Massey's researchers are developing a revolutionary smart robotic capsule that is swallowed and collects images and samples from the gut. This technology will advance the management of gastrointestinal diseases by enabling early and accurate diagnosis. The interdisciplinary work was recently awarded $1 million from the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment’s (MBIE’s) Endeavour Fund.

Research on mental health and wellbeing

A wealth of research on mental health and wellbeing undertaken by Massey academics and students in 2022 included:

• a Conversations that Count – Ngā Kōrero Whai Take episode on workplace wellbeing
• doctorate-level research exploring the Māori whānau experience of suicide loss
• the publication of a book, Mental Health Among Higher Education Faculty, Administrators and Graduate Students
• investigations into the impacts of the pandemic lockdowns on mental health.

Factsheets published on a range of health issues

Factsheets on various health issues were published in 2022 by Environmental Health Intelligence New Zealand, based in the university's College of Health. The topics included:

• melanoma rates
• the prevalence of asthma in children
• lead adsorption
• the number of interceptions of high-risk insects at Aotearoa New Zealand borders.

Environmental Health Intelligence New Zealand website