Formerly known as Health Solutions Trust (HST)
Formerly known as Health Solutions Trust (HST)
Project Dates:
2025-2026
Physiotherapy plays an important role in helping people prepare for, recover from, and live well following a cancer diagnosis. Despite growing evidence that cancer rehabilitation improves physical function, wellbeing, and quality of life, access to physiotherapy services remains inconsistent across Aotearoa and Māori continue to experience inequitable access.
This project explored how physiotherapy-led cancer rehabilitationcould better support Māori with matepukupuku (cancer). Using interviews withhealth sector leaders and a focus group of physiotherapists with expertise inoncology rehabilitation and Māori health, the study identified currentstrengths, barriers to access, and opportunities to strengthen rehabilitationservices.
The findings highlight the importance of embedding physiotherapythroughout the cancer continuum, increasing awareness of its role,strengthening culturally safe and mana-enhancing care, improving access tocommunity-based rehabilitation, and supporting stronger interdisciplinarycollaboration. Participants also identified opportunities to strengthen theMāori physiotherapy workforce and develop sustainable, equitable rehabilitationpathways.
The project proposes an equity-informed approach to physiotherapycancer rehabilitation that can help guide future service development, policy,and research. The findings provide practical recommendations to improveequitable access to rehabilitation and support better survivorship outcomes forMāori living with and beyond cancer.
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