KRALENDIJK – Bonaire was the venue for the ‘Future of care in the Caribbean Netherlands: Standing Strong Together for Healthcare’ care conference that took place on Wednesday 10 and Thursday 11 June. The conference, which was organised by Care and Youth Caribbean Netherlands (ZJCN), provided an opportunity for various care-sector parties to address three main themes in depth: care infrastructure, the care labour market, and prevention. One notably outstanding event at the conference was the launch of the Unite in Care labour market platform, an initiative aimed at bringing together employers, employees, and job seekers in the care and welfare sector in the Caribbean Netherlands.
Care Conference
The conference played host to a wide community of care professionals, administrators, policymakers, and researchers. The purpose of the event was to share knowledge about the challenges facing the care sector in the Caribbean Netherlands. During the conference, discussions were held on how different care providers could work in partnership more effectively, as well as on how collaboration between the various islands could be improved. The dialogues addressed the challenges of achieving these partnerships, as well as examining the recommendations of the Caribbean Netherlands Healthcare Committee.
The guests were welcomed by John Soliano, the Governor of Bonaire, and Mirjam Sterk, the Minister of Long-term Care, Youth, and Sport, who delivered her message in a video. During the two-day event, various experts from the care sector, the science community, the labour market, and the private sector shared their knowledge and insights during inspiring keynote presentations.
A range of workshops was also held for the conference guests, dealing with themes such as leadership in vulnerable care systems, training and education, data-driven indicators in the care sector and care labour market, empowering the position of care recipients, and nutrition in the care sector. The participants exchanged knowledge and their experiences during these sessions, while looking jointly for practical solutions to the challenges facing the care sector.
The theme ‘Standing Strong Together for Healthcare’ was embraced by the organisations present. Fundashon Mariadal and Scholengemeenschap Bonaire, for example, signed an agreement to jointly develop a training programme. In addition, Fundashon Mariadal, Mental Health Caribbean, Zorg en Welzijn Groep, Fundashon Kuido pa Personanan Desabilitá and Stichting Project signed a letter of intent to join forces in the areas of support services and operational management.
Launch of Unite in Care labour market platform
On the second day, there was a strong focus on the launch of the Unite in Care labour market platform, an initiative of the collaborative partnership between employers in the care and welfare sector in the Caribbean Netherlands. The purpose of the platform is to bring all important information on work in the care sector to one single location. The website is now online: www.uniteincare.com.
The platform is intended for anyone involved in the care and welfare sector, putting employers, employees, and job seekers in touch with each other. Relevant organisations will work together in the Unite in Care platform on important topics, such as recruiting and retaining staff. They will also help employees continue their personal and professional development and to work in a healthy manner. In this way, they are working together to build a strong and healthy labour market for the Caribbean Netherlands.