27 July 2010
Applications for 2010/11 awards now open!
On this page:
- Talofa lava and greetings
- Awards feted by health minister
- Engaging Pasifika - Dream Fonotaga
- Catch us on the run!
- Growing Pasifika nurses: profiles
Talofa lava and greetings
I am pleased to announce that applications for the Pacific Health Workforce Awards 2011 are now open!
These awards are about growing a quality Pacific workforce and having the right people, with the right skills, working in the right place at the right time.
Following the success of the last funding round with an unprecedented quantity and quality of applications, the bar has been set high. We are still targeting the priority workforce groups of medicine, nursing, midwifery, oral health and some allied health specialities. If this isn’t you, don’t despair because the Ministry of Health also continues to support our ‘non-priority’ health workforce groups too.
In this edition you can read more on funding in a special message from our Clinical Director Pacific, Dr Api Talemaitoga. See some photos of Shana and the team at the University of Auckland Dream Fonotaga. Don’t forget to check out our two new student profiles as we showcase our Pacific nursing students Sailau Stacey Lote and Rachael Holtom.
Check out the new links page on our website for some cool but informative sites particularly focused on health careers or student support.
Remember – awards applications are open now!
Keep an eye out for the Le Va team coming your way soon and start getting your application together!
Ia manuia le aso
Monique Faleafa
National Manager, Le Va
Awards feted by health minister
In July 2010 representatives from the Sector Capability and Implementation Directorate, Fepulea’i Margie Apa (Deputy Director-General) and Debra Tuifao (Team Leader Pacific Programme Implementation) met with the Minister of Health, the Hon. Tony Ryall, to provide an update on Pacific health.
While a number of areas were discussed at the meeting, the item that caught the Minister’s attention most was the Pacific Health Workforce Awards scheme results, that is 197 award recipients representing an almost 300 per cent increase on previous years, and the focus on significantly removing the financial barrier for many students in the priority workforce groups such as medicine, nursing and oral health.
The results are reflective of Le Va’s commitment to the scheme, to Serau, and to supporting our Pacific students to achieve. However, there is still much more to do and we cannot rest on our laurels. The focus now is not only on maintaining high numbers but also looking at ways to further increase recipient numbers and ultimately to contribute to increasing the number of Pacific enrolments in health qualifications at a tertiary institution.
Dr Api Talemaitoga
Clinical Director Pacific Health
Engaging Pasifika – Dream Fonotaga
Malo! The past two months have definitely been a busy time for the team with the start of the promotions. The Le Va team has been busy promoting the Pacific Health Workforce Awards at Amatakiloa (Tongan Students Association Forum), and to Pasifika health students at AUT, and also presenting at the APSTE conference in Christchurch.
One of the recent highlights in the promotions drive was presenting at the annual Year 12 Dream Fonotaga hosted and administered by the University of Auckland. The aim of the fonotaga is to steer Pacific senior high school students to higher education. The fonotaga encourages students to aspire to being all they can be and offers assistance on taking practical steps to making those dreams a reality.
Le Va would like to thank the University of Auckland for their partnership and willingness to accommodate and support us. We were proud to work alongside the teams from Bader Drive Medical Centre and Pasifika Medical Association.
Taga and the Dream Fonotaga team.
Year 12 students at Dream Fonotaga.
Catch us on the run!
If you want to catch up with us, we’ll be visiting universities around the country, and you’ll see our posters in and around, so feel free to email us with any questions.
We'll be visiting campuses to explain the awards in more detail, answer any questions, and help you out with your application forms. Catch us on the run!
Growing Pasifika nurses: profiles
In this update, we showcase two nursing students who are also 2009 and 2010 award recipients.
Sailau Stacey Lote
What are you studying and why have you chosen this field to study in?
I am currently in my final year of university completing a Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) at Auckland University of Technology. My mum was nursing and I wanted to follow in her footsteps. Also I want to work with people from all different walks of life and nursing gives me that opportunity that other professions don't. Nursing is a selfless profession, that if a person is not passionate about then they won't enjoy. Lastly I believe that nursing is one of the most accommodating careers in the sense that it is a passport to anywhere!
What do you hope to achieve from this degree?
I hope to continue my studies by completing postgraduate studies. I also want to do some travelling with my nursing degree but ultimately I want to be able to do some volunteer work with my church relief agency and give back to those who are less fortunate then myself. I also want to use my qualification to work in acute hospital settings where Pacific nurses are highly needed and where there are high Pacific patient numbers. By working in this setting, I will not only be able to help PI people who are admitted into the wards, but also be able to advocate for pacific people within the health care system.
Have you faced many challenges relating to studying Nursing?
Being a Pacific Islander and studying nursing, there are many challenges that arise. Personally a big obstacle has been time management. I think we (Pacific Islanders) have a "kicked back" approach to deadlines where we leave assessments and exam studying to the last minute. This is when our time management is shocking. For me it has only been recent that I've learnt to not leave assignments last minute and to study continuously throughout the semester not just two weeks before the exam, which I think we've all done.
How have you overcome these challenges?
With time management, planning is the key. For me, I now plan everything in regards to essays and exams. For essays I have to make sure I have three weeks prior the due date to do all my researching and reading and then the writing. It has helped in the sense that 1. I'm not running around like a headless chicken the week its due looking for journals, 2. It is less stress, 3. I get to sleep. The same goes for exams. I have learnt that when I plan my study times and what is going to be studied, this saves time and leads to less distractions.
How do cultural aspects influence your studies?
For me, having these cultural values such as respect for elders can be applied into nursing. Like treatment of all elders with respect and having that ideation of "this may be my grandparents or parents". It is also important for me as a Samoan, to know that there are people out there that belong to the same culture as myself and understand what it is like being a Samoan. By having a similar Samoan understanding, I can offer a lot for the people I care for, but also learn from them.
What would be your advice for people interested in studying nursing?
Don’t have a preconception of what you think nursing is, be open to all opportunities, and that to succeed you have to be willing to learn. It is a profession you have to be passionate about because if you aren't, it is either not going to last long or you will end up hating it. Lastly, study hard and although there maybe some rough parts along the way, enjoy the journey.
Rachael Holtom
What are you studying and why have you chosen this field to study in?
I’m enrolled in the Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing). A personal experience triggered my wish to study in this area. A family member I was extremely close to became very sick with cancer. I spent most of my time in hospital and the hospice with him. I was able to observe first hand the influence a nurse has towards the patient and their family, and I also wanted to be able to help make a positive influence.
My main passion is serving in the youth area of health, as I feel that this is where we as Pacific people develop our way of living. It is important that we educate ourselves and others in a way that will improve their quality of life.
What do you hope to achieve from this degree?
This degree will enable me to be a qualified registered nurse, and with this I am able to work in a community setting where I can promote, practice and work with Pacific communities. This will help our Pacific communities to be better equipped with knowledge and ensure they receive the services available.
Have you faced many challenges relating to studying nursing?
Every day I am faced with a new challenge. Stepping out of my comfort zone to do things I have never done before. I also have a heart condition myself which sometimes disadvantages me on a daily basis as I get tired easily and need to push that little bit extra. I also don't get things first time, so there is a lot of independent study where I need to take it upon myself to ensure I meet the academic standard.
How have you overcome these challenges?
By focusing on the end result. My main goal is to finish then I will be able to overcome lots of challenges. Also closer to me is doing this degree for my family, and doing it for myself. When I overcome these challenges I can make a difference in others lives.
What would be your advice to first year students?
Nothing is out of your reach. If your heart is in the right place the rest will follow. It is not easy, but with determination you can achieve anything you want to achieve and be anything you want to be. This is a rewarding career.
Page last updated: 14 April 2011