Helping health workers better understand and serve Pasifika communities

Guest blog by Christina Taefu

Talofa lava! 

My name is Christina Taefu and I am very passionate about health and wellbeing for Pasifika communities.

I absolutely love my job in mental health, and while I was recently with Higher Ground, my new role is programme facilitator for Framework Trust. 

I develop and facilitate personal development programmes. These programmes empower those who experience a mental illness to develop their natural strengths and capabilities. I love helping people grow and heal to build a life worth living.

It’s my dream to make a positive impact in the mental health sector of our Pasifika community. 

I am honoured to also be Miss Samoa NZ and hope to use this wonderful platform to raise awareness and offer support around mental health and addiction. My own personal journey of recovery connects with many Pasifika, and through this experience I am aware of the need for a programme to help health workers better understand and serve Pasifika communities. This type of programme could promote our deeply held cultural values. 

I was very grateful to attend Le Va’s Engaging Pasifika cultural competency training programme recently. I believe this programme is critical for all health professionals working with Pasifika people as it focuses on the three essential themes of family, language and Tapu. 

All three areas are vital for fostering positive trusting relationships with our Pacific families and individuals. There were practical tools for workers, and overall the programme felt and was a safe space to learn together. I felt encouraged, and believe more health professionals and organisations would react the same if they attended the Engaging Pasifika programme. 

Malo lava to the EP team of Saveatama Eroni Clarke, Esther Faitala, Ben Tameifuna and GM Pacific Bruce Levi from the Auckland District Health Board!

Christina joined members of the Higher Ground team recently for Le Va’s Engaging Pasifika cultural competency training programme.