Schools rugby league tournament a great way to engage community

Over two sunny days in Bruce Pulman Park at the start of September, Le Va’s Atu-Mai violence prevention team was pleased to support the National Secondary Schools Rugby League Tournament held by New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL).

Charles Lavea at the Le Va fale – NZRL secondary schools tournament

The tournament showcased some of the best young rugby league players from around the country and was a fantastic opportunity for Le Va to engage with Pasifika youth and their families to raise awareness of the importance of mental wellbeing.

The event was well attended by the rugby league community and Le Va’s colourful inflatable fale was a drawcard for young people, who were attracted by our friendly staff and giveaways.

Creating community connections through meaningful engagement at sporting events is one way Le Va supports better health and wellbeing outcomes for our Pasifika people.

Our ongoing partnership with NZRL and the New Zealand Warriors rugby league team has allowed Le Va to share our messages more widely with a large audience, and to ensure we hear the voices of the community on how we can be of service.

Part of our purpose at the event was to engage with parents on the serious issue of child sexual abuse by conducting a survey to inform a needs analysis. The Atu-Mai team collected more than 100 parent surveys over the two days, with data to feedback into their research.

We greatly appreciated the chance to talanoa with parents, share our initial findings and hear their views on mental health and child sexual abuse. Many thanks to NZRL for inviting us to be part of the wellbeing hub at the event, alongside other organisations and healthcare providers.