Strengthening South Island Pacific mental health support

Pacific mental health and addiction workers from across Otago gathered in Dunedin in early 2026 to learn, reflect and share space with others who understand the realities of the work, led by Le Va’s Mental Health and Addiction team.

Nicholas Cao (clinical lead) and Seiuli Angel Timali Tiatia-Siau (senior project coordinator) delivered Tu Tonu: Cultural Case Formulation training in partnership with Pacific Trust Otago, with representation from Oamaru Pacific Island Trust (OPIT).

Collectively, they set the tone for a year focused on strengthening Pacific-led practice across Te Waipounamu South Island.

The session created space for Pacific support workers to strengthen culturally grounded practice and engage in conversations about a practical, culturally anchored way of thinking about Pacific wellbeing and resilience.

This work builds on a strong foundation laid throughout 2025, during which the Le Va team delivered Pacific-led mental health and addiction workforce trainings in Dunedin, Invercargill and Oamaru in collaboration with Pacific Access & Choice providers.

Participants of these previous sessions shared that “the training has helped immensely,” that it “gave good insights that would support my current work,” and that it “reminded me to keep learning, reflecting, and asking for guidance.”

From this foundation, Le Va has begun planning to create Pacific Communities of Practice across the South Island.

Conversations with representatives from all four South Island Pacific Access & Choice providers are helping to shape what these future spaces could look like, informed by workforce activity already underway in other regions.

Pacific Communities of Practice are intended to support connection, shared learning and collective reflection through talanoa, practice sharing and relationship-building.

By Pacific, for Pacific mental health and addiction services are available across the South Island to support Pacific communities, while also providing culturally grounded workplaces for Pacific staff:

• Pacific Trust Otago in Dunedin
• Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust (PIACT) in Invercargill
• Oamaru Pacific Island Trust (OPIT) in Oamaru
• Etu Pasifika in Christchurch

Learn more about Le Va’s Fenoga Pule framework for Pasifika Primary Mental Health and Addiction professionals: Fenoga Pule.