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Inclusion, diversity and equity are the bedrock to strengthening collaborative relationships to achieve better health outcomes for all. Supporting the health care system to be culturally safe for Pasifika, our cultural competency training, Engaging Pasifika, is dedicated to ensuring our people feel respected and safe when they interact with the health system. Since 2010, more than 8,500 health and disability workers have completed our training.

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‘Within our ancestral voices are some true answers to healing’

– Rob Williams

The FEEL App is an emotional awareness platform that shows you how to safely share your feelings, bring about balance, understand more about yourself and then connect with others to create a community of care and trust.

Le Va had the opportunity to connect with Rob to ask him a few questions about his fearless steps during the app’s development.

What fueled your interest in this field of work?
I was inspired by a meditation methodology developed by my mentor Bert McCarthy. It helped me form a more positive relationship with my negative talking self. It helped establish equilibrium and balance within and I felt a strong desire to help others find this same balance.

Share with us the collaborations you have made to bring this dream to life?
This has been the most amazing journey of collaboration. The meditation has been translated and recorded into six different Polynesian languages: Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island, Tahitian, Hawaiian and Māori. It has also been recorded in French as well as English. So that means at least six to eight translators and 12 to 14 voice artists.

I collaborated with Bert McCarthy, my Mentor, who was influential in helping me on my mindfulness journey. Bert and I worked to form ideas around the meditation methodology and delivery.

Finally, I collaborated with Opetaia Foa’i who is recognised for his music in the Moana movie. Opetaia is one of the South Pacific’s most influential cultural and musical ambassadors.

I will say, just quietly, that each meditation track is like listening to part 2 of the Moana movie so you’re in for a truly special experience.

Why do you feel this work is important?
Creating a Polynesian meditation series with uniquely Polynesian sounds, voices and instruments opens the door to meditation for our Pasifika and Māori communities. To journey back to a true sense of home and to experience the resonance through the notes, music, voices, and words.

With this project, how might you say you have journeyed from being fearful, to fear less, to being fearless?
Applying for the Le Va Pasifika Suicide Prevention Fund was relatively straight forward and like all applications your project must fit the funding criteria. It took a little bit of time to complete but all worthwhile when you receive the call that your application was successful. The fund allowed me to bring the concept to life through creating the music and recording the narrators. I say, look at the funding criteria and if your project fits inside the criteria, then GO FOR IT!

I remember being asked once, why you are doing this? The answer is quite simple. Many years ago, I had an experience in the Cook Islands as I was standing at the base of Te Rua Manga by a rock outcrop. As I turned toward the rocks, I instantly had a moment of déjà vu . It was as though I had been there long before.

It is undeniable that we as Māori whakapapa to the islands. Therefore, I feel a calling to this work, to collaborate with our beautiful Polynesian cultures in this meditation series, with the intention of developing positivity, stability, and a balanced sense of ‘home’ within.

I think when you find a project or a ‘why’ that inspires you, that carries the weight of your ancestors, and brings about positive change then you have a responsibility to become fearless.

The Feel app meditation series is set to launch very soon! Register now to get early access at: https://thefeel.app/register-your-interest

 

Supported by the Ministry of Health’s Suicide Prevention office, the Le Va Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund aims to empower Pasifika families and communities to prevent suicide and to respond effectively if and when a suicide occurs. Director of the Suicide Prevention Office, Carla na Nagara, says the range of groups receiving funds highlights how widespread suicide is in our communities. A recent visit by the director to fund recipient Zeal NZ provided an opportunity to see the impact of that support at the grassroots level.

The Fund seeks to support Pasifika communities to effectively implement community-based suicide prevention initiatives so that families and communities are:

Le Va Chief Executive Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave says, “the objectives are to build resilience within our communities, so that they are able to identify when somebody might be at risk of suicide, and then respond in a really strength based and positive way”.

A recent article from the Pacific Media Network showcases fund recipient Love Somebody Charitable Trust that is currently developing videos of well-known celebrities speaking on topics relating to mental health.

‘E fofō e le alamea le alamea’
The solutions to preventing suicide within our Pasifika communities, lie within our Pasifika communities.

We are pleased to announce the names of the recipients of the Le Va Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund.

Le Va is administering the Fund on behalf of the Suicide Prevention Office to empower Pasifika families and communities to prevent suicide. We received an overwhelming response from our Pasifika communities from all over the country, with applications totalling in excess of $9 million. With an exceptionally high calibre of applications that showed innovation and heart and a fund pool of close to $1 million, the selection process proved to be even more difficult.

With the support of an external panel we have narrowed our list of 2020 recipients to these18 applicants:

Watch this space as we profile each of these exciting projects over the coming weeks via our social media channels.

 

 

As more parts of life become heavily reliant on digital forms of communication, access to reliable and accurate information is crucial.

For Le Va CEO Denise Kingi-‘Ulu’ave, tackling the digital divide is close to the NGO’s heart of leaving no-one behind and helping Pasifika families and communities unleash their full potential.

She said many Pasifika do not have access to the internet, data or smartphones. And it’s not just the elderly.

“During our first Covid-19 lockdown and changing alert levels, there was heightened anxiety, worry and fear gnawing at our people. That was exacerbated by the barriers we face in accessing up-to-date official information on what was happening, how to stay safe and where to get help.”

Gaps in digital access

With funding from the Ministry of Health, Le Va is collaborating with Pasifika community services to address the gaps to access, affordability and digital literacy.

In their dialogue with the community and local services, many who did have devices could not afford data or were on a plan that could not meet the needs of the family, particularly for education.

“The scale of the problem is staggering,” says Denise. “People found themselves shut in their homes, socially isolated and not knowing what was happening in the outside world.”

Collaborating with SWPICST

In partnership with South Waikato Pacific Islands Community Services Trust, Le Va’s Digital Inclusion programme was piloted at Tokoroa’s local library in December. Smartphones and tablets were provided to members of the community identified to be in need, and customised 10-week workshops helped those who had never used a device set up and go digital.

The results have been promising in addressing not just the digital but also the intergenerational divide.

“When I was asked to be part of the programme so that I can connect with our people, not just in Tokoroa, but right around the country, I was so happy!” says an elderly gentleman. “Pasifika culture is embedded in connectedness and community. We understand that many things can drive generations apart, but technology doesn’t have to be one of them,” Denise says.

What’s next?

Due to the overwhelming success of the programme, it is now being rolled out nationwide to rural areas with Pasifika communities.

 

‘E fofō e le alamea le alamea’
The solutions to preventing suicide within our Pasifika communities, lie within our Pasifika communities.

Le Va has been contracted by the Ministry of Health to deliver the Pasifika Suicide Prevention Community Fund. The purpose of the Community Fund is to build the capacity of Pasifika families and communities to prevent suicide and to respond effectively if and when a suicide occurs.

Le Va received a record number of applicants, with over 90 applications for community-based projects. Le Va is now proud to announce that we are able to confirm funding for 18 community projects, with a total value over $900,000. These projects reflect the vast diversity in both ethnicity and innovation in community-led solutions to preventing suicide. While a large proportion of the projects are based in the Auckland region, there are also a few projects based in other areas with large Pasifika populations such as the Waikato and Wellington regions, as well as some of our smaller cities such as Timaru and Tauranga.

The key objectives of the Community Fund are to support Pasifika families and communities to develop solutions to prevent suicide through:

• providing support to Pasifika families and communities that are experiencing suicide risk and/or are bereaved by suicide;
• prioritising population groups within our communities that are known to be at higher risk of suicidal distress;
• building inclusive communities and strengthening community resilience;
• encouraging a focus on mental health; and/or
• raising awareness about available support services.

We understand that different people with different levels of advantage require different approaches and resources to achieve equitable health outcomes. The funded projects are set to target priority groups such as youth, those bereaved by suicide or with lived experience, rural communities, LGBTQI+, and Pasifika males. Innovative approaches within these projects include sports, the creative arts, schools, churches, events and digital solutions.

We are extremely excited to see these projects unfold, so watch this space as we profile each of the 18 funded projects over the coming months, updating you all on their progress!

Le Va responded to the illegal gathering of Kava drinkers during lockdown alert level 4 in April 2020 by providing a digital means for Kava forums to continue via Zoom. This ensured maintaining cultural traditions safely while in the security of your own bubble. The account was live from the 18 April and data shown in the infographics are set from this date to 31 August 2020.

During this same period, Dr Sione Vaka developed a Tongan resource outlining clear rules and regulations regarding gatherings during lockdown L2 and L3, which was then shared throughout the Tongan community. Engagement and utilisation of digital platforms continue to grow especially during these times of uncertainty around lockdown alert levels.

 

Over the past year, we have provided workshops at schools, churches, and community events. We also upgraded our e-learning website to increase access for our people.

There were several highlights throughout the year. In October 2019, we partnered with the Pacific Fashion Fusion Show to deliver the ‘Dressed in confidence Wellness Day’ to over 70 Pasifika youth from across South Auckland. It was an inspiring day, harnessing our Pasifika culture to strengthen self-worth in our future generation of leaders.

In the beginning of the year, Le Va’s Atu-Mai team performed assembly promotions in seven South Auckland secondary schools. The assemblies were lively and involved a creative presentation where our youth development lead Marina Alefosio delivered a spoken word on cultural identity and promoted Atu-Mai resources and tools.

Engagement with our community and organisations has provided many opportunities to ‘stand together violence’. This past year we collaborated with over 70 organisations and community groups. One such collaboration resulted in the team uniting with the Pasifika Media Network on their Divas tour in Auckland and Christchurch, which involved a showcase of well-known Pasifika singers and artists. The Atu-Mai team delivered pre-show masterclasses to young Pasifika creatives on wellbeing, respectful relationships, and cultural identity.

Le Va’s Atu-Mai team looks forward to ongoing connections and coming together to empower our communities to prevent violence. Check out a snapshot of our results.

 

Imagine a world where Pasifika people with disabilities have access to all the services they need. A world without language or cultural barriers, and where Pasifika people with disabilities can live the life they want the way they want. Le Va is working with disability support services, communities, and others to develop such a world, right here in Aotearoa.

A disability workforce with capability, cultural competency and capacity is required to effectively engage with Pasifika communities and deliver effective disability support services that are responsive to their cultural needs.

The Engaging Pasifika cultural competency programme has been in high demand for our disability workforce, with the most disability workers ever undertaking the programme in the past 12 months compared to previous years. In total 213 disability health workers completed the Engaging Pasifika programme from over 30 organisations.

In addition, many other disability workers attended both open face to face Engaging Pasifika workshops and EP live online webinars.

Since 2013, more than 1580 disability health workers completed Engaging Pasifika Cultural Competency programme.
100% of disability participants rated the Engaging Pasifika programme as an excellent programme overall!

DSS_infogaphics2020

The delivery of Le Va’s national Engaging Pasifika Cultural Competency programme commenced in 2009.

To date, over 6 400 health workers have completed the programme, 900 of which were delivered in 2019-2020 alone. This year during COVID lockdown level 4 restrictions, EPLive Online Webinar was launched where 176 health workers completed the programme.

The New Zealand Health profile shows that Pasifika is generally featured disproportionately compared to the rest of the nation. Developing a diverse health workforce that reflects the regional population served is one of many ways to address this, however, this takes time. Supporting mainstream workers and services to enhance their cultural responsiveness is another way and is recognised as an essential means to reduce ethnic disparities in access, quality and outcomes for health and disability services. Research commissioned by the Ministry of Health on how to best meet the needs of Pasifika young people with disabilities identified cultural competency of workers and services as part of the solution in providing a better quality of care for the young person and their family.

Engaging Pasifika 2019-2020 infographic

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