If this is being taught in our communities with our young people, then the impact will be that we will see young people in more healthier relationships.
A genuine desire to help others thrive is what motivated Aisina Olo-Tulaga to want to be an Atu-Mai Upstander.
“When the programme came up, I thought it would be a really great opportunity to build my knowledge and to build on what I already have, particularly from a cultural perspective. Building my kete of knowledge in child sexual abuse and prevention is really the key to preventing child sexual abuse.”
Aisina was raised with strong family values and, together with Pasifika values of respect and service, she learned to help others and give whatever she had.
Such values have been helpful in her current job as a school counsellor in South Auckland, where some young people do disclose abuse within a family, home or community setting.
Since completing the Atu-Mai programme, Aisina has become more confident in speaking about a subject that has long been seen as taboo in Pacific culture.
Not only is she now able to be bolder in conversations about sexual abuse, she has also found the programme’s prevention strategies working with youth super helpful, particularly the part about having respectful talanoa.
“I’ve loved the content on this programme – it’s been easy to follow and it’s been really challenging. It’s really challenged my cultural beliefs thoughts values and perspectives.”
Aisina also signed up the Deans at her school to do the Atu-Mai training, which was a huge eye opener for them, and she is now more supported in her sexual violence prevention work.
“It really challenged them and inspired them. They were reflective about their own practice and the way they handled stuff around young people and abuse, and so it was really helpful and really valuable to them.”
Aisina didn’t expect the learning to have such a huge impact on her own life as well.
“From where I started in the beginning, to where I am currently at, I mean the learning has been really valuable, particularly from a cultural perspective as well as the clinical stuff I’ve been learning as well,” she says.
Being an Upstander has changed how Aisina raises her own children. She now has robust and transparent talanoa around relationships with her kids as they enter their teenage years.
“Being able to talk to them about healthy relationships, what respect looks like and just being open and transparent around sexuality – that’s been really helpful for me on a personal level.”
Aisina recommends the Atu-Mai Upstander programme to others working in schools, or those who work in an environment where they can make a difference by helping young people.
Being more culturally responsive has become important too, which has led to her sharing knowledge with others.
“It’s encouraging my friends to have transparent dialogue with young people and thinking about what healthy relationships look like, what are the risk factors and red flags to look out for.”
She says seeing a reduction in child sexual abuse is impactful.
“If this is being taught in our communities with our young people, then the impact will be that we will see young people in more healthier relationships,” she says.
“That our young people will be aware of what is healthy and what is unhealthy and that our families, when sitting around the table, can have these discussions with each other in a healthy and non-judgemental way, and that’s the impact a programme like this could have, particularly in our Pacific communities.”
