Dwaine Faletanoai is Samoan from Upolu, born in Christchurch but Auckland raised – a proud Crusaders fan, now happily settled in Auckland with his wife and four children.
Massive thanks and appreciation for everything Le Va has done to support me to achieve something for my family and for the Pacific community.
Currently Operations Manager for Takanga a Fohe, Pacific Mental Health and Addictions at Te Whatu Ora, Dwaine’s learning journey has been extensive, covering counselling, mental health, supervision studies, postgraduate addiction studies, and a Master’s degree in Health Sciences.
Le Va’s Futures that Work scholarship has been supporting him nearly every step of the way, funding several years of postgraduate study.
“Massive thanks and appreciation for everything Le Va has done to support me to achieve something for my family and for the Pacific community,” he says. “I’m very thankful and blessed.”
Growing up in a state house with his mum and sister, Dwaine learned early that education matters. “Although we might have been poor, I think it was important for us to be educationally well. It’s not a rags to riches story, but academically we are well.”
The journey hasn’t been easy, a lot of challenges, joys, a lot of close to tears moments. “I’ve never really been an academic person, I’ve struggled in the classroom. You only have to look at my undergrad transcript, you’ll see a good range of the alphabet there,” Dwaine jokes.
But with age, hard work and support like the Futures that Work scholarship, he has navigated the significant challenges of balancing full-time work and family, and finding confidence to contribute in academic spaces.
“I’ve been able to carve out a pathway and navigate some of those barriers such as having the confidence to ask questions when I don’t understand.”
Now, Dwaine encourages Pasifika people to consider a career in the mental health and addiction sector. “It’s quite a hidden career but it has a lot of rewards,” he says.
Having fallen into the field almost by accident, he loves his job and is passionate about its importance.
“Our Pacific community is growing, it’s young, and everybody knows we’re disproportionately represented in all the not so good statistics. I think we need a workforce that’s going to understand our values, our Pacific way of working.”
Dwaine’s message is clear for those thinking of a career in mental health and addiction support: “I would say to give it a go, we need you.”
Learn more about our Futures that Work Scholarship programme: Futures that Work Scholarship
