Fono brings together South-Island based practitioners
South Island-based practitioners working with Pacific peoples and communities to further address family violence and sexual violence have had their chance to get involved in the nationwide campaign to address issues in the sector.
Pasefika Proud provided much needed support for the recent Fono bringing together practitioners providing community-led solutions, delivering key services, and striving to be effective for the people they represent.
The theme of the fono was "Love, Respect and Service". Attendees listened attentively as keynote speaker Judge Ida Malosi, the Principal Youth Court Judge, spoke, drawing on her own life journey and experiences.
In her address she challenged participants to “not be afraid to navigate in big spaces, to draw on our unique superpowers and to be multipliers of leaders”.
There were a number of other powerful presentations including the ‘application of cultural frameworks in the workplace’, a survivor’s story of the impact of sexual abuse and now operating as a practitioner in the sector, and a reflection with practical activities on practitioner wellbeing.
Participants praised the ‘outstanding’ presentations put forward, .
"There was something powerful about peoples' lived experiences of overcoming abuse and working in the sector, and (of the) lived experience of a practitioner not looking after their wellbeing and the consequences (but) now being on a better path of looking after oneself," was one of the thoughts of a participant.
It was agreed that people were hungry for information and the chance to collaborate, and that one of the recurring positives to come out of the Fono was practitioners saying they enjoyed the opportunity to meet as a collective - something that has been lacking in the past.
Participants talked with others in common roles about what they saw as the systems barriers and solutions. They were then invited to gather by location to contribute to a cross section of views including how they may wish to continue to stay connected going forward.
There was an overwhelming interest, and an urgency for participants to stay connected, and they came up with different ways to do so. But they also recognised the need for their employers to support this and see the value it has.
It's important to acknowledge the South Island regional komiti responsible for the design of the fono.Their input ensures each fono is unique, regionally led and fit for purpose. The regional komiti for the South Island include: Nicky Sofai, Seuga programme at AVIVA external, Toleafoa Malu Tulia, Vaka Tautua, externalOfa Boyle, Pacific Island Advisory Charitable Trust, externalFaanimo Elisara-Too, Pacific Trust Otago external
Contributions by officials from Te Puna Aonui external, Ministries of Social Development/Pasefika Proud, Education and Justice, NZ Police, Oranga Tamariki, Te Whatu Ota and the Regional Public Service Office created opportunities for improving ways of working across agencies with the NGO sector, and the organising committee was praised for the high calibre of presenters and activities across the Fono.
ABOUT – National Pacific Practitioners’ Forum
The Pacific Practitioners Forum serves as an enduring engagement platform to enable Pacific practitioners working in the areas of family violence and/or sexual violence to provide advice to Te Puna Aonui on the implementation and learning and monitoring of Te Aorerekura external, and to share information and knowledge amongst members to strengthen and inform their work and advocate for priority areas as defined by the forum.
Komiti
The Komiti comprises a small team of Pacific practitioners drawn from the National Practitioners’ Forum. Each member volunteered to join the team to work with Te Puna Aonui to make the Forum’s idea of a National Fono a reality. Their role is to work with the recently appointed coordinators to advance the Forum’s goals of fostering connectivity, sharing knowledge, and collaboratively identifying priorities and actions to combat family violence and sexual violence within Pacific communities. The term for the current membership is until June 2024. More information will follow about the process to serve on the Komiti from July 2024.
The current National Komiti members are Diana Vao, Salvation Army Community Ministries external; Joy Sipeli, NET external - Kyla Rayner, Wellington Rape Crisis external - Maggie Felo, NET external - Nicky Sofai, AVIVA external ,Tevita Fakaosi, Kainga Pasifika external - Tima Hunt, The Fono external - Uipo Uipo Tagaloasa, Tautoko Tāne external
For more information contact - relationships@tepunaaonui.govt.nz