Pasifika Health Promoter (Community & Public Health)
"It was the drive to make a difference for our Pasifika community and at the same time, changing the narratives."
I am an indigenous Fijian living in Christchurch with my husband and two children. I came to New Zealand in 2015 on a 3-year contract under a Ministry of Health initiative hosted by Sport Canterbury. My intention was to return to Fiji at the end of 2018 but obviously God has a different plan. I never wanted to leave Fiji but children’s education was the drive to come, so family sacrifices were made.
I have always had a passion of helping people in any way that I can and that has been with me when I was growing up. I remember vividly at 15 years of age, walking to school that morning and can still see the spot, where I made a promise to myself that whatever work I do, I will do it well and that I will survive.
Initially, my thought was that Te Whatu Ora was for personnel with medical qualifications, so I did not give it much thought. I was new to Canterbury and was still trying to understand the system, who is who, how, what and where etc in the grand scheme of things.
I now look back at my journey since my arrival into NZ where I landed with a Ministry of Health contract, worked with NGOs focusing on people’s health and wellbeing. I am blessed for that passage which paved the way to getting into Te Whatu Ora. Working in the health sector is not new as I worked in public health in the last two decades of my previous employment with the UN.
It was the drive to make a difference for our Pasifika community and at the same time, changing the narratives. How I can bring the community voice into the system and how can I help the community appropriately navigate the system in this new land. It is a huge task but we can meet in the middle if we want to progress.
The people that are passionate in their own areas of work and expertise to make a difference in people’s lives. It can be daunting being the lone Pasifika face but one thing I quickly learned and really appreciate is the supportive environment that I work in – the spirit of collegiality, willingness to listen and offer support whenever it is needed. I am very grateful and blessed for that.
I love Ōtautahi for its community feeling. It’s funny because I come from a very small country and to feel that community feeling straight away when I arrived was unbelievable. Christchurch is definitely doing something right!
A great place to build your career and contribute to the healthcare system through all our different experiences and skills.