Pasefika Proud Family Violence Research Plan launched

Associate Minister of Social Development, Tariana Turia, has launched a research plan on family violence for Pasefika communities at the Pasefika Proud Community Awards in Auckland.

Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu: Pasefika Proud Family Violence Research Plan was commissioned by the Ministry of Social Development and led by the Pacific Advisory Group (PAG). It is a five-year plan which focusses on generating and theorising knowledge on Pasefika families and family violence; strategically supporting national family violence and cross-sector Pasefika initiatives; and clearly defining research priorities for investment. The areas it focuses on are:

1. Pasefika knowledge(s) generation

a. Social and kin relationships: Impacts of change
b. Narratives from practice

2. Service delivery

a. Quality actions with clients

3. Workforce development

a. Pasefika nations training programmes that train and develop Pasefika practitioners
b. Develop Pasefika nations database for family violence
c. Set workforce targets

The research plan is supported by the Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu: Pacific Conceptual Frameworksand Falevitu: Literature Review.

The Pasefika Proud Community Awards honoured:

• Peseta Betty Sio of the Pacific Islands Safety and Prevention Project for her significant contribution to the Pacific family violence sector through leadership and action;
• The Strong Pacific Families of Porirua for community leadership and innovation in building strong Pacific families;
• Individuals Lupe Tavita Alesana Vaofanua of the Manukau Pacific Island Trust in Auckland, Halo Asekona of the Penina Health Trust in Auckland, and Ofa Boyle of the Fale Pasifika O Aoraki Trust in Timaru, for demonstrating leadership and action in the Pacific family violence field.

Regional fono around the country are now being held by the Pacific Advisory Group to discuss current initiatives addressing violence and the issues that are important to communities.

Media:

Pasefika Proud Community Awards and Launch of the Nga Vaka o Kaiga Tapu Research Plan, Beehive, 18.10.2013

Launch of Pasefika Proud Family Violence Research Plan, Scoop, 18.10.2013

Image: Flowers@Rarotonga, Cook Islands by Tim Parkinson. Licence: Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic (CC BY 2.0)