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(Photo:
Pegasus Health) |
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NEW ZEALAND: Scholarships kick-start Pacific
health careers
Source:
Pegasus
Health Press Release
Women who are adept at juggling busy schedules
to meet study commitments and fulfil long-held
career ambitions dominate this year’s Pegasus
Health Pacific Health Scholarship Awards.
Two Pacific nurses, a mental health worker, and
a Pacific communications advisor were recognised
at the awards, held in Christchurch recently.
Pegasus Health Chair, Dr Martin Seers, says the
scholarships are designed to lead to improved
health services for Pacific people - and he’s
pleased the scholarships have proved so
attractive to hardworking mothers.
“Pegasus Health has long recognised workforce
development as an essential element in
progressing Pacific people’s health,” says Dr
Seers. “As an organisation we are committed to
the outcome of more Pacific people working at
the coalface in the provision of health care -
this will enrich the health culture and provide
a greater range of services to our patients.”
Pegasus Health Pacific Reference Group Chair,
Peter Retimanu, says this year’s winners
standout because of their well-rounded life
experiences - something that is invaluable when
engaging with people from diverse backgrounds.
“Most of the scholarship recipients are fluent
in different languages and are aware of cultural
protocols. This makes them very sought after
health professionals - not only in New Zealand,
but also on the world stage.”
Mother of seven and post-graduate public health
student Terisa Tagicakibau (of Fijian descent),
became aware of the health needs of Pacific
people when she was given the health portfolio
at the Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs.
“It made me realise that more needs to be done
to address disparities in New Zealand’s health
system,” says Terisa.
“Pacific people are experiencing illnesses such
as heart disease and diabetes at an increasingly
younger age. We need to work on this now if we
want the next generation to be healthier.”
Terisa believes if more Pacific people worked
within the health sector it would greatly
improve the health of New Zealand‘s Pacific
communities. She says the Pegasus Health
scholarships are a step in the right direction.
“These scholarships are an avenue to allow our
people to realise their ambitions within the
health sector.
“To me, it is an acknowledgment of what I’m
doing, while the financial assistance takes away
some of the stress which is an enormous help to
me and my family.”
Meanwhile, Malu Tulia (born and raised in Samoa)
has successfully completed a National Diploma in
Mental Health - in spite of the challenges
associated with studying in the early hours of
the morning.
“It’s the only time and the quietest time for me
to study,” says Malu. “After I’ve finished work,
I’ll cook tea and will spend some time with my
children. Once I’ve finished all my chores I
generally don’t start my studies until one in
the morning.”
Malu works at the Pacific Trust Canterbury as a
Community Support Worker, where she’s striving
to raise Pacific people’s awareness around
mental health.
“Our people don’t want to discuss mental illness
because they don’t understand it.
“In Samoa they call mental illness, ‘vale’,
which means stupid or dumb. But after I’ve
explained it, families feel much more
comfortable to access the support their loved
ones need.
“This experience made me realise I wanted to
continue my studies at university, so I can go
on to become a psychologist to help Pacific
people more in this area.”
Malu is pleased to receive the extra help and
support the scholarship provides.
“I was overjoyed to receive the award, it’s
helping me to reach my dream. I’m proud of
myself, and it feels good to be setting a good
example to my children.”
This year’s scholarship recipients also
included: third-year nursing student and mother
of seven, Liliola Toma (who was born and raised
in Tonga and immigrated to New Zealand
permanently just five years ago), and
21-year-old second-year nursing student Elena
Moevao (of Samoan descent).
Photo Caption: (L-R) Liliola Toma, Elena
Moevao, Terisa Tagicakibau, Malu Tulia.
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(Photos:
Australian High Commission) |
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SAMOA: 52 Samoan students celebrate APTC
graduation
Source:
Australian High Commission Press Release
52 Samoan students celebrated their graduation
from the APTC’s schools of tourism and
hospitality and automotive, construction,
electrical and manufacturing last week.
Samoan Prime Minister Tuilaepa gave the keynote
address at the graduation ceremony, which was
attended by Australian High Commissioner to
Samoa, Matt Anderson, industry representatives
and family and friends.
“This graduation ceremony is a significant event
when young women and men of talent and skill
will graduate after completing courses of study
in a range of trades most needed in the
development of Samoa,” Prime Minister Tuilaepa
said.
“To the graduands of 2009, congratulations. You
are graduating with a qualification that has
improved your local, regional and international
employment opportunities.”
“The APTC courses enhance rather than compete
with existing training at local institutions and
this has helped our Samoan students and other
Pacific countries earn valuable international
qualifications and develop career in employment
categories of their choice.”
“I acknowledge the generous contribution the
Government of Australia for the establishment
and operations of the College and also the
financial support for APTC scholarships.”
Mr Anderson said the APTC was leaving its mark
both for the international standard of education
and training and for its local contribution to
the Samoan community.
“The APTC is providing internationally
recognised Australian-standard vocational
training to increase the pool of skilled workers
in key industry sectors, throughout the
Pacific,” Mr Anderson said.
“Students that graduate from APTC courses now
know they have the skills, training and
confidence to take advantage of job
opportunities, either in the home countries or
overseas.”
“I would also acknowledge the efforts of the
staff and students from both the APTC and NUS.
In the immediate aftermath of the tsunami, they
offered very practical help by providing hot
lunches for a week for more than 300 staff and
volunteer medical teams at the local hospital,
transported essential supplies in APTC vehicles
for the Red Cross and provided electrical
expertise to help restore water supplies to the
affected areas.”
Speaking at last week’s opening of the new APTC
administration offices, staff accommodation,
computing and classrooms worth more than ST$2.8
million, visiting Australian Parliamentary
Secretary for International Development
Assistance, Bob McMullan said the APTC is a
critical part of Australia’s education
partnership with Samoa.
“Our support for education and training is
deliberately significant because it is education
that will help build and define Samoa’s future
success. Samoa is fortunate that as one of only
four Pacific countries hosting a campus of the
APTC, it is now delivering world class
vocational education and training to Pacific
Island students. This is helping to tackle
skills shortages in the Pacific region,
increasing job opportunities and creating a more
competitive job market.”
McMullan said the new APTC facilities are part
of the APTC’s ST$5.4 million investment in
training facilities in Samoa. In Samoa, the APTC
is delivering training to 344 students across
all qualifications. Of these, more than 160 are
Samoans while the remaining students come from
across the region including Fiji, Federated
States of Micronesia, Kiribati, Nauru, Niue,
PNG, Samoa, Solomon Islands, Tonga, Tuvalu and
Vanuatu.
Australia is providing A$149.5 million over four
years (2007- 2011) for the APTC, which commenced
operations in July 2007. To ensure the APTC is
accessible to a wide range of Pacific Islanders,
A$10 million over four years has been allocated
to a scholarships program. A total of 1167
scholarships offered to date, including 153
Samoan awardees.
The Samoan graduation ceremony follows
graduations in Tonga for 61 Tongans and Fiji’s
ceremony for 52 Fijians graduating from APTC
courses.
The APTC offers Certificate III and IV training
courses in Australian qualifications including
automotive; construction (plumbing, painting &
decorating, wall & floor tiling); electrical;
manufacturing (fitting & machining; metal
fabrication, refrigeration/air conditioning);
training and assessment; tourism; hospitality;
community welfare and hairdressing.
Photo Captions:
Photo 1 - ACEM students in entry
procession.
Photo 2 - Prime Minister Tuilaepa
presenting the keynote address.
Photo 3 - Tourism and hospitality student
receiving her certificate.
Photo 4 - APTC graduates with the Prime
Minister and APTC staff.
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(Photo:
Australian Government) |
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AUSTRALIA: New economic report praises Samoa’s
oil management policy
Source:
Australian High Commission Press Release
A new economic report says Samoa’s innovative
program for bulk oil purchasing, storage and
distribution is enabling the country to take
greater advantage of new trade opportunities and
wider economic integration.
The report, Pacific Economic Survey 2009,
engaging with the world says if adopted
across the Pacific, the Samoan model has the
potential to drive regional economic growth more
broadly.
“The past year has been difficult for the
economies and the people of the Pacific and
Timor-Leste,” said Mark McGillivray, Chief
Economist with the Australian Government’s
overseas aid agency AusAID, at the launch of the
survey in Tonga last week.
“Samoa has been dealt a particularly difficult
blow with the recent devastating earthquake and
tsunami. Previous to that it was one of a number
of countries hit hard by the global recession,
with substantially lower economic growth in
2009, compared with earlier years,” said Dr
McGillivray.
“The spikes in food and fuel prices and more
recently the global recession highlight the need
for new measures that will help countries
develop stronger, more resilient economies that
can better withstand international economic
downturns.
“Samoa’s bulk oil purchasing and storage system
has given the country the cheapest oil prices in
the Pacific. This has helped build Samoa’s
economic resilience. It has created a lower-cost
economy, which makes Samoan exports more
competitive, encourages investment, and means
lower prices of goods and services for Samoan
people. Had it not been for this system, the
global recession would have hit Samoa harder.
“Combined with other reforms, this will help
generate broad-based economic growth and enable
the country to take greater advantage of the new
PACER Plus trade agreement,” said Dr
McGillivray.
Pacific Economic Survey 2009, engaging with
the world was prepared by AusAID and
specialists from the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
It examines ways Pacific island countries and
Timor-Leste can grow their economies by
integrating more fully in the global economy,
through labour mobility, trade and by better
managing sudden economic shocks such as rising
food and fuel prices.
The survey credits reforms in Samoa’s aviation
sector for an increase in tourism numbers. As
with Cook Islands and Palau, trade in services -
namely tourism and labour - is driving growth in
Samoa, with tourism accounting for around twenty
percent of GDP and a similar high share of jobs.
But while economic growth in Samoa has been
relatively strong in recent years, stimulating
job growth and creating enough jobs for young
people entering the labour force is a major
challenge. Tapping into regional and
international labour markets will become
increasingly important.
“Samoa has been hurt by the downturn in the
United States with fewer people able to seek
work in that country. However in the
longer-term, providing relevant education and
training will give Samoans and other Pacific
islanders greater access and opportunities to
work overseas. The remittances they send back
home will continue to help drive local
economies,” said Dr McGillivray.
Pacific Economic Survey 2009, engaging with
the world is available at
www.pacificsurvey.org
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(Photo: Guam
Visitors Bureau) |
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USA: Guam cultural events attract global media
Source:
Guam Visitors
Bureau Press Release
One-hundred eight (108) international writers,
reporters, journalists, photographers, and
videographers from eight countries (Japan,
Korea, Taiwan, China, Hong Kong, Philippines,
USA, Australia) representing Guam’s visitor
source markets converged on the tropical island
October 13 ~ 19th for a sporting event and left
with island cultural discoveries and
experiences.
In its third year, representatives from
international media filed stories and produced
features about the visitor destination’s special
events and unique attractions that Guam has to
offer. Early Sunday morning, October 18th, the
media covered the excitement of start of over
1,000 runners entered in the 4th Guam Gatorade
Ko’ko’ Road Race. Runners and other vacationers
were also treated to learn and experience the
many cultures of the Pacific Islands at the Guam
Micronesia Island Fair. The three-day open-air
event displayed many arts, crafts, hand-made
gifts, and souvenirs as well as performances of
songs, chants, and cultural dancing.
While some visited many of the unique visitor
attractions such as Two Lovers Point and
Pleasure Island many also visited cultural
attractions such as Gef Pa’go and Chamorro
Village, while others took advantage and took up
roles of first-time visitors sampling some of
the play activities of snorkeling, site seeing,
sky diving, and sun bathing .
Gerry S.A. Perez, General Manager of the Guam
Visitors Bureau, said, “We’re glad the media
came to cover special events like the Guam
Ko’ko’ Race. They also get the chance to meet
and enjoy traditional cultures from the
Micronesia region during the Guam Micronesia
Island Fair.”
Perez said, “The open arms and humble support
our community readily gave to the visiting media
was overwhelming and very much appreciated.
These visits open widows to the world by
showcasing a glimpse of Guam’s unique culture
and hospitality.”
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VANUATU: Strategic planning to enhance Security
Sector Governance in Vanuatu
Source:
United Nations Development Programme Press
Release
Government officials, Members of Parliament,
civil society representatives and security
personnel met in Port Vila on 21 October to
determine priorities and support required to
enhance security sector governance in Vanuatu.
Security sector governance (SSG) is a means of
providing effective and responsive security
services to the people, men and women, and
ensuring security institutions’ accountability
under the law. Security institutions include
among others, the national police force and the
military.
The Vanuatu Strategic Planning Session on
Security Sector Governance is hosted by the
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Pacific Centre in partnership with the Pacific
Islands Forum Secretariat (PIFS).
UNDP's Senior Regional Crisis Prevention and
Recovery Advisor, Jean-Luc Stalon, said that the
strategic planning session builds on scoping
missions and discussions with key stakeholders
in Vanuatu, including at the recent first ever
Ministry of Internal Affairs Policy Conference
on Security and Good Governance. It is also a
direct outcome of the Regional Security Sector
Governance held in Nuku’alofa, Tonga at the end
of April this year.
Since the conference, which came up with key
common regional priorities and national specific
needs and opportunities, the UNDP and PIFS
presented a joint paper to the Forum Regional
Security Committee (FRSC). The FRSC endorsed the
development of regional and national policies
and programming assistance to strengthen
security sector governance in the Pacific
region.
Mr. Stalon said that he recognised that
assistance from UNDP and PIFS needs to be
sufficiently tailored to the needs, priorities
and circumstances of Forum Member Countries.
With this in mind the intended outcome of the
strategic planning session is to agree a set of
activities that UNDP and PIFS can jointly
support through technical assistance, policy
advice and capacity building to enhance security
sector governance in Vanuatu.
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(Photos: New
Zealand Labour Party) |
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WORLDWIDE: History made as new flag for Tokelau
flies at NZ Parliament
Source:
New Zealand Labour Party Press Release
Yesterday marked an historic occasion; for the
first time the Tokelauan flag was flown at
Parliament in Wellington.
Labour Pacific MP's Luamanuvao Winnie Laban,
Su'a William Sio and Carmel Sepuloni celebrated
the event together on the Parliamentary
forecourt (pictured).
“The flag, which received the Queen's approval
in August, is Tokelau's first flag, and will
replace the New Zealand Flag, previously used to
represent Tokelau on the international stage,”
Labour's Spokesperson for Pacific Island
Affairs, Luamanuvao Winnie Laban said.
The flag was formally presented to Tokelau's
leaders by the Governor General on 7 September.
It is azure blue with a stylised Tokelauan canoe
in full sail in yellow, and a silver Southern
Cross.
“The Southern Cross remains as a symbol of
Tokelau's relationship with New Zealand and its
role in navigation, so important in Tokelau's
past. The canoe symbolises Tokelau's collective
journey into a sustainable and viable future in
a uniquely Pacific way, while the azure blue
represents the ocean, so important in sustaining
Tokelau.
"This is a hugely important day for Tokelau and
the Tokelauan community,” Ms Laban said.
"I wish to congratulate the Government of
Tokelau, including the Ulu o Tokelau Aliki
Faipule Foua Toloa, and the Tokelauan people. I
hope that their wonderful new flag will be a
great source of pride," Ms Laban said.
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