Pacificnews HRC - Health Research Council

HRC
Pacific news
May 2011
New Pacific
Health Research
Committee members
The HRC welcomes Dr Mele
Ma’ata Taumoepeau and Dr
Faafetai Sopoaga to the Pacific
Health Research Committee.
Dr Mele Ma’ata Taumoepeau
A youth gang member with Moses Faleolo
A study of young people’s
association with youth gangs
The research project entitled An
Ethnography of Youth Gangs in South
Auckland: A Samoan perspective
has been renamed as Sons of South
Auckland: Life History, Socialisation
and Youth Gangs, as part of refining
its purpose, methodology, and
significance, says 2009 HRC Career
Development Doctoral Awardee, Mr
Moses Ma’alo Faleolo.
The project analyses Samoan people’s
association with youth gangs and
proposes significant information for
understanding and responding to
a range of related social issues. The
project is in its third year and Mr
Faleolo is currently transcribing a
100 hours of digital audio recordings
from 25 interviews with Bloods youth
gang members from Mangere and
Clendon Red Army (RA) crews, and
Otara’s Pearl Baker Stylez (PBS) crew.
Life story interviewing was employed
for this project as it allowed the
participants to express themselves
freely and openly, so that researcher
input was minimised. It was
therapeutic, in the sense that the
reflection and recall experiences
made the participants see the need
for changes in their lives. It was also
educational, as the participants learned
Dr Faafetai Sopoaga
(See page 3 for profiles)
things, such as reasons for poor
decision making, and how they ended
up being involved in youth gangs.
Mr Faleolo traced the origins of
youth gang ideation and activity by
chronicling each participant’s life story
and socialisation in terms of cultural,
familial and social development.
(Continued on page 2)
HRC Pacific News May 2011
(Continued from page 1)
Preliminary analysis suggests that
fa’asamoa (the Samoan way of life) is
not a reason why Samoan youth in
South Auckland join a gang. Unlike the
experiences of Samoan youth in Hawaii
and various states in the US, Samoan
youth in South Auckland did not reject
or abandon their culture, if indeed, they
were exposed to it in some form. They
didn’t express their resentment and
distaste by joining a gang, as they joined
for other reasons. Members of the PBS
crew did “chip-ins” to save money for a
train trip to visit one of their own who
was injured and recovering in hospital,
and passed on an envelope that had
money in it to family members. This
is the practice of fundraising for a
fa’alavelave that members from the RA
crews did not do.
Evidence to date seems to suggest that
family socialisation is a contributing
factor to explain Samoan youth
participation in gangs, however, it
is yet to be confirmed and to what
extent. By the age of five years,
some of the interviewees remember
seeing their father or older brothers
wearing gang patches, red clothing,
drinking alcohol, smoking and selling
marijuana. So when they turned
eleven and twelve years old they
followed in their footsteps.
Coming from single-parent families
and an environment that lacked
supervision, love and interaction were
reasons for some of the participants for
joining a gang, but not for others who
had the same family socialisation. Poor
family structure and family functioning
is either a reason, or not, for explaining
why Samoan youth in South Auckland
joined a gang.
Socialisation within society plays a
significant role in explaining Samoan
young people’s involvement in gangs.
Nearly all of the participants were
bullied. They were teased at home,
school, and back in the Samoa Islands.
A few were called “faggots” by their
older brothers at home, so they joined
a gang to prove their masculinity.
Others were mocked at school for not
2
being able to speak English properly,
for dressing differently and for being
quiet in class.
These participants joined a gang in
order to feel accepted and gain a sense
of belonging. Some were teased in the
Islands, as in the case of one participant
who was hung upside down on a
coconut tree when he was five years
old and forced to dodge sharp objects
used to scrape the inside of a coconut,
as his tormentors threw these things at
his head and body, and laughed at the
same time. They joined a gang to build a
reputation of being a tough guy.
One participant was hospitalised
after being jumped by Tongan Crip
members wearing blue, and when he
recovered he joined a Samoan Bloods
gang for protection and to avenge
what happened to him. He spent the
next eight years of his life hunting and
hospitalising Tongan Crip youth gang
members.
The participants had transformed
from being bullied, to being the bully.
By the time they reached high school
they were already a member of a gang,
feared by their peers, violent, smoking
and drinking, doing drugs, wagging
school, selling drugs, aggravated
robbery, stealing cars, homeless, a
father, and known to the police. The
gangs made them feel safe and made
them popular. They turned from being
a ‘nobody’ to being a ‘somebody’. Some
of them became top dogs or key leaders
of their crews. The gang rewarded
them through praise and admiration,
particularly when they did something
that was highly risky.
Concrete findings and
recommendations have yet to be
finalised but this research project will
be original and compelling when it is
completed. It proposes to reveal some
of the things that are not reported
widely, such as the positive elements of
youth gang membership. It also aims
to provide solutions for policymakers,
service managers, law enforcement and
practitioners. The project is supervised
by Professor Michael O’Brien and
Professor Cluny Macpherson from
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa
Massey University, Albany, and a
first draft for a thesis is planned for
December this year.
Read about new Pacific
workforce development and
training initiatives on page 4.
About HRC Pacific
News
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Contact the Project
Manager, HRC
Pacific Health
Research
Dr Nuhisifa Seve-Williams
nseve-williams@hrc.govt.nz
✆ (09) 303 5225
Mobile: 021 588 155
Website: www.hrc.govt.nz
Physical address: 110 Stanley
Street, Grafton, Auckland,
New Zealand
Postal address: PO Box 5541,
Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141,
New Zealand
HRC Pacific News May 2011
(Continued from page 1)
Dr Mele Ma’ata Taumoepeau
(PhD, BSc(Hons), BA) is
currently a Research Fellow in
the Psychology Department
at the University of Otago,
Dunedin. Her research
examines the role of parentchild interactions in the
development of children’s social
and emotional understanding.
Dr Taumoepeau will take up
a lecturing position in the
Psychology Department at
the University of Otago in
September 2011.
Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop
Message from the PIHRC Chair
Malo ni, Fakatalofa atu, Malo e lelei, Kia Orana, Fakalofa lahi
atu, Ni Sa Bula and warm Pacific greetings!
Firstly, we remember with love and
prayers those who have been affected
by the Christchurch earthquake. This
year started as a time of farewells
and new beginnings for our Pacific
Health Research Committee. In
September 2010, we farewelled Dr
Satupaitea Viali, who has served on our
committee for six years.
Faafetai for your service Dr Satu, for
the knowledge and down to earth
practical experience you have brought
to our discussions and for your
‘always smile’. Malo lava. Two new
appointments to the Committee were
then made; Dr Mele Taumoepeau and
Dr Faafetai Sopoaga. Both are from the
University of Otago.
In December 2010, Everdina Fuli
resigned as Manager, Pacific Health
Research to take up a newly established
post as Business Manager, Te Whare
Kura, Faculty of Arts at The University
of Auckland. Malo Everdina - you
packed in so much solid service in the
five years you were at HRC and we
wish you well in your new challenges.
In January, Dr Nuhisifa Seve-Williams
(or Nuhi for short) was appointed
as Project Manager, Pacific Health.
Dr Seve-Williams holds a PhD in
Education from The University of
Auckland (2009) and while Niue
born, she has spent most of her early
life in the urban village of Ponsonby,
Auckland. Nuhi is married to a Cook
Islander and has worked voluntarily
in leadership roles for many years
with Pacific community groups in
Auckland. Fakalofa atu Nuhisifa we look forward
to working with you in progressing
Pacific health outcomes.
In this issue of HRC Pacific News we
profile the research work of Moses
Faleolo and his study of young people’s
association with youth gangs, and
highlight two new Pacific workforce
development and training initiatives.
Dr Faafetai Sopoaga (MBChB,
MPH, FNZCPHM, FRNZCGP)
is the Associate Dean (Pacific)
Division of Health Sciences,
University of Otago, Dunedin.
This is a strategic role to improve
education and health outcomes
of Pacific students, families and
communities. She has had a
significant role for more than 15
years mentoring and supporting
Pacific students studying
health professional courses at
the University of Otago. She
is a public health specialist,
a qualified general medical
practitioner and a senior lecturer
Pacific Health, Department of
Preventive and Social Medicine,
Dunedin School of Medicine.
Faafetai is a Trustee of the
Otago Youth Wellness Trust,
Pacific Research Foundation and
Medical Advisor to the Pacific
Trust Otago. She holds many
positions in an advisory capacity
in the local Pacific community
and national organisations. She
is Samoan, fluent in the language
and familiar with cultural
processes of many Pacific cultures
in New Zealand.
Professor Peggy Fairbairn-Dunlop
Chair
Pacific Health Research Committee
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa
3
HRC Pacific News May 2011
Pacific workforce development and training initiatives
The Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon. Bill English,
officially launched a Health Science Academy at
Otahuhu College on 10 February 2011.
The Health Science Academy is a joint venture between
Otahuhu College and the Pasifika Medical Association
(PMA). Otahuhu College has the largest Pacific
population of students at a decile one level. According
to Debbie Sorensen, Chief Executive of the PMA, “it’s
designed to prepare Pacific students to successfully enter a
health science degree and career into the health sector.”
The Academy will support a small cohort of 25 year 11
students in an academically intensive science curriculum,
with the intention of ensuring these students have the best
opportunity to pursue a health career.
“The community needs you, as does your country.
Pacific people are an increasing percentage of the total
population, and if we’re to meet our expectations in terms
of health, education and standard of living, there needs to
be a significant increase in the skill base.”
Contracted by the Ministry of Health Pacific Provider
and Workforce Development Fund, the PMA have
worked with 21 secondary schools and have seen over 100
students successfully complete First Aid and CPR training
through a student conference held in September last year.
The launch of the Health Science Academy is the first in
New Zealand and provides a real opportunity to recognise
the potential of young Pacific achievers. (Source: Pasifika
Medical Association)
Benefits of this academy is that each student will have
access to holiday work experience, a career shadowing
programme, a student health conference and certification
in First Aid and CPR. This will be available with the help
of health programmes such as Healthcare Heroes, run by
the PMA.
English recalls his wife Mary, now a successful GP, as the
youngest of 13 siblings, struggling to meet the financial
demands as a student aiming to enter the health sector.
“I bet she wishes she had a scheme like this in her days as
a student,” he said.
But he stressed to students the need to take advantage of
the opportunity.
At the higher education level, the introduction of a
new nursing degree incorporating Pacific values to
complement clinical capability was an investment
in the wellbeing of Pacific communities, the Minister
of Pacific Island Affairs, Hon. Georgina te Heuheu
said at the launch of the Manukau Institute of
Technology’s (MIT’s) Bachelor of Nursing Pacific
programme in Auckland on 10 March 2011.
“I welcome the launch of this degree programme,
as Pacific health workforce development is also a
Government priority… as growing the Pacific health
Students at Otahuhu College with the Hon. Bill English
workforce is a key element in lifting Pacific health status,”
she said.
Mrs te Heuheu went on to say that it made good sense to
ensure that access to appropriate health services was part of
Government planning. Access was enhanced by a workforce
skilled in both clinical capability and cultural sensitivity.
This is the first programme of its type in the Auckland
region, although Whitireia Polytech in Wellington has
a similar course and will continue to work with MIT.
(Source: Press Release, New Zealand Government,
10 March 2011)
Upcoming closing dates
5 July 2011
Pacific Health Research Conference Travel Grants
Phone: +64 9 303 5200 Fax: +64 9 377 9988
Level 3, 110 Stanley Street, Auckland
PO Box 5541 Wellesley Street, Auckland 1141
www.hrc.govt.nz
ISSN 1171-4069 (Print)
ISSN 1171-3976 (Online)
3 October 2011
Pacific Health Research Career Development Awards
Pacific Health Research Development Grant
Pacific Health Research Summer Studentships
Health Research Council of New Zealand
Te Kaunihera Rangahau Hauora o Aotearoa