"Charting a Course for the Journey of Pacific in Psychology"
From the heart of the Pacific Psychology Fono, our ‘Aiga’ (Whanau/Family) address seeks to illuminate the journey of Pacific peoples’ in psychology. Through the eyes of Pacific psychologists, experiences and challenges will be ‘laid bare’. Traditional Pacific concepts of health are holistic, where well-being is defined by the equilibrium of mind, body, spirituality, family and environment. Pan-Pacific concepts of family emphasise collectivity and encompass the immediate and extended family as well as the wider community. We will explore current Pacific models used which include ethnic-specific frameworks such as the well-known Samoan Fonofale model, the Tongan Kakala model and the Cook Islands Tivaevae model. Four Pacific psychologists make up the ‘Aiga’ presentation team.
Tansy Brown, PG Dip Bus., M Soc Sc, Registered Clinical Psychologist of Samoan descent and has also spent several years living in Tonga. She is currently employed as a Senior Adviser with the High and Complex Needs Unit, Wellington. She has over twenty years experience working with individuals and families in various capacities including statutory social work, community management and with Department of Corrections Probation and Psychological Service.
Epenesa Olo-Whaanga is a Clinical Psychologist at the Kari Centre . In addition to a clinical caseload, she has had numerous involvement in this service with setting up and/or running groups- for young people, parent and adolescent group, and a pasifika parents support group. She also provides Supervision, was instrumental in setting up a DBT pathway with other likeminded clinicians, for clients and their families, and currently Co-ordinates Liaison for the referrers of younger clients. Epenesa also provides liaison to a very busy high school in Auckland. She also works privately.
Siautu Alefaio is a Registered Psychologist of Samoan descent who has over 10 years experience in the field of community development, across both clinical and educational psychology settings. Her experiences have been rooted and grounded within the community and it is with this passion that she endeavours to work to achieve a new way forward in Psychology that encompasses values and beliefs of the Pacific nations. This has led her to set up her own practice called ‘Galuola’ a niu wave of psychological practices.
