Pacific Research and Policy Centre

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Subject: search.filters.subject.451620 Pacific Peoples youth and family

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    Exploring the role of Samoan youth in ‘Tausi Matua’ in Aotearoa New Zealand : a contribution to culturally-diverse elder care practises : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Health Science in Psychology at Massey University, Albany campus, New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2024) Leau, Kotalo
    Elders are held in high esteem and hold many roles in Samoan society. They are guardians of faasamoa [the Samoan way], way finders and prayer warriors for their family, village, and wider community. Youth in turn reciprocate values of faasamoa as they Tausi matua [care for elders]. Today Samoan youth living in the diaspora continue to Tausi matua despite challenges which stem from being away from their homelands. In doing so they resiliently bridge the divides between their elders and the Western world, focussed on finding the best care for their elders. This study is part of a wider project funded by the Health Research Council of New Zealand (HRC) entitled ‘Caring for our Pacific Wisdom Bearers,’ and focuses specifically on Samoan youth carers’ experiences of caring for elders. It contributes to the paucity of research exploring relationships between youth and elders, particularly the experiences of youth caring for elders while living as diaspora. Fa’afaletui [a Samoan metaphorical way of searching for wisdom] was undertaken with youth from two Samoan church congregations and revealed Samoan youth caregiving is grounded in faasamoa, which is enacted as Tausi matua. This is a cultural practice and way of being born out of their faasinomaga [essence of identity] with the belief that this results in faamanuiga [blessings] from elders that the youth can never repay. The results revealed Samoan youth as intergenerational carers, highlighting the Samoan proverb: E sui faiga ae tumau faavae [Practises may change, but the foundations remain]. Challenging the perpetuated narratives of elders as “burdens” and youth as absent in care, this research adds to a gap in literature from a youth carer and Pacific diasporic experience. Elders from the Samoan worldview are centred as Wisdom Bearers: beacons of traditional knowledge, care, and love and Samoan youth are present and active in the aiga [family] cycle of care that evolves seia i’u lau tausiga [until your duty of care is fulfilled].
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    "E lē ma’i, o le malosi!" = (He’s not sick, he’s strong!) : Pacific parents’ journey of raising autistic children in Aotearoa : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Clinical Psychology at Massey University, Albany, Aotearoa New Zealand
    (Massey University, 2023) Nafatali, Rochelle
    Ministry of Health data estimates there are 4,000 Pacific children in Aotearoa New Zealand officially diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder. This figure is likely underestimating the true prevalence of autism within Aotearoa Pacific communities, due to diagnostic disproportionality, and a lack of autism assessments completed since the COVID-19 pandemic. Children of Indigenous and ethnic minority populations globally tend to be diagnosed later, incorrectly diagnosed, or are not referred for autism diagnosis. Indigenous and ethnic minority parents regularly have their concerns dismissed by health professionals, face lengthy delays, and endure multiple attempts at diagnostic referral. Despite the growing autistic community globally, and Pacific peoples being the fastest-growing youth population in Aotearoa, Pacific peoples’ perspectives and experiences have not been included in autism research. Consequently, no reliable data exist on Pacific autistic people, and just six percent (6%) of eligible Pacific families are accessing Disability Support Services within Aotearoa. This first Pacific-led study (based on three Pacific-Indigenous research frameworks) focuses on Pacific parents’ expert knowledge from lived experience raising their autistic children, revealing key differences from a Pacific-Indigenous context in autism conceptualisation, support access, and language and culture maintenance. Fifteen Pacific parents of autistic children from the Pasifika Autism Support Group and Pacific community in Auckland Aotearoa, participated in eight research talanoa. Findings revealed parents sought an overall state of Diasporic Adaptation to Neurodiversity which involved acceptance, adaptation, and unlearning for Pacific parents. Four subthemes together explained the experience of Pacific parents of autistic children in Aotearoa: 1) Uncharted Islands: Understanding Autism; 2) Encountering Stormy Seas: Challenges; 3) Collective Unity through Relational Resilience; and, 4) Autism Support. Pacific-Indigenous knowledge and knowledge gained from Pacific parents was woven together to create the Tapasā a Tagata Sa’ilimalo (compass for people in search of success), which can be used for navigating the experiences of Pacific parents of autistic children within Aotearoa. Together with clinical implications provided, the Tapasā a Tagata Sa’ilimalo can guide clinicians, educators, and practitioners working with Pacific families of autistic children in Aotearoa to provide culturally appropriate, family-centred care and support prior to, during, and following autism diagnosis.