News

The annual Drua fono occurs every year as a preconference meeting to the sector-wide Cutting Edge Addictions Conference. Facilitated by Le Va and supported by Matua Raki, this year we met in Nelson to share updates from the network, as well as information and innovative solutions that are working in the addiction sector for our Pasifika families.

September 10 is World Suicide Prevention Day (WSPD). This year the theme is ‘Preventing Suicide: Reaching Out and Saving lives’.  WSPD is an initiative of the International Association for Suicide Prevention (IASP) and the World Health Organisation (WHO). 

Le Va was privileged to partner with Te Pou recently at the annual two-day New Zealand Disability Support Network conference at Te Papa Museum in Wellington where we presented our disability work, which included promoting resources and tools for the workforce and people using services. 

Engaging Pasifika cultural competency learners develop practical knowledge and skills to effectively engage with Pasifika clients and their families, especially at the critical first point of contact. Due to high demand from services in the Canterbury region, we recently delivered back-to-back workshops over two days to more than 60 mainstream health professionals.  

Every 40 seconds, a person somewhere in the world will take their own life. While the prevention of suicide is a global imperative, a diversity of initiatives is required to address this disturbing social dilemma. Suicide affects indigenous populations universally at higher rates than non-indigenous populations, and indigenous youth rates are particularly alarming.   

This month, Hair 4 Life presented at the Cut Above Academy’s ‘Wellbeing day’, which was attended by  approximately 80 students completing courses and diplomas in various areas of the beauty industry including hair dressers, barbers, special effects and makeup.