POPO staff at the Sunpix Pacific Peoples Award Cermony with their Pacific Service Excellence Award. Pictured from left is, Feagaimaali’i Clinton Pupi, Letava Thompson, Fran Cockerell, Faumuina Professor Fa’afetai Sopoaga, Kalameli Fagasoaia and Tafā Tuputau Tafā Laulu.
The Pacific Opportunities Programme at Otago (POPO) was jointly awarded the Pacific Service Excellence Award at this year’s Sunpix Pacific Peoples Awards in Auckland on Friday.
Nominees are usually government, and not-for-profit organisations that offer outstanding programmes that benefit Pacific communities.
This year, the award has highlighted the significant contribution of the University of Otago in growing the Pacific health workforce.
POPO Manager Grettel Williams is elated the programme has received the acknowledgement and hopes it will shine a light on the outstanding work being done by Va'a o Tautai kaimahi.
POPO is a pipeline joint initiative by the University of Otago and Te Whatu Ora (formerly Ministry of Health) since 2011, supporting the successful preparation and transition of Pacific students to university and into the health workforce. It’s designed to equip students to navigate well the academic, cultural, social and lifestyle demands in the tertiary environment. It offers enhancement programmes embedded within communities and schools, academic support, cultural, social and peer mentoring support at university, including a paid 10-week national internship programme for tauira connected to Pacific providers in their penultimate year of studies.
Receiving the award is “truly humbling”, Grettel says.
“It inspires us to continue to contribute, promote and enhance outstanding student experiences, evidence-based support and successes of Pacific health sciences students at the University of Otago.”
Va’a o Tautai Director Faumuina Professor Fa’afetai Sopoaga is thrilled the team has received this prestigious national recognition.
“I’m delighted the POPO team has received this national recognition. POPO is part of the Va’a o Tautai (Waka of Skilled Navigators). We are all in this waka together, and the Va’a team all share in our collective success,” Faumuina says.
“Our success though is not ours alone, we acknowledge the ongoing support from Tofilau Nina Kirifi-Alai and her team in External Engagement, the Pacific Islands Centre and all staff across the University of Otago who support the aspirations of our Pacific communities.
“We also acknowledge with gratitude the support from University leadership, Pacific communities including our partner organisations Te Whatu Ora, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Pacific Peoples, Ministry of Education. We thank you for walking alongside us on this journey.”
Kōrero by the Division of Health Sciences Communications Adviser, Kelsey Swart.