Thesis title
Culturally responsive Physiotherapy approaches to working with Pacific families
Area of study
Paediatrics
Culturally safe practice
Pacific Health
Supervisors
- Professor Leigh Hale, Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago
- Professor Faumuina Fa'afetai Sopoaga, Director, Va'a o Tautai: Centre for Pacific Health, University of Otago
- Dr Byron Seiuli, Clinical Psychologist, Alpha Consultancy Solutions
- Chris Higgs, Centre for Health, Activity and Rehabilitation Research, School of Physiotherapy, University of Otago
Advisors
- Associate Professor Samantha Holdsworth, Mātai Medical Research Institute, University of Auckland
- Leigh Potter, Mātai Medical Research Institute, University of Auckland
- Dr Patrick McHugh, Mātai Medical Research Institute, University of Auckland & Turanga Health
- Professor Aiono Alec Ekeroma ONZM, National University of Samoa
Education background
- 2022, PhD in Physiotherapy candidate
- 2020, MPhty candidate
- 2016, Certificate of Small Business Management, Te Wananga o Aotearoa
- 2010, BPhty, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand
Presentations
- 2023 Question and Answer session on 'Indigenous Leadership: Reimagining health education for and with Indigenous communities' for Online World Physiotherapy Congress, Online.
- 2023 Focussed Symposium Presentation to World Physiotherapy Congress titled 'Indigenous Leadership: Reimagining health education for and with Indigenous communities', World Trade Centre, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- 2022 Presentation Pacific Data Sovereignty Conference titled 'Translating Cultural Knowledge into Clinical Guidance', JetPark Conference Centre, Auckland, New Zealand.
- 2022 Presentation to Oceanic Comparative and International Educational Society Conference titled 'Translating Cultural Knowledge into Clinical Guidance', Fiji National University, Lautoka, Fiji.
- 2022 Presentation to Physiotherapy New Zealand's Paediatric Special Interest Group Study Day, University of Otago, Dunedin, New Zealand.
- 2022 Invited Speaker Presentation to Physiotherapy New Zealand Conference titled 'Tulaga vae: Physiotherapy's Pacific Past, Present and Future', Rotorua Events Centre, New Zealand.
- 2021 Presentation to Canterbury Branch of PNZ re: Culturally responsive approaches to working with Pacific families
- 2021 Presentation to Interns at Mātai Medical Research Institue re: Culturally responsive approaches to working with Pacific families
- 2021 Presentation to Paediatric Special Interest Group of PNZ re: Culturally responsive approaches to working with Pacific families
- 2021 Presentation to PHTY254 paper re: Pacific Health and Physiotherapy
- 2021 Presentation to AUT paper re: Fonofale model and application to Physiotherapy
- 2021 Focused Symposium presentation to World Physiotherapy Congress (online) re: Ethics, Inequity and Climate Change
Awards
- 2023 New Zealand delegate to the World Physiotherapy General Meeting, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
- 2022 Emerging Scholar Award, Oceanic Comparative and International Educational Society.
- 2022 Pacific Clinical Research Training Fellowship, Health Research Council.
- 2021 PNZ Paediatric Special Interest Group Professional Development Award.
- 2020 Pacific Health Masters Career Development Award, Health Research Council.
Why you choose the School of Physiotherapy?
Having studied here as an undergraduate student I knew of the School's reputation as a leader in the profession both nationally and internationally. I also had good relationships with the staff and so contacted Dr Meredith Perry to discuss my thoughts around pursuing further study. She guided me towards a research pathway and put me in touch with the people who were going to be influential in my research journey. It's wonderful to be back within the School and working alongside the world-class staff as research colleagues.
Best things so far about your study
Meeting so many new people who are working on such wonderfully diverse and exciting research projects.