Pacific Islanders Issues

LINKING WITH THE AUTHORITIES:


Authorities, schools, community, the professionals who have dealt with parents and children with the many problems of the Pacific Islanders community in Victoria, Sydney seek help from Kalo the CEO of PISSAM program and other professional members  of the PISSAM program through their professional services provided to the Pacific Islanders Australian Community.

Complicated issues facing parents, children and the Pacific Islanders’ Community in NSW, QLD and Victoria were escalating and her mission of  her 3 years coming to the end in Victoria. She was called to a special mission to Western Samoa to take up a position as Principal of Mercy College, the only such college in the South Pacific under the Administration of the Mercy sisters New Zealand. The mission was a three year commitment.

When she left Victoria to Samoa! Kalo realised that there should be a solution to solve these ongoing issues facing Pacific Islanders children and people of Victoria and beyond. She left her energy with the Pacific Islanders students and families and hoping to get a teacher to fill her position. The overwhelming high needs of Pacific Islanders families and emerging communities seen by Kalo was the reason for her persevering attitude towards this research collaborated with the PISSAM program is just the beginning. 

SHE VIEWS THESE SERIOUS HIGH NEEDS OF Pacific Islanders with a Strong MESSAGE TO THE 3 LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT AS FOLLOWS:

1. There are extremely high needs and gaps in providing services to help the Pacific Islanders’ and other emerging community to integrate into society to harmonise, not to alienate.

2. Pacific Islanders people needed to participate in all levels of the community, not just their Pacific Islander community, Multicultural but the whole community.

3. To liase and provide services between the Pacific Islanders community, the 3 levels of government, service providers, professionals, the schools, the Pacific Islanders community and the whole community at all levels. For us Pacific Islanders to let you know that we are in so much need. For the Government to listen and hear us.  We needed ground level education and awareness in all levels of the community.

4.  The Pacific Islanders needs must be represented by grassroots specialists and in their capacity representing the professionals they are members of, and what they knows that will best bring the best outcome to the Pacific Islanders's needs and will increase awareness in all levels of the community. We must provide direct sevices to meet the needs of those lives affected due to family crisis. This will reduce what is affecting Pacific Islanders Australian at home, in school, in sport ground, work places and in the community.

5.  Encourage more principal grassroots researchers, to do research and will have direct working with the parents,schools,children,authorities, community and not to rely on researchers who do not have any knowledge on Pacific Islanders issues on Education, Health, Welfare, Social Development and Community Services

6.  The prevention measure to be monitored and make sure that the supporters must understand that the answers they gave is the real meaning of the issues to get the results.  Be monitored by professionals who are service providers and are members of a professional body they belong to.

7.   One to one survey is needed and all research assistants must know their targeted aims and goals and what to get.  A relax area will be the best done at home, school, an office, or even homework classes, one by one will be highly recommended.

8.    Specialists skilled and experienced people who deal directly within their profession, the community, and can help people solve their personal, health, educational, financial issues, well being, mental health in a more cultural appropriate way to help Pacific Islanders’to get ahead.

9.  We needed high level leadership qualities in all levels to get the best outcome. These would be essential as the work is demanding and to get the right results.

ISSUES NEEDING ATTENTION ON:

• A lack of English language expertise amongst older Pacific Islanders, parents and people of the Pacific Islanders community members.

• A lack of confidence, knowledge and self esteem due to some not knowing what, where, when they should seek support when warning signs that they needed help.

• Isolation from homeland, and frustration about cultural differences between Australian culture and their own and others isolate PI people from seeking help.

• Generally perceived feeling of inferiority, which is not necessarily the reality.

• Lack of Educated leaders and elders within the local community group.

• Leaders classify themselves as the most powerful person, and regardless if he is wrong or right every Pacific Islanders followers must obey their command.

• Most Elders and Congregational leaders  are not professionals,  their interests are focused on their Pastoral roles the Pacific Islanders way of belief taken from their Islands home. Pacific Islanders people and their children growing up in Australia feel confused and bombarded by Western values and materialistic outlook does not help but only created issues on top of other issues.

• The huge amount of donations that are expected by elders, royal family members, high power people from Pacific Islanders people who do not have such money is like Riches robbing the poor

• The overstayers who do not have any income are a burden to children, families that take care of these Pacific Islanders overstayers.

• The overflowing of ordinary people from the Pacific Islanders like Schools, Churches, Welfare organisations, village leaders coming to Australia begging for donations from Pacific Islanders people who live in Australia is a concern to children, parents and the Pacific Islander families.

• These issues contributed to poverty, overcrowded living, overloaded commitment, eviction, homelessness, mental illness and neglect.  These alarming concern contributed to parents failed their duties of care to their families in prioritizing their income to give these people MONEY to take home. Forgetting their number one priority providing to their children are forgotten. 
  

• These increases lack of confidence and self esteem to children who attended schools and do not have the necessities of what they needed for school. These gaps created a lot of issues, like truancy, bullies, anger, robbing other students' belonging, violence, gangs and others.

•  The Pacific Islanders children are treated at home as seen but not heard.  These contributed to anger and to some children they get angry they have to fight to be heard and usually they take it to schools.  Children who roam around the streets felt that they are safer there and the street are their comfort zone where they can be in charge.  At home Pacific Islander ways of punishment are the belt or the fists.
  When Kalo left to Samoa she prayed that may be one day someone special or maybe one day she will return to make a difference to her community and other communities in similar situation with her Tongan and Pacific Islander community who are indeed needed so much support in education, Health, Social justice, welfare and others.
•  Kalo said that Participation and empowerment of people, Social inclusion, Community leadership, Community development and community building should be encouraged in all levels.

St Mary’s Parist School, Robinvale wrote a proposal and plea to the Bishop of the Diocese of Tonga and Niue and the leaders of the Congregations in Tonga and other Pacific Nations regarding a missionary person to continue with Sr Kalo’s work in their community. Kalo knew that no one was sent to fill that need and gap which is sad.  Beside NSW, QLD and VICTORIA are on the rise with Pacific Islander’s youths and adults in Juveniles and Prisons system.

There are three programs collaborating

Education

Age Care and Health

Community Services and Community Development

Legal and Social Justice

Sports and Recreation/Youths

The PISSAM PACIFIC ISLANDERS STRENGTHENING SUPPORTING ADVOCATING & MENTORING NETWORK.

Is a network established by Grassroots specialists in various areas bringing them together with their PREVIOUS expertise on their services in the Pacific, and in Australia,in their capacity to represent the profession they are members of. PISSAM AIMS and GOALS has been drafted and established.

THE PACIFIC IS COMMUNITY             <->   THE 3 LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT

THE PISSAM NETWORK                     <->   IMPLEMENTATION COMMITTEE

THE PISSAM'S PROGRAMS                <->   GOVERNMENT FUNDING&DONORS

THE WHOLE COMMUNITY FORUMS    <->   PISSAM SERVICES W/PARTNERS

PISSAM'S 5 PROGRAMS & MEMBERS <->   PISSAM PRINCIPAL

Australia 2006 Census for Oceania and Antarctica, so in 2009 the numbers will be estimated  much higher

2006 Census:  Ethnicity

1.   Since the Pacific Islanders settlement from New Zealand PISSAM believes we have finally concluded that this great challenge transcends ideology – to what government support and what services we will provide to meet their needs:  

People in NSW of Pacific Ancestary 

(1) Ethnic group counts at the most detailed level (Level 4) of the Ethnicity Standard Classification 2005.

(2) Total responses is the count of all responses given for each ethnic group.

(3) All ethnicities belonging to this grouped category

2008 Statistics from Mt Druitt Police-in recent years a sense of deepening despair had settled on much of Pacific Islanders in Australia. As we have seen on the local newspapers, telegraphs and on air about the growing crimes of Pacific Islanders. It is not getting any better, it is getting worse. PISSAM Program strongly believes that if we do not fill these gaps and needs they will explode to a ball of fire.

Australia 2006 Census for Oceania and Antarctica, so in 2009 the numbers will be estimated  much higher

Juveniles Total charges in 2008 (3135)

15%:   Pacific Islanders Aggravated Robbery, Armed with intent, Assault, Traffic and    Property theft.

13%:   Aboriginal

02%   Torres Strait Islanders

Custodial sentences Assault

2006               2007              2008

52%                57%                50% Caucasians

  9%                13%                21% Pacific Islanders

25%                18%                21% Aboriginal

Robbery

2006               2007               2008

27%                 0%                              Caucasians 

9%                 50%          Paciific Islanders   

64%                50%           Aboriginal

Statistics from Juvenile Justice:

Total Pacific Islander in Custody – 60 young persons

Total Pacific Islander in Community – 137 young persons

In 2006  13 Adult offenders

In 2007  55 Adult offenders 

In 2008  60 Adult offenders

In 2009 162 Adult offenders and the year is not yet ended. >>>>>>>>>

Adults’ Pacific islanders’ men and women offenders in Australia in 2009 are predicted to be 3 times as it is in 2008. It is alarming and something has to be done urgently now and not later.

·   Other relevant indicators are :

·   The Department of Education and Training has reported on the increasing number of students from Pacific families and communities who are truanting, dropping out of schools, demonstrating other difficult behavioral problems, bullying, stealing, withdrawal,  neglect, anger, not doing their allocated tasks and others.

Catholic Schools has reported to PISSAM Executive officer Kalo Sikimeti similar concern with the Department of Education with Pacific Islanders students attended their Catholic schools system. Here are some of their concerns:

·         Australian born Pacific Islander children are experiencing identity crises and low self esteem.

·         Half Pacific Islanders children are confused which way to go.

·         Parent that married Pacific Islanders are confused, shocked by the cultures and tradition and in some cases they ended up in separation or divorced. This causes more traumas on the children.

·         The donations given to Pacific Islanders congregation leaders are major factors of the above issues.

·         The Pacific Islanders Island of origin constant coming looking for donations is a concern.

·         Another great bridge was crossed in the events of the World Youth day. Let us not forget the great wave of goodwill that has been unleashed across our community on World Youth day, the feeling of belonging, the equal shares on enjoyment, cultures and traditional beliefs and bringing every youth to the occasions were moving but that was  last year and is already forgotten.  After the world youth day a lot of babies were born to young girls still going to school and are now single mothers facing the responsibilities of being a parent at very young age.

Now we are back to square one and everything has been forgotten and back to basic with the usual fabric of cultures and tradition that goes on in the Pacific Island community.

Since the Pacific Islanders settlement from New Zealand I believe we have finally concluded that this great challenge transcends ideology – to what government support and what services we will deliver will take Pacific Islanders forward.

Submit crime reports to the following email address: staff@downundernewslinks.com, please include article links to the crimes.

The PISSAM PROGRAM are eager to embrace a new approach.  

An evidence-based approach, where two questions come before all others.

One, what is most needed to close the gap in the Pacific Islanders community?

And two, what works best to meet that need in each local and general community where most of the Pacific Islanders are located?

Expectations that change would be a way forward to us Pacific Islanders and there will be results.

 Slowly but Surely.

But Pacific Islanders disadvantage cannot be turned around overnight.

Some say that little has happened because we Pacific Islanders have to change to a life of education, hard work, discipline, participation, strengths contribution, Social, Community Development and healthy lifestyle.

But that is not the case. A new approach, Current Research, children, parents, school Professionals, and Specialist, experienced; quality people to lead Pacific Islanders to the Next Level.

Has Progress has been made? No as we have seen in the Statistic we are the worse off, in juvenile, jails PI are over represented and PI are the highest according to our population. Our population is just over 55,000 Pacific Islanders in NSW.  Still, we outdo other communities in committing crimes than any other communities in NSW, QLD and Victoria

Houses are being built, more money goes to agencies that provide services to Pacific Islanders and in most cases the services provided are not viable are not culturally working due to their disadvantages, not understanding what is all about. In cases like this they are misdiagnose causing Pacific Islanders withdrawn or never keep to the appointment.  Pacific Islanders are still on the long list in the Housing NSW ever growing list. Some Pacific Islanders are desperately looking for a place to live. To some agents Pacific Islanders are not much favoured. From past experiences I do not blame the landlords for not favouring the PI when they are looking for accommodation. The way they treated these places.

The PISSAM Program ask the 3 levels of government to provide funding over five years to provide more  Pacific Islander communities awareness, safer and support the justice system by:

•continuing night patrol services across Canterbury and Innerwest areas communities; responding to cases that identified as Pacific Islanders.

•enabling PI Interpreter Service to meet increased demand;

•ensuring PI legal services can respond to high levels of need; and

•Continuing the PI human Rights Outreach project.

•Established a body for superannuation where the family authorised Apra to pay the funeral director the funeral instead of going to the family.

Our philosophy – to provide our service to our best of our best to those Pacific Islanders and Multicultural in needs of our service.

To give a community support according to the complex needs of those looking for support in what affected them in their daily lives. PISSAM is the head body of the Pacific Islanders programs and its Council has developed its own model of governance’. This model is based on the philosophy that our Principal Researcher KALO SIKIMETI developed. It is current, up to date and collaborated with her many years in Education, as a teacher, leader, Director of Education, Educator, lecturer, Principal, counsellor, musician, social worker, mercy leader and many other management positions simply delivering education products and services to Universities, schools, clients, children, and parents since 1975 in the many Pacific Islands nation, New Zealand, Australia and Abroad. She is focusing performance on the achievement of bottom line results.

In fact, she sees her role and her team of 7 grassroots University students and grassroots specialist on education, medical, legal, age care, health, community development, counselling, human resources, welfare, interpreters/translators, service providers, sports leaders, community leaders, congregation leaders and professionals working partners are as much more challenging and interesting – providing community leadership to Pacific Islanders and the Multicultural Communities across Canterbury building community strength, and improving the quality of people’s lives. With such a broad projects influence on community well being, She believes its focus should be on people as Pacific Islands citizens and children, parents as families as connected as can be reaching out to those in needs and vice versa. These will bring those in needs to our service in a one to one or group cultural appropriate Pacific Islanders and Multicultural way according to their cultures of their Pacific Island origin.She encourages children, parents and to all citizens to exercise both their rights and responsibilities as members of their community. This means that processes such as communication, consultation, feedback, debate, transparency and inclusion, are as important at PISSAM program as accountability, action, performance and achievement. Our Working for our community will continue to take our PI and Multicultural people to higher and dryer grounds.

Our members find that our approaches  to working in partnership with the community provides a rewarding work experience and chance to make a real difference to all inclusively. The more we participated and involved with the community are not only a huge learning, educational, enjoyable but we share other cultures and understand their perspectives.

Our reputation for innovation and excellence

Leading in many areas from the Pacific Islands and in Australia since the seventies in the support of bringing hundreds of students and others and now are proud citizen of Australia. Providing the different support to those who have seek and trusted our members in the past now and to the future. Our transparency accountability and governance will strive our utmost best to make differences to our community yesterday, today and everyday will empower us and our future generation to follow. That is why PISSAM program believes in collaborating the past, current and the future specialist to start its program with the three generation so the future generation will be equipped with all the knowledges that will bring high quality of the past, current and the future to take Pacific Islanders to the next level.

Our reputations for innovation, for excellence in education are the very fabric of most of the leaders in the Pacific Islands, New Zealand, Australia and America where the Pacific Islanders call home. We are very proud of that, still it is so good to keep it going and to achieve the next level. For us we are aiming and focusing on being vocal in our

support of community diversity and harmony. We are ever so proud of our program under the umbrella of Canterbury Harmony Group Inc. auspice by Riverwood Community Centre, Manager Greta Vallance and Director Pauline Gallagher. We are growing stronger and stronger each new day with our partnership in many programs, education and forum that we are invited to participated. We acknowledge the support and hard work of the Deputy Mayor of Canterbury Councillor of Karl Saleh and Canterbury Council.

To help us meet our goals we are guided by a set of values:

1.         communication and children, parents, senior citizen and the whole community focus innovation and strategic thinking teamwork and performance

2.         Communication and children, parents, citizen and the whole community focus are about and understanding our community; innovation and strategic are:

3.         About responding to community priorities (identifying new options and opportunities), and teamwork and performance are:

4.         About delivering results in partnership with our working partners, children, parents, citizens and the whole community.

5.         To support the delivery of innovative and citizen focused services we clearly need the commitment of a high quality, qualify, skilled, up to date and motivated staff team.

6.         Our team is listed below; our professional resources are listed below and are equivalent to provide services in a wide range of roles.

7.         We have four major programs focused on providing quality services, and providing leadership to our Pacific Islanders and diverse community.

8.         Community Services - comprising children and family services, community development.

9.         Communication and cultural, and recreation services. Partnership with other  Service Providers - and finance, legal Aid and general support, public housing support, justice of the peace, filling all types of application forms, Development and sport activities Services - comprising development assessment, monitoring, talented sport people and planning services.

We encourage Pacific Islanders people anyone from non English speaking backgrounds, and people with disabilities to come to us when you needed our service.

We will continuous Community development. We will work with a merit basis and put a high emphasis on continuous learning and development in partnership with Primary and Secondly Schools to refer to us the slow learners or special needs so we can work on the help they need during our homework classes. We targeted our systems that will support staff through a competency based performances and have an annual personal performance planning and review process. We have excellent systems in place for occupational health and safety directed by our Auspice body Riverwood Community Centre. They have a lot of short courses that train staffs and volunteers and we will be happy to be part of it. 

We believe and try to be on a leading organisation with an excellent reputation for both providing good services and being an excellent mentor as shown by some of our members. To sustain these goals we need our staff to be qualify, skilled, experience and specialist on their profession and members of the profession they represented. Staff must have up to date knowledge, innovative, motivated and committed to making PISSAM a great PILOT program to provide the service that Pacific Islander people need.

Our working environment

Our terms and conditions are set under the agencies which ensures all staff receive

good employment conditions, salaries are reviewed regularly, we have a competency

Our mentor program and schemes to encourage flexible work arrangements on 24 hrs availability so our client will have to access when there is an urgent need.

We also have good working relationships with our working partners so we can stood together in providing the viable service that the Pacific Islanders need.

Our working partners and resources are aware with our consultant where they understand the Pacific Islanders and Multicultural needs are extra work to them especially trying to come down to a Pacific Islander level to provide the best service that they need. An active Consultative Committee – made up of the 4 Projects are members and all the representatives and senior executive members and are of specialist professionals and service providers and they are members of the professional they represented. We also hold regular briefing sessions for all Program members weekly, and a range of many social events all helping to facilitate good communication and we are so connected with the community.

We have invested considerably in Education by upgrading University knowledge, ongoing researches with the community, schools and families. We set up support booklet and flyers and other resources that – our citizen requests.

We really want our Mentor members to make a difference and to support this we recognise and celebrate good performance and have a number of our mentor program members recognize and our children, youths and parents rewarded at the end of the year. There are social clubs and local activities that we are part of and we are very part of the extended community. The Canterbury Harmony Day, The Punchbowl Multicultural Inter-faith Harmony Day, The Ex Students for Catholic School, The Refuge Day, The Canterbury Council Multicultural refugee day, The Clean up Australia Day, The Haldon Street Festival day, The Canterbury Junior League’s Final Day, The Volunteer Award Day, The Tenant Participation Day auspice by Riverwood Community Centre day. The Financial Assistance Day for Canterbury Council awarded to all Organisation who makes a difference to the Community. The Australia Day, The Pacific Islanders Day, The Tonga Day, The Holy Spirit Sport Day, The All Catholic School Sport Day, The St Mary’s House Day, The Mary Mackillop Day, The Junior Rugby League Final day, The Catholic University Day, Australian Human Rights forum. The Tongan Australian ex students day. The Australia Day, World Peace Day and many more.

We encourage healthy lifestyle 

and have a program of activities to encourage health and well being at work.

After enjoying  her 3 years working in Samoa she was called to another Mission to Tonga to be the Director of Education l999 to 2003 for Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Tonga and Niue.  She is the first female to hold the Catholic Education of Tonga and Niue Directorship position.

While caring for her brother the Catholic University and Schools and Pacific Islanders’ Community in Sydney knew that the present of Kalo in Sydney will alleviate some of their issues with children, parents, families, schools, the professionals who have dealt with parents and children with the many problems facing the Pacific Islanders community in Sydney similar to when she was in Victoria which she still involve with.  In 2004 she was called to a different mission to care for her single elderly brother who never married but has work hard to support the education of Kalo’s  nieces, nephews and other family members in Australia.

They seek help from Kalo left right and centre. Kalo found time to response and work with the Pacific Islanders Students, parents, schools and the community in Catholic Schools. She also found time to work with the poor and needy in the wider community.  She worked with Sudanese refugee families who had came to Australia because of the political and religious persecution in their homeland.  She helped them to apply for and to receive permanent residences in Australia, teaching families to speak English and sharing her musical skills with the children which brought happiness to these families. Kalo has also expressed the same care for members of the Tongan, Pacific Islanders and emerging Multicultural community in Sydney Catholic Schools liaising with schools with children that are expelled from schools, working with East Timorese, , organising liturgies, funerals services programs, cooperating with Anne Latu a Mortician and a Grief Counsellor and been helping the PI community since the early seventies, homework supports, school visit and support  and home visits to those in material and spiritual need requested by the schools. Saturday night is devoted working with children with a range of physical and mental disabilities at St Anthony’s Home Croydon. Sister Kalo has been able to bring some comfort, peace and Harmony to the children with her personal attention and musical skills.

Besides charitable outreach, Kalo has found time to provide support and back up to students who are currently enrolled in the Graduate Certificate in Religious Education back in Tonga. There have been many visits to the Strathfield campus of the Australian Catholic University to meet with the academic staff in developing a program which would be suitable to the needs of the Church in Australia and the Pacific Islands nation.  Then there is the very real encouragement and support which Kalo has provided to the students, parents and families across Canterbury and beyond.  She knows each student by name and draws great satisfaction from their ongoing success and achievements. Kalo is a woman of faith, values and her desire is to provide teachers, students, parents and families with understanding, opportunity for personal faith, social, well being and Community development so that they can teach each other the faith, education competently within the Pacific Islanders cultures and traditions.

One of the concerns of a lot of the children and parents that brought to Kalo’s attention is a huge concern in what the Department of Education and Training’s procedures for school suspensions. She found that the existing procedures provide a strong framework for managing long suspensions, but they were not always fully and correctly implemented. She would like the Department of Education and Training to evaluate this concern.  PISSAM PROGRAM would like the Department to work in partnership with PISSAM to run program on suspension awareness to the Pacific Islanders’ communities. PISSAM can translate these procedures in the different Pacific Islander’s languages. These will bring understanding to the students and parents what they expected when a student is suspended.  When a student is suspended from school a PISSA member can sit down with the student, parent and explained the procedures.

Administrator: Elisapeta Lolesio: B.A. Dip Ed. Interpreter/Translator and Dietician. She has been a teacher for more than 5 years in Tonga and now in Australia. She will talk on healthy eating once a week.

PISSAM PROGRAM WILL BE EFFECTIVE, IMPLEMENTED ONLY IF THE 3 LEVELS OF GOVERNMENT WILL SUPPORT ITS PROGRAM

Now we are asking the 3 levels of government to consider our proposal

Pacific  Journey out of paradise to Higher Ground: Kalo can say and add on a strategic approach to the many issues facing all levels of Service providers delivering services to Pacific Islanders children, parents and people is much needed rather than short term knee-jerk reaction. Kalo stated that deep down from her heart that:

PACIFIC Islanders across NSW and Australia  are at the cross road, on the edge, Various Issues in all levels are escalating, the continuous  elevating of Juveniles, Prisons  filling with Pacific Islanders young people is a clear message are so sad,  Education and community awareness in all levels  of PI people are  indeed in need of support from the 3 levels of Government. Building Pacific Islanders Australian prosperity so Pacific Islanders Australian can soon provide for themselves and be able to give to the less fortunate Pacific Islanders and Australia positive deed similar to what they been through.  Challenges for PI are Enormous, therefore Investing on Pacific Islanders futures are critical high in indeed. Pacific Islanders needed serious practical direct action to fill these gaps that drive them  to bad choices.  

Proposal of PISSAM programs drafted action.  PISSAM believes in healthy circles in all levels of Pacific Islanders lives from a baby is born to tertiary level strengthening their wings and they will flourish and can fly away to prosperity

Kalo says that as part of a larger effort to reflect critically on the nature, scope, and processes of colonialism in the Pacific Nations, decolonizing the field of Pacific Islanders’ studies must focus on the impact of colonialism on people's minds—particularly on their ways of  cultural knowing, thinking, opinion, arguments, needs, their views of who and what they are, and what they consider worthwhile to reflect, to teach and to learn and how to deliver and to get results. It is essential to challenge the dominance of western philosophy, content, and pedagogy in the lives and the education of Pacific Islanders Australian peoples, and to reclaim indigenous  Pacific Nations  perspectives, similar to the Aboriginal Australian knowledge and the Maori New Zealanders’, and wisdom that have been devalued or suppressed. Modern scholars and writers must examine the western disciplinary frameworks, within which they have been schooled, as well as the ideas and images of the Pacific they have inherited and vice versa, in order to move beyond them. The curricula of formal education from early years, to kindergarten, primary and secondly but most of all and in particularly higher education (tertiary) should include indigenous Pacific Nations knowledge, worldviews, and philosophies of teaching and learning, for several reasons: slowly and surely they will adapt and to contribute to and expand the general knowledge base of kindergarten, primary, secondly,  higher (tertiary) education; to make university study more meaningful for many students as they progress to become professionals;

To validate and legitimize academic work, particularly in the eyes of indigenous Pacific peoples;

And to enhance collaboration between indigenous and nonindigenous peoples similar to the Aboriginal indigenous Australian;

Or the Maori indigenous New Zealanders;

which affected them with settling down in their new homIndigenous Pacific Nations are also extremely high needs emerging community in all levels with many issues afe.

The uprooting of their lives they are so used to will take years to make the change to take Pacific Islanders to those levels. Not forgetting the Pacific Nations indigenous perspectives brought with them are on different levels from what the western perspective are.

Pacific Islanders sudden transition from high spirits non commitment where time does not mean a thing back home to fast cars, drugs, crime, commitment and law abiding in Australia needed to be addressed.

PISSAM Principal researcher she is happy to ADOPT NEW approaches to help teachers and service providers who provide services for Pacific Islanders to help them to cope with any sudden change. There are many changes in some Pacific Islanders families, with school age children and youths, undergoing some transitions at home, including a death of a parent, a family member, loss of employment, eviction, separation, new arrival, divorce and re-partnering, jail sentence and changing schools.

The new approach will help schools and service providers with children coming to terms with their losses, unsettling environment that affected their family life. In some instances, schools are viewed as a child’s most stable environment. A teacher, a counsellor will have time and fuss over them, where at home might not due to not knowing what to do.

The outcome will come by not just by words on paper by policy makers but also manpower tools adopted by the PISSAM grassroots specialist who have been trained for years and has practiced for years and in leadership roles for years in dealing with these problems and are current. We cannot afford to ignore issues facing Pacific Islanders Australian communities any longer as are we are critically, drowning and are on the edge of dipping over. Kalo says PREVENTION IS SO MUCH BETTER THAN CURE. Save time, save money and save life.

Her research and her PISSAM TEAM that the research approach should include using a variety of family structures , values and cultures for any themes on family Pacific Islanders studies and researches colloraborating in developing clear policies on what they have experiences with Pacific Islanders and be recommended to  the Government to be adopted to ensure staff and service providers be respectful of the wishes of both parents , children and family members of Pacific Islanders  people.

Pacific Islanders Issues

Education,

Religion

Employment,

Community Development

Health

Career Development

Social Justice

Cultures and Values

Factors affecting Pacific Islanders involvement

Internal factors 

External factors <> Cultural differences

Internal factors <> Cultural Difference

How are cultural differences used?

To ignore

To form opinion (stereo types)

To justify failure

To criticise

What can we do to approach these problems?

Good planning on resource commitment, allocation and programs in recognition of Pacific Islander people in partnership with Service Providers and Authority to initiate and

Provide services on:

• Language awareness,

• Interpretation and translation

• Learning differences

• Prototypes and protocols

• Community Awareness in all community levels

• Past, Present and future Orientation, Consultation must be make known to every Pacific Islanders by way of Advertising on paper, Radio as a Community Announcement: through the school and other source.

• Identify Pacific Islanders  Professionals who are specialists on Education, Health, Age Care, Medical, Welfare, Legal,  Business, Spiritual, Employment, Community social and Community Development, Career Development, on their capacity as members of a Body of the professionals they belong to or they represented. In their capacity to direct people who are supporting Pacific Islanders by way of setting up programs with supporters and supervised by them  accordingly.

• To encourage Pacific Islanders people in all level of community participation, not only their Pacific Islanders community but to the Multicultural and the whole community.

• Volunteers in all Community levels from secondly, universities and others to experience the community and to contribute to the community.

• Inclusion Community Services provided by local council to all members of the public

• Catholic Pacific Islanders, to get more involve in their local Parish, school and local Council’s activities.

• Critical Analytic perspective approach from Pacific Islanders educators, schools where Pacific Islanders children attended and Pacific Islanders young and old on issues of concern to them or others.

• Critical Analytic perspective approach from Pacific Islanders Specialists, Service Providers, Professionals who deals direct with issues that are facing Pacific Islanders on ways to pass, as recommendation as a way forward as research and survey, often we take people issues, forgetting to take measures on results and to take prevention.

(PISSAM program are blessed that their executives members are currently running programs and direct researches with children, parents, schools, the Pacific Islanders, emerging and the general communities under PISSAM Chief Executive Officer and Principal Researcher Kalo Sikimeti) partnership with Catholic Primary, Secondly and University.

Critical Analytic perspective approach from Pacific Islanders References Board (PISSAM) and their working partners who are dealing direct with Pacific Islanders issues, local, State and Federal Government representatives, Agencies  and Welfare organization on  legislate recommendation as contributions on findings on measures on issues that identified as learning tools for Pacific Islanders in all levels that are affecting them.

 External Factors – Cycle of Poverty Due to: 

No formal Education

Low living standard

Unemployment

Housing, Overcrowded living conditions.

Church and Culture Commitment

Racism 

Health problems (Obesity)

Alcoholism

Addictions

Gangs

Family breakups

Mental illness

Debts

External Factors:

What can be done to support actions to ease the Problems?

The three levels of government to support the PISSAM programs. To support the PISSAM research by the CEO who is specialist on Pacific Islanders children, parents, families and community in practical terms academically and professionally with her skills, leadership that has been developed many years through quality work experiences and qualified according to her specialists field in Education.  Many years working direct with Pacific Islanders Community at all levels in the Pacific Nations and in Australia and is recognized by leaders in the Pacific, Institutions, University and Government locally and nationally and Globally. These professionals would belong to a Body according to their profession accordingly. A more effective approach to meet the needs and issues targeting Pacific Islanders issues as to identify, find a cure, a remedy and to get result be executed.

Internal Factors and External Factors facing Pacific Islanders Community incorporating partnerships with everyone from Pacific Islanders Communities, Service Providers, Professionals, Government and Non Government and Agencies

Research Issues:

• Over emphasis on the uniqueness of Pacific Islanders People

• Under emphasis on the factors that impact on Pacific People lives

•  The benefit and understanding that will bring to Pacific Islanders working as partners with Local Community, Service Providers, Professionals, Agencies, Non Government and Government.

• How the research is conducted – Consultation, Negotiation, ownership and protocols with schools, non government and Government department and authorities, Service Providers, Professionals, Academics and Specialist Skills that identified relevant and appropriate to the research. Data sources must be reliable, accurate and additional supported influences and critical evaluation that will encourage recommendations on policies and practices to be implemented as models for Pacific Islanders workers.

• These Research concerns the Pacific Islanders students, parents and their families’ engagement in learning in Australian Catholic Schools and any concern with Government schools. Principal Researcher Kalo Sikimeti sees that there is a great need to co-ordinate a work relationship and partnership with the 3 levels of Government to support and work side by side with the PISSAM program similar to the non government agencies system in the 3 levels of Government.  These projects are a Prevention measures and open opportunities to explore Pacific Islanders gaps and special needs.

• The context of this study will be in the Catholic Education system in the Archdiocese of Sydney which Kalo Sikimeti is part of that System.

The Research context

• As a researcher, Kalo Sikimeti and her own professional background as teacher, musician, consultant, teacher, lecture, school principal, director of education, a counsellor, social worker, community worker and Mercy leader for over 30 years,  bring special dimensions to this study.

RESEARCH PROBLEM:

• Experiences of Pacific Islanders immigrant students in Australian Catholic schools, government schools and their influences on their engagement in learning. These learning is very important in their early years at kindergarten,primary and secondly education and the children’s futures in tertiary levels and which will give them choices for healthy well prepared future careers.

Education:

• To explore the experiences of Pacific Islanders immigrant students engagement with learning in Catholic schools, government school and identify the issues influencing their experiences.

• Kalo is so blessed with the support of the 7 University Students as assistant researchers from Pacific Islanders background, and with professionals’ grassroots individuals’ talented, skilled specialist from the South Pacific who have worked back home and abroad and now in Australia in fully supported and contribute their expertise to the Research and programs. They are not only Cultural appropriate but will bring relevant information and understanding through PISSAM 4 programs. The purposes of PISSAM 4 programs are to reach out to schools and other service providers who provide services to the Pacific Islanders Community and vice versa when they face with difficulties facing the Pacific Islanders' issues.

SIGNIFICANCE OF THE RESEARCH

• There is a gap identified in the literature regarding the research Problem of this study. (Helu Thaman, 2003, Burford & Gross, 2006)

• There is a need to inform the government, Non government, service providers, the church, the Pacific Islanders communities and schools about the special needs of Pacific Islanders students so their potential for growth can be addressed and their contribution to development of Australia maximized. (ABS, 2008 Burford & Gross, 2006, Lee, 2003, McKay, 2006

• The active Involvement and contribution of the participants in the investigation of the study could contribute to both long and short terms development of the communities in Australia. (Lee 2003, Helu-Thaman 2003, Burford & Gross 2006)

• Kalo Sikimeti’s extensive knowledge and expertise, on our Pacific Islanders children, youths, families, congregation, community leaders and the general community, in Australia, New Zealand, South Pacific and abroad on Education will be an introduction and a direction that will pilot, collaborate its programs together with the PISSAM executive members will bring light to the Pacific Islanders community across Canterbury and beyond. Her Research and the pilot PISSAM programs will support to execute and provide those relevant and appropriate services to our Children, Parents and the Pacific Islander Communities.

• KALO SIKIMETI with her PHD research, with her professional background drafted the 4 different programs of PISSAM.

• She hold a  Master of Education, MA (Catholic University) BA Dip Ed., USP, MACE, a member of the Australian College of Educators, Dip theology, Dip Music, a Musician, Pianist, Dip Counselling, Interpreter, translator.

She also has extensive Leadership Roles and Management training in Australia, Europe, America and in the South Pacific Islands.

KALO’S expertise on EDUCATION, HAS TAKEN HER FROM Tonga to New Zealand, Australia, Fiji, Samoa, Pacific Nations, Europe, England, America and now in Australia.

In 2008 She represented the South Pacific Islands as Part author of (Catholic Schools Hope in Uncertain Times - Part two Learning from Broader Perspectives (“ A shared hope in Catholic Schools in the South Pacific”) which was launched in October, 2008 at the Catholic University Strathfield

In addition to classroom teaching, She was a liaison person for South Pacific families in Catholic Schools in Robinvale, Mildura, Melbourne and now based in Sydney.

A former leader for the Mercy Sisters, Principal for Catholic Colleges in Tonga, Niue and Samoa, Director of Education l999 to 2003 for Catholic Schools in the Diocese of Tonga and Niue.  She is the first female to hold the Catholic Education of Tonga and Niue Directorship position, a lecturer at the centre of the University of the South Pacific, and executive secretary for the Tonga Catholic Education Board and the Tonga Association Board for Education and the Samoa Mercy schools’ Board of Governors.

Her passion and aims to pursue her research with 7 Pacific Islanders University students research assistants on Pacific Islanders Immigrant attending schools in NSW and beyond. she sees this Pilot project to explore, identifies, encourage and support those Pacific Islanders children attended schools facing significant challenges that affected their performances in School.

• Children, parents, schools and Pacific Islanders’ families and others will participate direct on one to one or in group consultation, and questionnaires.   Daily family problems that are affecting Pacific Islanders families will only get worse if gaps are not filled and education opportunity are not provided on different levels from kindergarten, primary, secondly and tertiary levels.

• These are facts and schools have witnessed almost every day of these ongoing issues and at times they have to push them aside because there are urgent needs for cultural specialist dialogue people to deal with these issues. At times these issues are too much and beyond teachers controlled. So the PISSAM project and Kalo’s research will find answers unlocking and collaborating with the real home, school, community life of the children, parents, teachers at schools  and the PISSAM PROGRAM and its professional working partners.

• PISSAM specialist grassroots members are excited to work with the 7 University’s students research assistants as they are the future service delivery of the Pacific Islanders communities in Australia.   
  

1. We united to make sure that every issue will be covered and every stone will be turned. For immediate directions when it comes to each individual’s need. We believe in providing the appropriate service when people needed that particular service there and then and not later, in some cases they were far too late. To delay issues causes more strife for those in need.
   
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3. Every executive member will work on their own department doing exactly what they are doing now in their own professional offices. As soon as any need come to our PISSAM attention it will be directly to each specialist and other service providers that they are close to for the service they need.
   
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5. They will draft brochures in English and other languages as informative community awareness tools on what they are specialize on. Pacific Islanders CALD people can contact us on the phone, email, letter, and the web or even visit us in person.
   
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7. Once a week these Specialists will talk on Radio on what services they provide in English to make sure that the Pacific Islanders community will know exactly what they are specialize on and what help they will get from these specialists. In case of non English speaking Pacific Islanders people who needed interpreters, we have interpreters for each Pacific Islander nation so they can call after the program for translation into their Pacific Language.

8. In 2004 since Kalo’s arrival in Sydney her past experiences with the so various issues facing the Pacific Islanders’ children, youths and families were escalating. Authorities, schools, and agencies goes nowhere with these issues and despite a lot of funding given to services who provide services for Pacific Islanders, however, the focus remains very much on treating the symptoms of child abuse, addictions and neglect rather than addressing the root causes of disadvantage, when we really need investment in both, as seen by the PISSAM PROGRAM that family Support Services, youth services and other centres.
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10. PISSAM seen that the unavailable of a 24 hrs line and place for Needy Pacific Islanders who cannot speak English and lack of understanding of how the system work which provide important emergency support services that address children, women, men, families and PI community needs to seek help from. PI family issues usually happens when all family members are at home, appear to have missed out again in receiving a much needed boost to their funding.
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12. PISSAM is also concerned that despite evidence of growing demand for PACIFIC ISLANDERS SPECIALISTS to provide services to PACIFIC ISLANDERS NEEDY and with many Non Government Organisations finding it hard to recruit and retain suitable qualified experience specialist Pacific Islanders staff if there are!!! There is very little investment in the ongoing viability of these vital community services.PISSAM chief Executive Officer/Principal Researcher Kalo Sikimeti said that while there had been significant investment in buildings, roads and transport infrastructure the same investment had not been made in the people who deliver the social services, education, health and support that struggling emerging families including Pacific Islanders who are identified as High needs and vulnerable beside aboriginals in NSW.

We all want a society in which everyone can participate, contribute, connected and enjoy where people feel safe and where they get a fair go. This can only happen if governments invest in both social and physical infrastructure and pay particular attention to the needs of those on low incomes, unemployed, disabilities, homelessness, addictions and who are disadvantaged. (Pacific Islanders’ are in this Category) Such investment builds confidence and resilience and is vital if we, collectively, are to flourish and prosper.

PISSAM are calling on the 3 levels of Government to give human and social services the same priority it gives its financial standing with credit rating agencies. That's why it’s now time for investment in A+ plus service for Pacific Islanders and other emerging Multicultural communities. 

Kalo says that what ever young Pacific Islanders do to harm the community is not only felt by Pacific Islanders but to the whole community. Not forgetting a lot of Pacific Islanders youths are in battle grounds, others in the wrong place at the wrong time and ended up lost their lives to knives and guns like the Young Andrew Motuliki and Sione Matavesi. Andrew a student that left school at year 10 to work to support his 2 younger brothers and parents. Andrew was one of the PI student that Kalo Sikimeti was working with. In her opinion he was such a good young talented footballer with a great future. He was knifed to death on the train at Campsie station on the 22/12/2009. Sione Matavesi was knife to death 6/1/2007 leaving his 2 children behind and there are more others that lost their lives in similar situation.

This document was the result of extensive family members who have seek comfort, support from PISSAM members according to their capacity of their specialist.  Not once, twice, many many times. The direct needs in grief, financial and other form of counselling in time of a death of a love one is escalating and there are huge gaps that are in demand of intense care.

The indicators identified by schools and reported to PISSAM and the increase number of students from Pacific Islander’s student who are truanting, dropping out, bulling, sign of neglect, distress and violence behaviour, gangs lack of interest in school work.

• Half Islander is experiencing, low self esteem, identity crisis and no sense of belonging,

•  The gap in health, in housing, in educational opportunity and attainment, in employment.

These are ambitious goals.

• Some said I should not set them, for fear that they could not be realised.

• Our response was that unless we have aims and goals that guide our Pacific Islanders effort, we would be guaranteed of one thing – that we would achieve virtually nothing.

• Too much funding allocated, much time – too many decades  has already been lost.

• We must seize the opportunity that we are prepared to work hard to provides Professionals Pacific Islanders to our Pacific Islanders who have lost in the storms or have missed the bus..

• Or else, put simply, we will only get worst and never given that opportunity.

• To speak fine words and then to forget them, would be worse than doing nothing at all.

• To underline our accountability to the great task we have assigned ourselves, and to keep it fresh in the mind of the Pacific Islanders and Multicultural, and the general Communities. We undertook also to report to our Member of Parliament at the end on July 2009 on our progress in closing the gap. It was raised with the Ex-Premier the Hon. Morris Iemma and Kalo Sikimeti was busy doing the report and was not completed. Unfortunately he resign before any chance to see him.

Today Kalo Sikimeti is ready to make the submission on these statements that outlines the dimensions of the challenge we face and sets out our plan to close the gap.

We believe that the mark of these PISSAM programs are our commitment and capacity to address the immediate crisis of Pacific Islanders children and youths at school, sport grounds and in the community. Today while also embarking on a program of reform to deal with the challenges of tomorrow.

That is why we must strain with every possible resource of government support to deal with the impact of crimes, gangs, violence, gambling, difficult behaviours, school truancy, homelessness, juvenile in jail and more. To reduce the impact on the Pacific Islanders and Multicultural crimes across Canterbury and beyond we must stand up to provide relevant and appropriate service to go forward.

This is why we must continue to prosecute and persist on our long term pilot program and ask the 3 level governments in implementing the Education Revolution to drive long term productivity growth, in Education, Health, Community Services and Community Development.

Why we must create a Pacific Islanders’ traditional appropriate way and combine with the western way for Pacific Islanders-Australia-on-building to construct the infrastructure we will need to take our community forward.

Kalo’s direct working with Pacific Islanders children while working with schools in Mildura, Robin Vale, Victoria and in Sydney will be researched, monitored in  consultation and dialogue collaborated with what we have experienced with the needs of those who seek support or referred to PISSAM Chief executive officer and members. Kalo Sikimeti says like herself, she regards her research as an opportunity of incorporating the many knowledge of specialist in various field as an extension with the PISSAM members is enormous and exciting. Reaching out to the people in need and vice versa through each specialist individual members on what they are specialise on the services they provide to the PI community and others are proved most outstanding.

The students, parents, Schools, authorities, professionals and the whole community bringing every issues and every voices on a round table dialogue as we sit down with every voice is heard, every issues are addressed documented, researched and addressed  and a carefully viable plan on what the best solution for these issues. PISSAM then act on these issues, sort remedy, prevention and to deliver to get results. 

PISSAM believed the 3 level of Government should support and work on a partnership program for the next 3 to 5 years to make PI community, NSW, Australia a stronger and fairer place for the innocent and needy to live and to enjoy. Building Pacific Islanders Australian to a level where they can contribute something to build a Stronger Community will be the no 1 priority of the PISSAM programs.

The document aimed to build consensus on what needed to be done to secure social justice and how PISSAM will know if we have succeeded. It identifies problems, solutions and results to some of the thorniest social issues facing our Pacific Islanders Australian communities across Canterbury NSW and Australia. These proposals are not a Dream but a reality list of the needs of Pacific Islanders Australian, but a set of opportunities for action by the 3 levels of Government collaborating with PISSAM program, businesses, the non-government sector and the whole community. We believe these proposals, organised across the many levels across the community from children, parents, the whole community, cutting bridges, filling gaps, blocking holes, adding themes and will achieve results for Pacific Islanders Australian people, families and communities that live on the wrong side of the economic and social divide which drive them to crime and bad choices.

Historical Influences is every Pacific Islanders dreams.

• Amnesty for Illegal Migrants in Australia by the Federal Government. In the 70’s.

• World Youth Day (July 2008) (Catholic Church and Ex-Premier Hon.  Morris Iemma)

• Granting of Visas for Pacific Islander to work as Fruit pickers in Australia.

Historical Influences that question the past, current and future for Pacific Islanders in the community.

• The establishing of the first High Commissioner to Australia. On the 14/09/2008 will be stationed in Canberra to carry out official duties 14th October in Deakin seen as a waste of money.  Tonga do not need visas for people to travel to Tonga.

• Military rule in Fiji, its fourth military led coup by the military commander (December 2006) lead its people by the power of guns.

• March 2006’forum with Prince Tu’ipelehake and the Committee then embarked upon the next stage of their work - traveling overseas to New Zealand, Australia and the United States to establish dialogue with expatriate Tongan communities and seek their views on political evolution in Tonga.

• Tonga’s Prince Tu’ipelehake killed in car accident (Posted at on 06 July, 2006

Two members of Tonga’s Royal family, the King’s nephew, Prince Tu’ipelehake, and his wife Princess Kaimana, died in a car accident in San Francisco last night “Prince Tu’ipelehake is seen by the people as the people’s prince. He has been dubbed during the recent strike by the civil servants as the prince of the people. He is the noble with the highest rank who has worked with the people towards democratic reform. He has supported the people inside parliament, voting with the people’s representatives. He has been to the King personally requesting that political reform takes place, and now he has passed away. The link between the commoners and the nobility has been broken.” It's hard to express the shock, disbelief and sadness I felt when I heard of the tragic deaths last Friday. “Prince Tu’ipelehake was known as ‘the people’s Prince’.

He was a patron of the Human Rights and Democracy Movement and a champion of accountability and freedom of the press. He cared passionately for his people, was accessible to them and had an unwavering commitment to their wellbeing and advancement. He was a reformer and wanted to see change, which would make their lives better. He thought deeply about how that change should happen. He saw a broad national consultative process as being the proper path to constitutional and political change in Tonga.

• 2005 After Tonga’s public sector strikes last year, his belief in the need to reform gained widespread acceptance and momentum through the establishment of the National Committee on Political Reform, set up through Parliament with the approval of the King. Princess Kaimana, a former officer in the Tongan Ministry of Foreign Affairs, played an active role in supporting the work of the Committee.

Through the National Committee both worked hard towards building unity and consensus around the democratisation process in Tonga, New Zealand, Australia, America and abroad.

We hope that the Committee’s work will ensure that the wide range of Tongan voices are heard and understood by the Tongan government and members of the royal family. By June this year the Committee had completed an exhaustive round of consultations throughout Tonga.

Those who met with Prince Tu’ipelehake, Princess Kaimana and Committee members in Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Australia were impressed by their commitment to eliciting, and documenting, the wide range of Tongan perspectives. The Prince impressed with his sensitivity, vision and determination. is tragic that it was during their pursuit of this important mission in the United States that the Prince and Princess were killed. The Committee’s work is almost finished – the report on It findings from Talanoa with Tongan communities within Tonga will be presented to the Tongan government in August. The members of the National Committee will complete the process started by Prince Tu’ipelehake, but it will be for others in Tonga to carry the Committee’s findings forward.

Through the Committee’s work, the Prince has bequeathed a strong foundation for discussion and dialogue between the Tongan monarchy, the Tongan people and the Tongan diaspora.
That will be the most important way his people can respect his vision and his commitment.

It is with enormous sadness that we remember and farewell the Prince and Princess tonight.
Tu’a 'Ofa Atu    In Maoridom they would say a mighty totara has fallen. Nga Mate, Haere, Haere, Haere. Malo ‘aupito. Phil Goff ,  Pacific Island Affairs.  This is a transcript from AM. The program is broadcast around Australia at 08:00 on ABC Local Radio.

Pesi Fonua edits a popular Tongan internet news site, and in her latest editorial says the Prince's sudden death was a great loss to Tonga's political reform movement. PESI FONUA: He has been sort of labeled as the "people's Prince", and that came about because he led a protest march to the palace.  Like, he became very involved in the movement towards political reform.  BRENDAN TREMBATH: The people's prince dared to dwell on the possibility that his uncle the king surrender his absolute power to a parliament elected by the people.PesiFonua says this upset true-blue royalists, but the Prince's idea for a National Committee of Political Reform was approved by the monarch.

The committee submitted their REPORTS, FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS TO HIS MAJESTY IN PRIVY COUNCIL and were rejected.   

• Riots and Unrest in Tonga (2006) by people who are not happy due to uncertainty on reforms and other factors, let them to burn businesses, government buildings, banks, shops and offices especially those who owns by government officials.

• Political difficulties in the Solomon Islands: (2005) by mob of riotous, youths and Solomon Islanders did looting, stealing, and burning people’s homes, businesses to the ground.

The Pacific Islanders’ Dreams and wishes:

• (All funding that will be allocated to Pacific Islanders organizations similar to PISSAM board established under the auspice of Riverwood Community centre under the umbrella of Canterbury Harmony Group Incorporated. They will be accountable to every documentation and data on their projects. Their performances and responsibilities will be defined on each project that runs by Pacific Islanders PISSAM members. Their projects spending must have invoices and be approved by the Chief Executive Officer and be seen by the co-ordinator and sign by the  secretary and treasurer of the organization. The 3 department will have copies exactly similar to the 1^st approval. Then it will come back to the Chief Executive Officer and will have the final Approval and the Co-ordinator will get the money from Riverwood Community Centre. The organisation that needed the cash will pick the cash up from the Administration with exactly the same amount in the 1^st and 2^nd approval and must be sign. These sounds too much work but  we have no other choices.  Prevention is much better than cure.

• Attendance book to be sign in all activities, forums, consultations and functions.  It is encouraged to take photos attached to the reports.  A copy of the report to be kept with the organization and the original is forwarded to the board (Chief Executive Officer) one to Riverwood Community Centre. All working partners will sign agreement and will follow the rules and cultures and PISSAM polices. All documentations must be typed and in English and in the Pacific Islander language that the project users spoke if desired by members.

What has been established to make a difference to Pacific Islanders in Australia?  Which way forward.

• We have establish a PISSAM board of Reference Group across Canterbury and beyond with grassroots Pacific Islanders’ Specialists who are members of their professional body and have the capacity to direct and make decisions in their capacity of the position they held. Authorities in local, State and Federal representatives, PISSAM University Pacific Islanders students,  are in the council as  trainees and observers for future leaders for instance a law student to work alongside the Pricipal Lawer. 

• Pacific Islanders should be leaders in Education, Health, Age Care, legal, counsellors, teachers, police, Community, Businesses, Sports, Welfare and Community Development and other Professionals in few years to come.

• Additional representatives from University students and Year 12 students as observers to learn and educate themselves to take on future roles. The Reference Groups will be extended to Pacific Islanders that run organisation with similar aims which identified issues, needs and gaps on Pacific Islanders.  PISSAM has selected their executive’s members very carefully taking on members who have the qualities and are professional’s members of their professional body and have all the qualities that are required.  Future Board members will be advertised and screened by PISSAM executives. Local, State and Federal Representatives that will be on the board is officially on as soon as they accepted the offer.   The PISSAM board and members will work alongside the government on government handbooks and to add on any extra collection of materials from the professionals, teachers, parents, students and the Pacific Islanders Community who have joined as executive members or general members.

• These board members will be fully supported by the 3 levels of Government and vice versa. They can work and design teacher’s handbook, health awareness handbook, welfare and community development handbook on how to set up community support services who will report to the government on the issues facing the Pacific Islanders community.  Any recommendations, policies that are of concern for Pacific Islanders or issues that they are facing with be directed to the attention of the Board.  There will be a special consultation at every local council’s area and their community once a month. The board and Professional working partners will work together on the best way to solve any issues that arises that are brought to the board attention.

Local, State and Federal Government to focus:

•  Meeting the High needs of Pacific Islanders’ people in all levels.

• Government and Non Government bodies, Agencies, Welfare Organizations, the Pacific Islanders Reference Group and Institution Bodies have a duty of care to promote the education, health, cultural awareness and employment of Pacific Islanders people and support Pacific Islander young people once completed their education of their specialize field and once employed.

• Getting a job is great, building a career is exciting, facing challenges and the bumpy rides can be many headaches to a lot of Pacific Islanders.

Statutory, Policy & Reporting Requirements for Pacific Islanders

• Minimum EEO STATISTICAL INFORMATION INCLUDES

• number of EEO respondents in an agency

• number of Pacific Islanders who identify as Pacific Islanders

• number of people who identify as their Pacific Island of origin

• number of people who identify with a disability

• number of Pacific Islander requiring workplace improvements

• Number of people whom English is a second language requiring help at school, hospital, doctors, and workplace

• Number of people who identify with parents from Pacific Islanders that are married to other Cultures requiring help with the difficulties of cultural differences.  These children find it very difficult to who will they listen to. Pacific Islanders cultures are so different to other cultures.

Statutory, Policy & Reporting Requirements

• Numbers of Pacific Islanders  specific programs and services administered or funded by government or your agency

• number of programs and services administered or funded by you or your agency which have significant Pacific Islander Client base

•  number of projects which you are operating which are Pacific Islander specific or which have a significant Pacific Islanders base

• Nature of programs, services and projects, is it for the specific benefit of Pacific Islanders? 

• Amounts of funding allocated to each of these programs, services and project and to whom the funding was allocated to and how was the fund spent and are these programs still running, not running or receive the fund but the program is no longer provide that service.

• No of programs that are funded and those programs are no longer existed and never updated the web program.

• Number of specific services, programs and projects working in fighting issues regarding Pacific Islanders’ problems.

• Number of ongoing projects and their documented progresses and approval with their reports signed and managed by the auspice body? Are these projects getting results and how they are measured and executed? Are they getting ahead and meeting the needs of Pacific Islanders.

•  Number of people who are running these projects are they viable, relevant, appropriate and available 24 hrs when Pacific Islanders are desperately in their need of their services.

• Number of projects that had executed their programs, reports, progresses and projects that had results, approved by professionals, government, and take the Pacific Islanders forward.

• Number of projects that have supported Pacific Islanders, and received funding to support Pacific Islanders and how many Pacific Islanders’ so far they have supported?

Overcoming Pacific Islanders’ disadvantages

• initiate and focus on strengths of Pacific Islanders at home, school and public places
• initiate its own inclusive legal Aid system for the disadvantages and those who can pay
  

•  initiatives and address weaknesses on a more child, family and community friendly way

• initiatives and encouragement of good parenting at home

• initiatives on Pacific Islanders’ congregations and church leaders on their responsibilities to their followers to decrease levies to a minimum, gone are the days of maximum dollars that were expected of families which contributed as  major factors to issues facing the Pacific Islanders, which resulted to neglect and abuses amongst Pacific Islanders’ families

• initiatives to discourage people from Pacific Islanders Nation expecting to take millions of dollars from Australian Residents and Citizens which are factors of poverty for Pacific Islanders in Australia

• Initiatives to initiate good education, healthy life styles, good habit on many levels of needs of Pacific Islanders daily lives.

• Initiatives to raise cultural awareness

• initiatives to increase Pacific Islanders recruitment for employment

• initiatives to increase Pacific Islanders’ staff numbers in the workforce

• initiatives to increase community development opportunities in education, health, welfare,  and cultures of Pacific Islanders

• initiatives to  improve retention rates at the workforce initiatives to reduce welfare recipients

•  initiatives to seek professional help when needed

Pacific Islanders Statistical Information

• Population

• Geographic and Location

• Education Nation, State and Local level) Pacific Islanders are poorly represented in University, the numbers of students, TAFE, private and public secondly, primary schools, kinder garden and child care services.

• Health Lack of culturally appropriate service, non–proficiency in English, lack of involvement in service delivery, lack of private health insurance, death and life insurance, home insurances, car insurances, employment insurances, economic disadvantage.

• Denominations they belong to: and their numbers

• Labor force, Pacific Islanders people, poorly represented in the 3 levels of government local, State and Federal, in senior Executive Service,

• Highly represented in nursing aids, registered nurse, factory, security, clerical and administrative positions

Employment and Unemployment

• Pacific Islanders who are employed female and male

• Pacific islanders who are unemployed female and male

• Pensioners old age, female and male

• Pensioners, single parents female and male

• Carers female and male

• Disabilities recipient female and male

Deaths, births, marriages and divorces of Pacific Islanders full and half Pacific Islanders 

• Numbers of deaths local, State and National,

• The cause of death, age, gender

• Number of deaths in Custody, (location and the cause)

• Births gender and location

• marriages and divorces and location

Pacific Islanders Data: Often not available.

• Pacific Islanders data breakdown by age, gender and disability,

• Pacific Islanders who have received compensation male and female

• Health status of Pacific Islanders workers,

• Absence from work by compensation or health related factors,

• Compassionate leave, when someone has passed away, going overseas

•  Issues relating to harassment, grievances or bullying as reported by teachers, staffs and how these are resolved, managed and monitored,

• Training undertaken by Pacific Islanders,

• Availability of cultural education training for staff,

• Use of Pacific Islanders trainers.

Pacific Islanders and Assessment Profile: The who is who?

• Grassroots professionals in the Pacific nations and  Australia

• Level they have reached in their Professional past and current positions. Director of School, Principals, General Managers, Director of Nursing, Professional doctors, lawyers, counsellors, teachers, social workers, Morticians, Dentist, Business owner’s and. Religious Leaders and how long they have been in Australia.  Their years of experiences and qualifications.

• How did they get to Australia? What year?

• Were they born overseas or Australia,

• Gender and earnings level have they reached,

•  Average age, service location of their positions

• Sport Stars

Awards Recipients are usually Pacific Islanders who made a difference to the Community

Youths, Sports and Recreation

Problems Pacific Islanders’ facing in Australia

• Local, State, Federal, we definitely seek your support and help us to go through the green light. We are seeing red light and it is impossible to stop, we seemed to go through red light and we are paying hefty fines losing our love ones to guns, knives, truancy, petty crimes, abuses, addiction, neglect, jail, juvenile, mental institutions, violence, gangs in the streets, homelessness and death in violence, suspicious circumstances and custody. PISSAM need stronger partnership with its professional partners and the 3 levels government to move forward.

The 2009 decade marked a very important chapter in the life of Pacific Islanders Communities, Professionals, Church Leaders, Congregation leaders, children, parents, families, schools, and their communities, individual professionals, government and non government bodies locally and nationally  to be united to fight abuses. Abuses come in many forms. If not identify and treated professionally it will cause harm to the Community. Abuse in any forms contributes to anger, and not knowing how to control these situations, they may cause harm to someone.  It is definitely a decade that communication is the right tools with clear attitude in building self-confidence. We must stand strong united with our children, families, and the whole community to take us to a whole new level.

All communication begins within us as a family at home, school and everywhere. It begins with our values, beliefs, thoughts and actions.  Pacific Islander Australian people are scattered everywhere in NSW and other States in Australia.  We should be united and work closely with professionals as teachers, social workers, doctors, counsellsors, solicitors and authorities to guide us on issues that are affecting our families.  Encouraging our young children on their individual talents and gifts, strengths, and identifies weaknesses, differences and challenges and draw interest to work on ways to ensure that they are well prepared for their future.

A way forward to have an inception of a new beginning for Pacific Island Communities to reflect on our experiences on past crime rates, youths in juveniles, academic performances, life styles, health, parenting and our responsibilities for our families.. In 2008 was not a good year for Pacific Islanders and the same every other year. We are not going forward; we have experienced a lot of unwanted issues. As Pacific Islanders Australian, we must have the will to fight for the future of our children.  Not forgetting that we are in the 20^th century and education are our major role to provide for our children. As parents we are to provide for the need of our children at home, at school and everywhere. Education comes in different forms, and to start at home will be a good foundation for the children.  At times, it is difficult for parents to be good parents and is hard to provide for the needs of the children.  Parents are the best teachers for our children. A good foundation will be a rock on concrete ground. A special gift given to us and it is a blessing that a parent enjoys in caring for their children. At school, our children attended 6 years of primary school and extra 1 year in kinder garden. They spend another 6 years at High School.  On those 12 precious years, it will be hard work for children, parents and teachers to take them to the last hurdle year 12 and another 3 years or five at University. Alternatively, TAFE.  Parents if we are committed to those 12 years, we are on the way forward.  Another 3 to 5 years at University or TAFE guarantee them a future for life. After completed their degree, a good start that is what we expect from our children. Being a good parent to provide for their needs in achieving these goals.  Parents and children are prepared and expected hard work from their teachers and vice versa to take them there.  We now can see that we must work as a team, a partnership to achieve those goals. 

• Sadly PISSAM CEO felt that there are number of substantial things amongst the Pacific Islanders’ community’s congregations are irrelevant.  Congregation values are best when they do not dwell on raise funds, and asking for weekly donations.  These are the causes of neglect, abuses and violence amongst Pacific Islanders’ family. We must recognize that we are in Australia we need good education and communication in different levels to survive, for us to prepare to learn and educate ourselves to go with the time.

• The experiences in adjusting to the Australian society that we must go with the flow. Some youth members of some congregation are happier to be with their own congregations all the time, they felt psychologically sound felt at home in their comfort zone, as their own territory that will encourage them in groups and gangs that will take them  to a lot of troubles. Most of the juvenile’s crimes are these groups of youths.  Sometimes some congregation, have programs that engage youths to spent more time in there than at home.  What happen to their schoolwork? Are the books will only be open at school? Mondays to Fridays.  These encouraged truancy, which happened a lot with Pacific Islanders and are brought to PISSAM requesting more support on these issues.

•  Most Pacific Islanders are lack of consistency and continuity at home as well as discipline problems.  The systems in Australia are far less strict and problems elevated. Learning also is more effectively in an unstructured, less concentrated environment where visual learning can take place. It is also important to have short, meaningful activities, goals and more practical. We recommend teachers to explore a good relationship with the parents, children and be aware of Pacific Islander Cultural expectations and how these will affect their styles of teaching. In addition, learning.   Encouraging and working on their strengths rather than addressing their weaknesses.

• Eventually, Pacific Islanders will become more involved with their school, community, locally and nationally, eventually will participate in the nations observation of their new country and will start contributing at all levels locally, NSW, and Nationally.  Because of how strong the way we were brought up in the islands it is very hard to divorce ourselves from the reality and the culture we were used to be. A good example of Pacific Islanders Congregation’s cultures.  The Catholic Pacific Islanders should attend their local parish and get involved with their children schools and the local council’s activities.  All they needed is a place to hold their functions which is community meetings, community men and women forums and Kava party.  They do not need to build big churches like the one in Glen Denning where poor people gave Millions and Millions to build such a church. What for?  Who suffered the people?  It is going on now to 20 years people still give away their money to build this church. They are borrowing on top of more borrowings.

It explains why Pacific Islanders lives are dwelt compelled and was not challenged.  Because of this, we must bring our problems to the attention of the local, state and federal leaders and people in authorities to bring hope to our Pacific Islanders communities.

• There are other issues that are look at which will be of useful for the Pacific Islander Community Development such as, Pacific Islander Youths Development, Pacific Islanders Professional and Academic Development, Pacific Islanders Women and Men Development, Pacific Islander Professional leaders Development, Pacific Islanders Religious Leaders Development, Pacific Islanders Business Leaders development and Pacific Islanders Cultural and Media Development.  A clear understanding and communication at all levels. Our values mission and aim to be addressed. A stronger relationship and an incorporated partnerships with ourselves and connecting to other service providers and authorities  in building services relevant, appropriate, viable and practical in programs and projects that is identified as emergency extremely high need to prevent, protect and to give hope to our children’s future which will contribute to Australia’s future.

• This report includes what actually happened in the past 41 years since PISSAM MEMBERS came to Australia.  We have seen problems in different forms from an illegal Pacific Islander’s, traffic fines, welfare frauds, family violence, education support, petty and criminal activities, homelessness, a death in the family, death in custody and many other forms of issues identifying a cry for help.

• One of PISSAM MEMBERS, previously a teacher in Catholic Schools in Tonga for many years and in Australia, a former lecturer, a chartered Accountant in Australia, dealt with these cases and executed them with no charge for many, many years. I had witnessed cases that were done by professionals applying for visas that were rejected and were referred to him for a last resort.  I never forgot when I have to go in person with the authority of the client to get their files from the Immigration for $30 Dollars.  My brother will sit down day and night, night and day to look for the right paragraph that will bring a case.  I remember this one particular case that the client went through so many Pacific Islanders people for help and to many lawyers and still fail.  This client came to my brother and my brother sat down and found the paragraph. Others failed on his application saying exactly the same thing.  They gave the tribunal that the brother have been in Australia for years and have been sending money to his wife and children in Tonga and if he return to Tonga he will be experienced hardship.  That is a no. The right appeal should be if this client will go back to Tonga, his sister who is Australian who brought him to Australia will suffer her house will be repossess and she is a sick women and she will suffer without his support.  He is like a carer to her.  His paper was granted 2 weeks after.  So the benefit for his sick sister is more powerful that his version.  Well I remembered hundreds of help that my brother gave others. People never forget those supports he gave them. He supported many Pacific Islanders students to come to Australia and they eventually become Australian through as academics.  He is now 73 yrs old retired and still work volunteering to his community.

• After he retired he went back to Tonga to be the Financial Controller for the Catholic Schools in Tonga.  He came back about 3 years ago and he is currently the Treasurer for the Tongan Community Support Services (TCSS) also he is the treasurer for the Tongan Catholic Community in Australia, under the diocese of Sydney. Many people still going to his house for support and advices on different issues seven days a week and he is only happy to help.

Charity starts at home

• Parents must understand that being a parent is to provide for the needs of their children. The good foundation of continuing to abide our duty of care in every way as a family provider, as a community determines the health and future of the family and to our Community. A concrete foundation of a good home protect our children and family our community from harsh environment  When life is tough and pressures is on we seems to manage strongly. As life is easy, relax and flexible we are on brumby ride and we start to rely on others. We lost our pride, we do not care, and we can get on the welfare with no effort to do any better. What we put in we will eventually harvest it, and our children will be part of the trend. Any children who sees their parents not working and receiving benefits all the time will likely inherit these trends. The working parents will followed through by their children as workers.

• The disadvantage and the needy must be cared for. The students that thriving for success for our country’s future must be supported and encouraged. What about the welfare for welfare’s sake? Are we encouraging them and their future generation to breed in our community?  In our beautiful country, where opportunities shines we should be up there like any other Pacific Islanders Australian or White Australian.

• In Sports, rugby league and Union and boxing we are doing so well and they should be encouraged as our strengths, and team up with a good Education will take us forward.  We do a lot to help ourselves, but often we get lost in giving away money that we cannot afford to our Pacific Islanders’ churches and congregations that are not incorporated. Sometimes it might get to wrong hands. We will never question how the money are kept, no bank statement, records are not recorded and the list will go on.  We talk behind church leaders backs, but too scared to do something about it.  Even pensioners give away their pension.  Who suffers?   CHILDREN, FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND AUSTRALIA.

•  The alarming rates of church and schools coming from the Pacific nations to look for money. Millions taken away these ways and nobody is accounted for these money.

• We must not forget that Pacific Islanders Australian children and families that were brought in the welfare trap can sees their future as normal and it will grow to all sorts of problems later in life as a family for themselves and their future children, generation and the community . Some children in these circumstances have the will to get through and some cannot, and end up in lots of trouble and in many cases end up in jail, gone mental, end their life in suicide, homelessness or violence.  Sadly it happened in our own very Pacific Islanders’ community not once not twice, many, many times. 

• Are we learned from it?  Not really, because we know that we will be provided.  According to whatever the circumstances might be. As we hit the jackpot, us Pacific Islander’s when we migrated to Australia our aims were to do our best to provide our  children with  good education and to contribute to community positively, but things has change, come to a comfort zone with the opportunities and welfare resources are available we start to relax..  We change to the way we were use to back home. These are how we fail in providing for our children. We often fall in the same trap repeatedly when we do not seek professional help. I have witnessed so many and still remembered every case that comes my way. Many cases we must help especially when children are involve with neglect, addiction and abuses.  Resources are sometimes not available due to housing availability, or the money has gone somewhere else.                                                                                            What are we suppose to do, we need professional help to defuse all this problems now not later.

• Welfare organization always gives and never questions when someone come too often to see them. Being a good parent to your children and family will contribute to a better Pacific Islanders’ community in Australia. Leaders talk about the importance of children growing up, concern about neglect, abuses and welfare of the family.  When anger erupted ended in violence behavior, which harm innocent members of the community. I am talking about the General Community who are on their way to and from work to make ends meets are sometimes in war zones and some may lost their lives. Sad! Is’t it. Often we love to talk about the situation emotional at the very minute. Promise of an action to be investigated and will be taken care of. After few days we divert our attention to some other news that are more interesting at that very minute. We are human and we like it or not that is how it goes. Why can’t we work and fix the problem and act on it the very minute it happen instead of investigations, reviewing, reports and the list goes on. The minute we ignore the problem and let it go and those who has done harm to our community think that it was ok.  It is part of growing up.  Offenders will take it lightly, and reoffend again and again.

• However, we see little point in either criticizing or defending any of this.  We see changes in family attitudes and duties, the declining full time employment of the traditional breadwinner the loss of paternal leadership dominance and male financial importance has decline to nothing.  At the same time, aided by his laziness and attending kava parties raising donations for those who come from home looking for remittance, which normally runs up to millions dollars gone overseas.  Remittances that were collected from Pacific Islanders communities particularly Tongan has huge impact on children and families. It contributed to the issues facing Pacific Islanders in Australia. This will create mental abuse and physical abuse within the family. Where does all this upheaval leave the male?  Bewailed unable to fend and provide for the family on emotional levels, deprived more and more of the traditional Pacific Islanders’ roles, frustrations and exploded violence in the home with the family members witnessing and will be copying every actions as it is.  That is learning violence at home, and it will travel to school, to sport ground, to  public, to the internet and everywhere like a tsunami.  

• The world is in a crisis meltdown. I totally agreed with Obama and I do not blame him for being so furious with Wall St Barons who are raking in multi-billion dollar bonuses while taxpayers bail out their industry. I would like to see Pacific Islanders Congregation and church leaders that are not incorporated be encouraged to become incorporated to prevent fraud and be accountable for their actions. The abuse of discipline (Duty of Care) is never to be ignored.  We all know very well that in this generation of the 20^th century with the global depression and the people we trusted bring down the earth to a minimum.

• One day you will come back to me and said, how did you predict this will happen?  It is already happened in our Tongan Catholic Community in Australia.  I am talking about millions of people money and later there is no such thing called record keeping meaning the money people donated every Katoanga ofa day was never recorded. So seriously we cannot charge anyone.  Nothing in black and white, like they say a homicide with no body and will be a no case exactly that was what happened to our Tongan Catholic Community of Australia. There was a no Case.  Now the poor qualified Accountant who is called to go and look after the mess should be a Saint..straight to heaven when his time comes.

• We cannot move forward without a human being justice structure & system, willingness, wholeness, soundness,uprightness,honesty, discipline and integrity at all levels.  Not only that imposed from above by various authorities but, importantly, accepted by all. Meaning self-discipline with cooperation with our duty as a community that we must train ourselves as leaders, teachers, counsellors, professionals and parents to perform our duty under extreme conditions, like a front line soldier in the army protecting his country at war.

• That is how us parents self discipline ourselves to give the best and to provide for the need of our children, from our very heart, to give our children a mature approach to respect those who play a vital part on giving support and help education to our children.  Teachers, social workers, counsellors, other professionals and authority.

• Sometimes discipline can end up in abuses, like forcing our wills on our children like prisoners, at home, depriving, not providing for their needs.  As a Tongan I think this will work better on our Pacific Islanders Australian.  These were the way we were brought up and I think it will work and I know that are lots of Pacific Islanders parents follow this models through. Some successful children and people have told me in a lot of cases that they are thankful with their parents for being so hard on them.  That were the reasons of where they are today because of their parents disciplining them these ways.  Why Relax! Discipline with a child friendly approach where there is fair and just to the children and to us parents. Which will work both ways?  Yes and Now!  In these case I will live them to every Pacific Islanders Parents to have their choice.                                                                                                

Sources of Income of Pacific Islanders in Australia

• Most Pacific Islanders in Australia are labors, security workers, Nursing Aids, Registered Nurses, customer services and clerks in banks, office workers, and taxi drivers.  We have very few professional like doctors, teachers, lawyers, counsellors, morticians, musicians, social workers, Directors of Nursing, Directors of Educations and professional leaders except for Registered nurses there are plenty.  It is due to the income that they produce and the hours suited Pacific Islander’s people.  They usually take 2 to 3 shifts, which take them away from home. It is due to commitment for big house, big church, or church commitment.   Few run businesses as well.   Those who are doing so well are those of European, English blood and were brought up that way from their Island home.  Some are the descendant of educated, hard workers, ex business’s family members, some are just developed, and some are due to inter-marriages to Italians, Greeks, Australian, Chinese, Japanese, Lebanese, Vietnamese, English, American and others.   The islanders who married to these communities sometimes do not join in Pacific Islander’s congregations and churches. They attended their local Catholic Church or whatever denomination they belong to. They more concentrate on their families, children and their commitment for themselves.  They more participate in their local community, like sports, schools, churches and local Activities and Western Activities.   They put their children in boarding and private schools and they do discipline their children.  They hardly involve with the Pacific Islander’s community’s Affairs. 

• Some Pacific Islanders took advantages of Catholic schools enrolled their children in Catholic schools, they know the system so well, they do not have to pay much being on the pension.  Pensioners put their children in private schools and cry poor and do not pay school fees, to them it is not a priority.  They rather put their money to their Pacific Islanders Church; donate money to people who come week after week from their Island home.

• Do their Pacific Island church or congregation ask their followers what about their responsibility at home? Will there be enough money left to provide for their children and will not jeopardize their home life putting that much money. No the more they put in will be the more they will be respected, recognize and looked up to.   Some families there are more than 10 children, they are aware that the more children the more welfare money they will receive.

• Why can’t they attend their local church e.g. Catholic Church are in every community.  Get involve with them, enjoy that community, get to know your local school friends in your community, be connected with them.  Give $10 weekly donation to the church, which will cover for the electricity and do volunteer work for the church, mowing the lawn, cleaning the church and more activities on community participation on sports and your local school.

Pacific Islander’s Business Venture:

• Some own Security Businesses, Container depots, property development, shops, imports, and exports.  Some of the security businesses employed a lot of Pacific Islanders people and University Students which are huge support to them. There are major problems, they employed overstayers and unlicensed Pacific Islanders and ended lost their contracts. The food containers supply all the Pacific Islander community in Australia.  Pacific Islanders love their basic food like taro, tapioca, yams, taro leaves, pele and kape much preferred to potatoes and rice. These contribute to diabetics, high blood pressures, overweight, high colestral, heart disease and obese. Sometimes Pacific Islanders buy them on credit and end up as a bad debt.  It contributed to the business to go broke. Every Pacific Islander businesses must have a strategic plan to avoid all these problems. Pacific Islanders love to use people whenever they have the opportunity to do so.  These are normal for Pacific Islanders’ to use other Pacific Islanders when in need and often forgotten to back what they owed and these contributed to businesses gone bust.

Education

• Education is very important to every Pacific Islander family. Later in their life with their commitment, goes in other direction they begin to go that way and will slowly lost interest in providing  for their children is diminish altogether. The children focus seems to follow with their parent’s interest and begin to lose interest in their schoolwork and start to drop out when participated in Congregation activities.  Children just do not have the support from their families especially if they get too involve with their Pacific Islanders commitment, church and congregation activities.  For those are fully supported by parents and their families are the lucky ones. They end up with a promising career in sport, education, businesses or great leaders.

• Since 2006 2008 I have been conducting research in the school, Pacific Islanders communities, Multicultural and General Communities in Participation in all different levels Based identified issues that is affecting Pacific Islanders.

• PISSAM Program offers education, skills-training, grief-counselling, Health and Development Courses amongst other things supplied by our Auspice Body. These great programs are direct participation with the school, children, parents of PI and other diverse community workers and their families living in the area. These brought closeness, connectedness of the whole community to appreciate each other cultures, activities and bring peace and harmony to the school and community environment 
  

The research data I obtained from conducting, participating, talking, interviewing  and delegating with the Community since 2006. I presented on my research the interactive research which will be able to read about what I have found in a short story that tells the tale of the fight to provide service to fill gaps that will take Pacific Islanders and other emerging communities to the next level. The research and interactive, it includes Pictures, Movies and the opportunity to share your and their ideas and thoughts after reading the stories, thus generating some additional research data.

• I would love to invite you to have a look! You will read about the journey of hope, the changes, the cultures, tradition, and some wonderful people working at different levels.

• If you have any questions or wish to share any ideas please feel free to contact:
  

PISSAM program has developed a guide which you may find helpful to understand what our aim is:  annelatu@hotmail.com or 0401 305 877 or P.O. BOX. 344 BELMORE. 2192 NSW 02 197 0060

How has this project reduced or prevented violence or other types of crime in your local AREA.

1.      Title

Refuge Day at St Joachim Catholic Primary School, Lidcombe

A response by Aloise in year 6, which expressed the sentiments of many of the students was “The day made me realise that we shouldn’t take freedom for granted.”

Aims/Objectives - Why, Where? This project aims to showcase the life of young people from refugee backgrounds in St Joachim Catholic Primary School Lidcombe. Through short story telling, dancing, photographs and sharing food reflecting their life in their country and their life in Australia.
Why was this project developed? Give some background on reasons for the project.

Where : At St Joachim Catholic Primary School, Lidcombe.
What group is the focus of the project: School children, teachers, parents, youth, elderly, families, community workers, general community etc). We would like to give children, young people, parents, a choice and an opportunity to talk about their cultural transition, their aspirations and experiences in a new country. The project is sponsored by PISSA program supported by the schools, Canterbury Council and the local Canterbury Clubs.

The Project - How, Who, When? Funding - who provided funds and other resources? Canterbury Council

Stakeholders – St Joachim Catholic Primary School initiated and invite PISSA PROGRAM  to take part on the project. The Pacific Islanders’ children who attended the school, the parents and the PISSAM program Administrator and Co-ordinator work on selecting a traditional Haka for the boys and Hula for the girls. We work on the actual performance and we work on explaining the meaning of their performances. The Administrator talk on her experiences as a leader and teacher back home and in Australia.  She talks about her PI cultures and how it is appreciated, acknowledged and shared with others in Australia. The Co-ordinator talk about her community, growing up in her PI home and how she is so proud calling Australia Home. The parents shares their life in their island home and in Australia. The enormous opportunities we have in Australia.

We open for questions and discussing and it was so successful we all learn from the Refugees’ perspectives and Pacific Islanders’ perspectives and others. At the end of the day. We realise that the Pacific Islanders ways are always bring a lot of excitement and others join in.

Community participation – I visit the school on every Monday. I am very involve with the Children. I believe in being open to the children, funnily it is so much easier when the children choose the topic on what they are interest on. I learn a lot from them. The children feel so empowering when you let them think. With the project I ask them what do you think for you the perform and will outshine who we are. They said the Haka, to show that we are the only people in the world doing that, and the Hula which is Pacific Islanders traditional dance and  ideas. It is very interesting they taught me a lot. They are so happy to see me every-time I visit them. We always set up a topic or task for the next Monday.  I visit their individual classroom as well. PISSA Program involves with most of the local community’s project.

Implementation -what were the steps in carrying out the project?

1. The children decide on what they will perform. Haka for the boys and Hula for the girls.

2. We practice on the decided theme

3. We allocate who will perform,

4. The costume and the Lei.

5. The Introduction

6. We need someone to play the guitar and the parents to support the live Music performed by the children.

Time frame - what was the time frame for the project and the short-term and long-term developments? 

2.  Results/Evaluation (approx. 200 words):
How did you monitor/evaluate the project?

o    What changes/benefits happened for the target group from the project? (short-term and long-term)

o    Did the project achieve its aims/objectives?

o    Were there any unexpected outcomes? What are they?

3. Sustainability (approx. 150 words):

o    How will the project and its benefits continue into the future?

o    Can the project be replicated with other groups and in other areas?

• 4. What did you and other stakeholders learn from the project? Lessons Learn and what to co-ordinate the needs in the future.look at new ideas from the children, parents and teachers targetting strengths and assecessed weaknesses.

·   Informal communication works with children, parents and teachers work wonders. Dialogue is much more likely to be achieved during informal sessions and opportunities than around a formal table or highly structured meeting. Allowing generous amounts of time for refreshments enables multiple conversations to take place.

·   People need to vent. If they are unhappy they need an opportunity to express their feelings. Until they do it is unlikely that they will be able to absorb new information.

·    A series of sessions can help a conversation to unfold. Although it was originally planned to run similar sessions in parallel, the level of interest was such that many people participated in all three sessions. This gave these people an opportunity to work through their feelings, have their concerns heard, and to move forward.

·    Walking with people creates a positive dynamic. The walk of the pipeline helped change the nature or relationships. There is something about moving together that allows to people to relate quite differently. Walking in the same direction builds rapport.

·         Accurate information can help avoid many problems. A shared understanding of the nature of the problem is essential before issues and solutions can be properly explored.

·    Facing angry people may never be enjoyable, however, we underestimate the potential of people spending enough time together to understand the aspirations and fears of all parties, and to work collectively.

 

o   What were the main challenges in implementing the project? How did you meet these challenges or difficulties?

o    Did anything unexpected happen? How did you handle this?

o    What would you do the same/differently if you implement such a project again?

o   Any advice for others implementing a similar project?

5. Contacts/Links/Resources:

Please list any contacts, links or resources that you found particularly useful in carrying out the project and which could be helpful to others,

Encourage both parents and children and their families to enroll in education programs such as Community College run by local community, TAFE, and professional individual service providers like counselors, social workers, doctors, and clinical health people to broadcast on radio and on SBS TV (2 hrs once a week in their own languages where Tongan, Samoan and Fijian with the greater numbers allocating 20 minutes each and other minority Pacific Islanders can share the other hours.)  With my survey with Pacific Islanders programs they are more for social activities like church news, gathering, programs, fundraising, islands songs, business advertising or their news from their island home.  They do not like community awareness programs; they regard it as taking up their program’s space. 

The challenge PI face is a very practical and direct on PI people.

• The national unemployment data is not only alarming and frightening. The global recession is there here and everywhere across every PI household.

• PISSAM concerns how do we make a difference in terms of the impact of that recession on PI across Canterbury and beyond and on our community.

• What we have done locally to PI also needs to be reinforced by what we do beyond Canterbury and for those of PI who have been supported, in the past or the future are focused on children, parents, and all people of PI origin and the whole community. It mean in Canterbury simple question, a small business in the area and it is struggling to pay its staff.

• It is sad that it is hard for this business that have gone bad but still struggling to pay it staff just because the way through the way in which it raises funds offshore, through the international banking system that gone wrong. Corruption and greed operating in undereducated financial markets that bring business people who have made many differences to lives of others.  It is sad that one of our students that goes to a private school and because of the recession his grade has gone down.  I talk with the boy and he said his dad has lost his job. And it affected him.

• Through changes and hard work and the skill in a specialist areas is  the future of PI people to direction and empowering so PI don’t make the same mistakes as they have in the past; and through education, in all levels by drafting programs and drawing a line under the protect PI people from falling in those holes.

• In south western Sydney, billions of dollars to spend on western Sydney, it is to make a difference. It is to make a difference to local business, to make a difference to local jobs, to make a difference to local apprenticeships.

• PISSAM welcome the organising principle for our national stimulus strategy? These investment and the infrastructure which the community needed for tomorrow, and in doing so supporting the jobs and apprenticeships we need for today.

• Great Investment, programs in the school modernisation program, the support programs in the community.  What a tremendous investment that we ever seen, whether it’s our investment in social housing, our investment in energy insulation, whether it is through the roll-out of the national broadband network, supporting the slow learners, disabilities, re-offenders and others.

• Creating, and or supporting, children, education, jobs apprenticeships and training now, today, while building the nation building infrastructure we need for tomorrow. But then again we have to know that it will be working.  Otherwise in 5 years time they will all disappeared.

PISSAM’s programs are the alternative we are looking at here. And therefore PISSAM believe that for the PI issues, it’s  very clear cut choice of which we have to go in the future.

• Which brings hard work direct research, on what we are doing here locally, across Canterbury and beyond. The programs PISSAM have described just in its lists of issues, and the action and direction drafted and some commitment already in place. We needed your approval and to fund these programs so it can stood on solid ground. That’s all good, important and necessary. And were it not for the injection of extra activity in the many issues to PISSAM members through the schools and the professionals who have dealt with PI issues for the last decade. PISSAM Education and Awareness on all community levels strategy, then the pace of activity in our economy now would be programs. The ever PI issues at home, schools, juveniles, homelessness, violence, financial issues and unemployment would be escalating as years to come.

• But our purpose in being promoting the PISSAM programs is to engage with children, parents, and the PI local community of Canterbury and beyond, that our program will and can make a further difference, to the lives of children, parents and PI people.

• PISSAM is designed to meet PI current circumstances and issues that affected with young PI Australians. Simply what we expected our young PI Australian  under the age of 25, to be earning or studying at TAFE, University ready to take on full time job not queuing up for unemployment benefits

• Dealing with young Pacific Islanders Australians is to encourage and make them aware that there’s always a chance of a place if they’re not in work or in school or other ways of support to get there.

• PISSAM to insure and support participation,  organising and developing empowering programs targeting PI young people that life can get better with extra hard work to ensure that they are not falling in those gaps identified and the challenged by what is happening with the current crises and to be positive about getting employment.

• PISSAM in its aims to be able to work on mentoring PI youths to obtain new skills sustain their current skills, strengths and to further develop a whole range of additional skills on top of what they have already got. The sooner, they are there to add to productivity, the betterment they provided themselves a future, to provide for their families and to contribute to the community.

    PISSAM eager to lay down what we do.

• PISSAM are aware of the Minister for Local Government is out there announcing $800 million worth of local projects right across the country, making a difference in every community. And the PISSAM principle again is this: the support given to PI to gain learning, education and to get jobs and preparing them to future opportunity is a great need for every PI who have bad choices in the past.

• The reinforcing that, the Australian Government has also established a Local Jobs Fund with $650 million nationwide. And it is there to reinforce the presence of local priority employment coordinators, funded by the government.  PISSAM program with the specialist PI on board will help alleviate the PI in needs with their relevant cultural and appropriate knowledge will take PI young people to the next level. A little slice this millions will prove wonders for PI who have missed the bus.

• PISSAM WELCOME any fund to tackle thee challenges that come PI ways. PISSAM wanted the opportunity for its working members to work with the 3 level of government, the local community, to make a difference, by accessing these fund, with PISSAM programs that have been drafted that will make a difference in jobs and education, training and its programs which will make a real difference in building PI children, parents and PI community stability in their whole community levels.  We are targeted for the next three to 5 to 10 years.

• PISSAM can only do this by the support of the 3 level of government. That is the community THE 3 LEVELs OF government. Our partnership with other organisations, service providers have been in place for some times and now PISSAM is asking the STATE AND FEDERAL to be our working partner.  WITH YOU WILL BE ON SOLID GROUND. We know now that being partner with the 3 levels of government partnering with PISSAM PRORAM we will welcome and happy to access and to improve communications in all levels with the  local civic leaders, with the 3 levels of Government personally, local pillars of the community and not forgetting other parts of the world and partnering with the government will it make this possible?

• PISSAM working closely with the Deputy Mayor, the Mayor, State, Federal members are the best communication that will connected the community from a homeless person to the members of Parliament. PISSAM from experienced that this type of relationship from the bottom up approach because the best ideas could be had locally. You know your community, you provide service to your community, you know the needs of your community, you know the gaps of your community, you been there and done that in your community, you love your community and you want the best for your community.  That is why we are here fighting for the best of our children, youths, parents of PI and the whole community to have the best, community, to work in your community and making a difference to your community and working in it.

• PISSAM access program operated locally in Catholic Schools which are drafted in our programs are happy and willing support schools, such as Catholic Schools which is already in place and public schools will established as soon as we have the funds for  possible partnerships.

• Extremely release, financial counselling, PISSAM can fill in gaps with PI people from children, parents, in Canterbury and beyond and elsewhere is, PISSAM program are happy to announce that we are lucky that our CEO will run programs that will help PI in terms of pre-vocational training?

• These will support people who are not quite up to a TAFE course or not quite up to going into an apprenticeship for they needed to update learning and mastering their English? PISSAM KALO SIKIMETI with her involment with Education in the South Pacific, NZ, Australia and abroad will run this program.

• PISSAM have flexibly and be applied in this circumstances, both for the under 25s and over 25s as well. PI who come across with problem similar to this can contact PISSAM across Canterbury, and beyond however, the challenge is to make it work and to apply it to people who can make proper use of it in local jobs, local infrastructure, local pre-apprenticeships, local apprenticeships, local training, local pre-training and once they are mastered to carry on to TAFE and to University.

• It is so good that when we look back in a few years time, how did we in 2009 make a difference? How did we take the unemployment rate down in this part of the world, which has already risen, It was 8.6 per cent in March, it has gone up 3.5 per cent, 50 per cent higher than the national average.

• PISSAM targeted take numbers off to make it better for PI young people? How do we bring it down? PISSAM doing this sort of work across Canterbury and beyond, we can have that effect. And by our program with the differences work locally, that PI people will you know that PI services according to their needs, that there’s something enormously empowering about a PI specialists community working together as well, to make a difference to PI and other emerging community. 

Our Recommendation is in regards to our programs in the different levels of the community

Recommendation 1

The Government, through the Ministry of Education, should
ensure that future national human resource development needs are being
met through an allocation of scholarships to meet the forecast needs of 
Pacific Islanders’ students who will be entering University to be teachers (in both the Government service and the private sector), as demonstrated in the training needs analysis.

Recommendation 2

The Government through the Ministry of Education should ensure
that education of PI is supported as a lifelong process, and that systems allow for
second chance for special needs and slow learners and continuing education and training, by establishing a national strategy for lifelong learning, including:
• programmes for the promotion of good health, physical fitness and
sports, community social and Development, inclusion, participation in partnership with PISSAM program and its specialist working partners.
• daily, weekly, monthly and annual programs for children, youths, parents support, opportunities for re-entry to formal schooling by adults and early leavers, support for non-formal educational opportunities, and an adult literacy program; and
• supporting the return to formal learning through the Catholic University preliminary and foundation courses and with other education providers.

Recommendation 3

The Government through the Ministry of Education should
ensure that education is supported as a lifelong process by:
• exploring opportunities to develop life and work skill modules that can
be undertaken in homes and using radio and distance learning
methods, combined with local mentoring support; and
• actively supporting, promoting and expanding existing short-term
training, and providing community and continuing education
opportunities, including attachments and short courses outside Australia extended as  volunteers for Student teachers to go to their Island homes to gain knowledge of grassroots values, understanding of teaching and learning and vice versa with teachers coming from the Island home on a scholarship form for 2 years funded by Aussie Aid.

Reform of Education Administration

Recommendation 4

The Ministry of Education should develop a national Strategic Plan for
Education (based on the document accompanying this Report)
which:
• bears a clear relationship to the National Strategic Development Plan
and the current Government reform exercise;
• sets out goals and objectives for education in schools where they identifies slow learners as Pacific Islanders.
• aims to increase effectiveness and efficiency to support those PI identified and can work with PISSAM after hours in the PISSAM homework support program
• plans for progressive improvements to the education system over the minimum term:
medium term; high need term.
• allows the Ministry of Education to undertake responsibility for policy
oversight of the whole education system through the development of
national guidelines and the Pacific Islanders’ expert on Education to be part of that program.
• fosters improved networks and partnerships between the Government
and Non-Government sectors; with the School, children and parents of Pacific Islanders’ representatives like the PISSAM

• considers where devolution of more responsibility to schools and their
communities would be in the national interest, and how any appropriate
changes might be managed progressively over time;
• reviews the current national network of schooling provision; and
• moves progressively to reform the national distribution of funds for
education where such reform is in the national interest. Pacific Islanders Bodies who runs programs must be those in their Capacity as qualified professional’s specialists and are members of a professional body. Other supporters like University Students will be supervised by them.  The past, current professionals working with the future professional which is our University Students is a priority not to take lightly by the government to carry on the ongoing work are welcome by PISSAM.

Recommendation 5

The Ministry of Education should consider restructuring the administration
and management of the Ministry in order to strengthen its policy
development role, its administrative structure, and its capacity to deliver
education more effectively. PISSAM is happy to contribute in putting forward issues facing the PI students which are real and it will help PI students to a whole new level

Recommendation 6

The Ministry of Education should develop a National Strategic Plan for
school property development and investment as part of the overall Strategic
Plan for Education in school where they identifies slow learners and extreme hardship in the families where students are not progressing due to the consequences they face at home.

Recommendation 7

The Government through the Ministry of Education should review
the Education Act., and amend it if necessary, in order to take into
account any changes adopted by Government that arise from issues the
Education Sector Study and the development of the Strategic Plan for
Education when it comes that the Act no longer viable and relevant  and to make sense according to the needs of the students.

Recommendation 8

Education Assistance Program

Recommendation 9

The Government Development, in consultation
with the other external funding bodies, should consider making a commitment to a
co-ordinated program of support (an Education Assistance Program)
over the next five years in order to support the directions finally adopted by
the Government with the PISSAM Proposal and its Strategic Plan for Education to assure that the program will take to the highest level; Example Insurance

Recommendation: Investigation to community radio programs. Are they running the programs to benefit the community or they are running it to benefit themselves.  There were problems with Bankstown Community Radio. What happen the local Bankstown communities were not happy with too many Pacific Islanders’ overcrowded programs and overpowering the radio station and their purpose for their community was no longer a priority?  The local communities were concerned and it end up off from airing. The communities voice their concern over mismanagement and other agendas. We definitely needed a radio station so we can communicate with students and parents on general issues that are identified as gaps on education, health, community awareness, legal support and others.  Pacific Islanders love listening to the radio, it is like a form of a must to all Pacific Islanders to listen to radio programmes especially if they are learning and education tools. Preference on ABC for geographical and demographic reason so every Pacific Islanders in all states will tune in.

Health

• Healthy living is encourage at home, at school in the community with the services that initiated and run by the local council, state, and Federal bodies which is known by families and communities. They are all accessible and there are few Pacific Islanders’ doctor’s surgery, one in Belmore, Lidcombe and Mt Druitt Area.  There is a Pacific Islander Service provider clinical Social worker, Counsellor and grief Counsellor at Kogarah and in the city as well.  There are many registered nurses working for public, private hospitals and Nursing homes. There is a Pacific Islander Director of Nursing in Strathfield who can help in any situation regarding these services

Community Hall:

• In most of the Churches and congregation, Pacific Islander can use those halls but it depends on their arrangement, most of them are paid if the community wishes to use them. Pacific Islanders needed halls for many activities, birthdays, funerals wake, social function and many others.  We are in desperate for a community hall where we can use it, which will be close to the station, so parents and children can have easy excess and also close to the library.  The senior citizen in Belmore is an ideal place for our Pacific Islanders Community.  We are happy that Canterbury council has given us one day a week from 6 till nine so the children, parents and will be supported by pacific Islanders teachers, counselors, social workers and students to help with any problems homework, parenting, counseling will be there to support and questions about counseling, health issues and education.

Pacific Islanders’ Development Projects

• Some several projects planned for the future has been going on since 2005 successfully and completed, were achieved with our own effort and little help from the government but with the support or of professional partners, Service providers, like solicitors, social workers, counselors, doctors and the legal aid systems for the disadvantages.  With the support and the 2 venues that provided by Canterbury Council. Our Co-coordinator’s involvement with the General Communities and our partnerships with our working partners gave us results. In Canterbury, at Belmore we got a Pacific Islander doctor, a service provider for counseling, and clinical support and homework service that run by a former director of schools and a teacher in the Pacific Islands, new Zealand and Australia, supported by 2 teachers who were teachers in Tonga and Australia and a Counselor who was a teacher in Tonga and had extensive experiences in community services, grief counseling, mortician, interpreter. Also 5 University students of Pacific Islander’s background. a Director of Nursing that look after health issues and age care for our elderly.

Building a stronger Pacific Islander’s community

• A community that enjoyed space, freedom and not overcrowded. PI need have access to housing, it sad that housing is not available in emergency situation. Sometimes it sad to see children, who shared with so many families in a small dwelling that interfere with their studies where many children and youths were reduced to tears when they cannot cope with such situations.

•  A lot of the children are disadvantage for not having access to housing, many are concern that they needed a place to go to when things are going bad at home, a place where they can do their homework, a place that it is their own, children sleeping in garages, when there are too many people living in a at home. A place where they can have privacy and focus on their school work There is a need for housing to be available to pacific Islanders in emergency situations in Campsie. These are a need for a 24 hrs place in the Canterbury area for that emergency with children and youths.  They are many desperate situation raised by youths, and counsellors who understand them, work alongside them at school but needed urgent attention. Supporting them in difficult situation that may save their lives. Lack of hope, Some youths want time out. There is a need for Computers and free internet access in Campsie for youths and parents that may be made available through a partnership between Housing NSW and PISSAM the auspice body Riverwood community centre.

Recommendation: There is a need for this type of free services with the Pacific Islanders in the across Canterbury (Campsie) Granville (Auburn, Parramatta) we are concern with this issues and barriers facing our Pacific Islander’s future and well-being.  Not being able to have access to a computer at home. There is a great need to have access to internet for children and parents’ assignments, banking, email, research, resumes, driving licenses, word processing and photocopies.  A dream comes true for those who desperately needed them.  We are willing to help Auburn and Parramatta; they are in our list with the school that we are working closely with.  I am sure that the Mayor of Auburn will fully support this. We needed to collaborate this with our Canterbury Harmony group inc which is auspice by Riverwood Community Centre.

24hrs Parenting help line for Pacific Islanders: Experiencing the problems facing the Pacific Islanders community there is a need to have a line for emergency support. We need 2 hour program on ABC TV. 

 LANGUAGES

• There are twenty Island Countries in the South Pacific, Samoan, Tongan, Fijian, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Palau, Solomon Islands, United States of Micronesia, Tuvalu, Tooele, Kiribati, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Marshall Islands, Pitcairn Islands, Cook Islands, Tahiti, Wallis/Futuna and American Samoa.  Most of the Islands spoke English fluently as a second language.  We also considered Hawaiian and New Zealand Maoris are Polynesian Pacific Islanders.

• Most people with a Polynesian, Melanesian or Micronesian background understand these Islanders, although many of them are unable to converse in it properly.  However, nearly all of the Pacific Islanders in Sydney that were born in their island of origin, know and Speak English.

The church

The majority of Pacific Islanders are of the Christian Faith mainly Catholic, Methodist and Uniting, Mormon, Seven Days of Adventist and Church of England.  Normally the Catholic follower will use their local Catholic Church using the Parish Priest, and the Service will be conducted in English. (see attached….The service can also be in Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, so are the other Islanders, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Parlay, Solomon Islands, United States of Micronesia, Tuvalu Tooele, Kiribati, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Marshall Islands, Pitcairn by the family.  All other faith will be the same according to their denomination they belong to.

• The majority of Pacific Islanders are of the Christian Faith mainly Catholic, The Pacific Islanders’ Catholics are lucky they can use any Catholic church locally, Methodist have their own church otherwise they can join or participate in their local Uniting church. The Methodist ministers do not have to be qualified to become a minister, where Pacific Islanders who wish to be ministers of the Uniting Church must be qualified, Mormon, Seven Days of Adventist and Church of England, attended their local church. Pacific Islanders’ Catholic followers would have Mass at their local Catholic Church using their local Parish Priest and once a month they would attended Mass served by their own Pacific Islanders who based in one of the parishes.  The Service will be conducted in English (see attached….It can also be in Tongan, Samoan, Fijian, so are the other Islanders, Papua New Guinea, Nauru, Parlay, Solomon Islands, United States of Micronesia, Tuvalu Tooele, Kiribati, Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Marshall Islands, Pitcairn in their language and the service will be according to their denomination they belong to.

• Each Pacific Islander have their own church levies, which are collected regularly, quarterly and annually. In the eyes of the Pacific Islanders’ churches, they put it this way.  The Monthly levy is collected to pay the Circuit Minister.  The quarterly levy is collected to pay the Church Elders’ and the weekly or Sunday collection (loose plate) helps pay petrol and the light. The church building and maintenance are the responsibility of the church members. Some Pacific Islanders followers want their own church and will lobby for big money to build a big church, just like the way they do it in Tonga for instance.  In one Tongan Church in Glendenning they put in $1200000, 00 cash to build this big church?  How did they do it? 
  

• What about life at home as a parent, how can we provide our duty of care to our children?  Do you think that is why we have problems with our children?  In some cases people commit suicide because they are ashamed to face the church levies day for not putting in a lot of money as seen by the Pacific Islanders’ as a failure and will belittle their family members.  After suicide, the pain that is left for the family to deal with is much far worst. It will disrupt each member of the family at home, at school, and in the community and the Pacific Islander communities. Can we learn from the experience?  Yes as soon as it happens, we grieve and a few days later the pain is gone, it will be forgotten and life will carry on as if it never happens. We are back at the Cross Road with the same issues.

Copyright Statement

The owner of this website and publication is PISSAM NETWORK, which is under the umbrella of Canterbury Harmony group Inc. auspice by Riverwood Community Centre and its working partner.  Content may not be reproduced in any format or changed, sold or used to promote or endorse any product or service, inappropriate or misleading context.. Acknowledgment to the PISSAM NETWORK & Its auspice body Riverwood Community Centre

 

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