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Te Pou is New Zealand's National Centre of Mental Health Research, Information and Workforce Development. We have offices in Auckland, Hamilton, Wellington and Christchurch. This website is aimed at anyone interested in mental health, but especially those who work in the mental health sector in New Zealand. Read more about Te Pou.   What's new...

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• Le Tautua: emerging leaders programme
  Congratulations to the 21 participants in this year's Le Tautua : emerging leaders programme, who successfully completed the course in May, in particular the two $3000 scholarship winners, Uieta Kaufusi and Norman Mene, judged most outstanding in the programme.
  
  A prize was also awarded for the best address from one of the five group presentations. The winning group called themselves “Return to Paradise” and comprised Shana Malio (Le Va), Tavita Asiata (Penina Health Trust), Jeff Cummings (Tupu Services), and Helen Schmidt (CADS South Auckland).
  
  A bonus for participants this year was to join members of the 2008 cohort on the Evolving Leaders Alumni workshop, which culminated in the certificate presentation and celebration dinner. The group and individual scholarship awards were presented by Dr Manuka Henare and Vui Mark Gosche.
  
  Three high-achieving and influential Pacific leaders shared their insights and thoughts to the combined Le Tautua classes of 2008 and 2009, Lita Foliaki (Planning and Funding Manager, Waitemata DHB), Debbie Sorensen (Director, Health Specialists Ltd); and Dr Colin Tukuitonga (CEO, Ministry of Pacific Island Affairs). Click here for more information.
  
  
  
• Pasifikology - Pacific psychologists in New Zealand
  Pasifikology is a new initiative aiming to grow the capacity and capability of Pacific psychologists in New Zealand. Le Va has partnered with a core network of Pasifika psychologists to build and nurture Pasifikology to support, promote, inform, educate and mentor the practice of psychology for Pasifika.
  
  This initiative is starting to meet the need for a highly qualified clinical frontline, which will ultimately lead to better outcomes for Pacific people accessing services. Pasifikology is supported by the Pacific Provider Development Fund
  from the Ministry of Health. If you’re a Pacific person studying psychology, join us now!
  
  
  
• Le Va scholarships – career pathways video
  Le Va Scholarships have launched a new careers video clip, promoting mental health careers to younger generations. The video, presented by Teuila Blakely, fuses snippets of selected careers in the mental health sector in an upbeat and engaging way.
  
  In addition, mini career videos are also available on the Le Va scholarship pages. These provide snapshots of career highlights of some Pacific Island superstars currently working in the mental health sector. Careers include psychiatrist, alcohol and drug clinician, team leader, manager, clinical psychologist, cultural assessor and mental health nurse. If you ever wanted to know more about these careers, now's your chance!
  
  
  
• Fakatu’amelie Innovation Fund – inaugural National Pacific Consumers and Families Conference video
  Le Va is proud to release the video of highlights from the inaugural Pacific National Consumers and Families Recovery Conference 2009. The conference, organised by the Waitemata DHB and Takanga a Fohe services was primarily funded through Le Va.
  
  The video also includes full coverage of the drama ‘Tau fuata Niue’ by the talented staff of Tupu Services and is available in DVD format (in limited numbers). For all enquiries please contact Manase Lua.
  
  
  
• Real Skills Plus Seitapu cultural competency framework
  Real Skills Plus Seitapu (PDF, 614KB) outlines a cultural competency framework for people that work with Pacific service users and their families can aspire to. It sits alongside the Let’s get real framework, which describes the essential knowledge, skills and attitudes required to deliver effective mental health and addiction services in New Zealand.
  
  Launched at the inaugural Pacific Consumer & Family Conference in May, Real Skills Plus Seitapu has been developed to support the entire mental health and addiction workforce and a workbook is currently being developed together with Let's get real resources. Click here for more information.
  
  
  
• 'Tha Hook' reaching out to Pacific youth
  ‘Tha Hook’ continues to have a wide reach into the target youth demographic. The campaign celebrities are a key component in attracting young people to our Bebo site. We are currently looking to enhance our presence on the internet with the addition of a similar campaign on the popular Facebook social networking site. Le Va would like to thank those celebrities who have volunteered their time to attract more young people to work in mental health and addictions, for their generosity and community spirit.
  
  The Le Va team would like to acknowledge Hone Fowler who is sadly leaving us to pursue a possible football career and contract in the UK. His knowledge and expertise has ensured that we communicate effectively with young people, particularly in relation to ‘Tha Hook’.
  
  
  
• Kato Fetu: Setting a Pacific Mental Health and Addiction Research Agenda
  Le Va is pleased to present Kato Fetu: Setting a Pacific Mental Health and Addiction Research Agenda. This document is Le Va’s response to Te Kōkiri (PDF, 942KB) and the current dearth of Pacific mental health and addiction research. Le Va would like to acknowledge and thank Karlo Mila-Schaaf and Dr Bruce Scoggins for their work and contributions to Kato Fetu.
  
  Kato Fetu presents a significant step toward a more strategic and systematic approach to building a comprehensive and relevant Pacific body of knowledge. Kato (meaning bag or basket) and Fetu (meaning stars) translate conceptually to a basket or container or stars. The vision of Kato Fetu is: "A constellation of new knowledge to illuminate and help navigate the way forward for the Pacific mental health and addiction sector".
  
  Kato Fetu is very much future-focused and looks to improve information and evidence in the Pacific mental health and addiction area. This is vital for policy development and to ensure effective planning and funding of services. The research should also be translated into practical applications for those people working on the ground. This document is available for download (PDF, 382KB) and hard copies are available on request.

Page last updated: 25 June 2009