Australian Pasifika Educators Network

Congratulations to Dr Daniel Enosi Tuipulotu! The Australian Pasifika Educators Network proudly celebrates your remarkable achievement as a recipient of the prestigious University of Technology Sydney Chancellor’s Research Fellowship (CRF) for 2025. Your dedication to advancing scientific research and addressing global challenges is truly inspiring. Malo ‘Aupito Dr. 💫🧬🔬 Pacific Excellence! We love to see it 🌺 https://lnkd.in/gNi-MryS UTS Research Excellence and Support (RES) Hub Chris Turney

🌿What a night of connection and empowerment at the APEN Sydney Networking Event: Shifting the Narrative! 👣 We were thrilled to host a dynamic panel featuring Caroline (Thelma) Vuki, Deputy Principal at Rooty Hill High School and Pani Patu, APEN Deputy Chair and Operations Manager at the Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, University of Sydney. Their insights on challenging deficit narratives in education brought incredible depth and inspiration to our talanoa. #ShiftingTheNarrative #PacificPride #APENetwork #PasifikaEducators Together, we’re rewriting the story! From powerful talanoa to heartfelt reflections on our successes and future goals, the APEN community is paving the way for impactful change in education. Grateful for everyone who showed up with energy and purpose. Let’s keep challenging, celebrating, and pushing forward! 💪🌊 #AmplifyAdvocateCelebrate #PacificEducation #APEN #pasifikaresilience

We love the new blog series from the Development Policy Centre. It looks closer at demographic trends of Pacific communities in Australia using 2021 Census data. 📊 Key takeaway for this first blog is that Pacific communities are generally younger than Western diasporas but have distinct migration and residency patterns. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/g6U5EkiH

We're on Day 3 at CHOGM 🌿 Forums are complete, but there still remain lots of activities and sessions to attend in Samoa 🇼🇸 We attended a couple of Side Events focused on education resilience and sustainable development in the Pacific. A pivotal side event on 'Scientific Academies & Knowledge Sharing for Sustainable Development in the Commonwealth' featured the official launch of the Pacific Academy of Sciences. The Academy aims to drive scientific excellence and collaboration across the Pacific region and will play a crucial role in addressing global challenges through evidence-based research and actionable knowledge. It will also have a strong focus on supporting emerging Pacific researchers and fostering regional partnerships. 👏 Huge congratulations to the Foundation Fellows who were also acknowledged today. 🏆 Our team then visited the Ministry of Justice & Courts Administration Building to attend the ‘Empowering Resilience: Celebrating the Role of Open, Distance, and Flexible Learning in Samoa and the Pacific’ session which was organised by the Commonwealth of Learning (COL) and the National University of Samoa (NUS). This event underscored the importance of technology-driven education in building resilience. Key discussions included the presentation of the 2024 GEM Report on Pacific education technology. The session highlighted strategies for strengthening resilience through open, distance, and flexible learning, focusing on practical outcomes and successful collaborations between COL and Samoa. Many of today's events have had excellent alignment with APEN’s mission to enhance educational opportunities for Pasifika educators and students, and our commitment to fostering a sustainable, resilient, and innovative future across the Pacific ⭐ #APEN #CHOGM2024 #PacificScience #EducationResilience #PasifikaEmpowerment #GenderEquality #SustainableDevelopment

🌺 DAY TWO at CHOGM.... Women at the Heart of Change – Leading Resilience and Innovation 🌺 Today’s talanoa at the Women’s Forum highlighted critical issues affecting women, youth, and marginalised communities across the Pacific and Commonwealth. We've summarised some of our takeaways... ⭐ Panel 1: Leaving No One Behind ⭐ Speakers Su’a Hellen Wallwork (Attorney-General, Samoa), Hon. Mmapaseka Steve Letsike (MP, South Africa), Heike Alefsen (UNOHCHR), Sruti Mohapatra (Commonwealth Disabled People’s Forum, India), and Joleen Mataele (Tonga Leitis Association) discussed how gender inequality intersects with disabilities and gender identity. They emphasised the need to dismantle cultural and bureaucratic barriers and ensure financial independence for vulnerable women. ⭐ Panel 2: Addressing Challenges for Marginalised Women and Girls ⭐ Led by Lord Collins of Highbury (UK), Dame Carol Black (Commonwealth Special Envoy), Providence Umurungi (Rwanda), Sovaia Sisi Coalala (Pacific Disability Forum), and Angela Hassan-Sharp (New Zealand), the panel explored education, healthcare, and financial disparities faced by women. They called for better government intervention and data collection to inform policy-making and support marginalised groups. ⭐ Panel 3: Digital Inclusion – Opportunities and Dangers ⭐ Featuring Hon. Toelupe Poumulinuku Onesemo (Minister of ICT, Samoa), Bernadette Lewis (Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation), Seluvaia Kauvaka (Tonga Women in ICT), Jennifer Britton (CARICOM Secretariat), Dibya Singh (UNDP), and Rury Demsey (International Telecommunications Union), the panel examined the potential of digital technology to empower women. They also addressed risks like cyberbullying and called for inclusive digital ecosystems and expanded STEM education. 🔐 Closing Panel: Women at the Heart of Change In the closing session, Hon Fiame Naomi Mata’afa MP (Prime Minister of Samoa) and Hon Feleti Penitala Teo OBE (Prime Minister of Tuvalu) stressed the importance of gender equality, climate justice, and inclusive leadership. They urged greater youth engagement and male leadership in advancing gender equality and climate resilience. 🚀 With the CHOGM Forums now concluded, we proudly reaffirm our commitment to empowering women, youth, and marginalised communities. We'll continue our efforts to create meaningful opportunities and initiatives ensuring that Pacific communities in Australia have the support and resources they need to thrive. Tofa Amanda Moors-Mailei, Bronwyn Williams, Dr Vaoiva Natapu-Ponton (Iva) #WomenLeadership #GenderEquality #ClimateJustice #DigitalInclusion #PacificWomen #APEN #Resilience #SustainableDevelopment

🇼🇸Talofa lava from Samoa 🇼🇸 Day 1 at CHOGM - Women’s Forum. The talanoa has so far been powerful affirmations of the strength and courageous leadership within our communities. The Australian Pasifika Educators Network (APEN) team (Tofa Amanda Moors-Mailei Bronwyn Williams Dr Vaoiva Natapu-Ponton (Iva) has kicked off at the Commonwealth Women’s Forum 2024, held at the stunning TATTE Convention Centre in Apia, Samoa. The theme of the forum is Collective Action for a Resilient Commonwealth: Solidarity for Gender Equality. At the Opening Plenary we’ve heard from inspiring leaders, including: ⭐️The Rt Hon Patricia Scotland KC, Commonwealth Secretary-General ⭐️Hon Mulipola Anarosa Ale-Molio’o MP, Minister for Women, Community and Social Development, Samoa ⭐️Hon Myles LaRoda MP, Minister for Social Services, Information and Broadcasting, The Bahamas It was great to see the launch of the ‘Samoa Gender and environment Survey Report’ the first of its kind - the survey explores the multidimensional relationship of women and men with the environment. The profound story shared by Le Afioga Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale - “Echoes of the Wave: Resilience Unveiled” was a powerful reminder of the importance of women’s empowerment in building resilience. The Women in Leadership session heard the voices of incredible female leaders from across the Commonwealth speak on their experiences, aspirations, learning and unlearning, movements and mobilisation of women in society! Key themes of personal sacrifice and empowerment of next leaders were highlighted! 🫶🏽 ⭐️Hon Lenora Qereqeretabua MP, Deputy Speaker of Parliament and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs, Fiji ⭐️Ambassador Amina Mohamed, Former Cabinet Secretary for Foreign Affairs, Kenya, and Commonwealth Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Sport, Enterprise, and Development ⭐️Emeline ‘Uheina ‘I Luvuluvu Katoa Tuita, Chief Executive Officer, Tonga Development Bank, Tonga ⭐️Jotika Sharma, Executive Director Programmes and Chair, International Trade Union Congress (ITUC) Women’s Committee, Fiji ⭐️Mossarat Qadeem, Women Mediators Across the Commonwealth, Pakistan ⭐️L. Nana Oye Hesse-Bayne, President, Caribbean Women in Leadership (CIWiL), Trinidad & Tobago We’re only part-way of day 1 and our cups are filling really quickly 🥹❤️ #CHOGM2024 #WomensForum #PasifikaEducation #PacificWomenLeadership #APENatCHOGM #GenderEquality #Resilience #PasifikaVoices

Congratulations to our Founders Bronwyn Williams and Tofa Amanda Moors-Mailei who were awarded the Pride of Workmanship Award from the Rotary Club of Fairfield City for their love and commitment to education and community!🏆👏🏽💫

We want to see an education system that moves beyond generalised approaches to taking focused action. 🎯 APEN is advocating for Pasifika students to be recognised as a 'priority group,' with a focus on improving data collection in schools and providing professional learning opportunities that incorporate culturally responsive practices. This includes Pacific teaching/learning methodologies and frameworks that we know can benefit all learners. Our recent talanoa with the NSW Department of Education’s Multicultural Education Team brought forward critical questions on how we can make this shift together. 🔗 A big vinaka vaka levu to Louise Warren, Noah Jiyane, and Adrian Robinson for an insightful discussion. Looking forward to future collaborations and shared progress! 🪴 Go team! Pani Patu, Bronwyn Williams & Tofa Amanda Moors-Mailei

⭐️We absolutely love to see executive Pacific women in Australia on panels speaking truth to power! 🚀

It was such a privilege to hear stories and advice from a panel of three remarkable women, at the Global Talent in Focus event for Professional Migrant Women (PMW) on Thursday night.💜 🦸🏽♀️ Bronwyn Williams, Senior Project Officer at Western Sydney University, Founder & Co-Chair of the Australian Pasifika Educators Network, Executive Member of EPHEA - Equity Practitioners in Higher Education, and my cooler, wiser, smarter sister! (funniest is already taken 👀). It is always inspiring to hear about her work in widening participation in higher education, particularly for students from refugee and migrant backgrounds. When asked about how she overcame challenges as a new migrant to Australia, she recalled thinking "as a parent you have no business giving up, especially when your kid is looking up to you". I thought this was a solid reminder of how important visible role models are in society, coz you can't BE it if you can't SEE it... and you never know who might be watching! 🦸🏽♀️ Koon, Executive Coach kindly shared a tonne of practical tips and insights, like how to find and play to your strengths, the importance of sponsors vs mentors, social capital, and aligning your career to your pursuit of happiness. Then to top it all off, she taught us a magic trick for turning executives into teddies using the BEST framework 🧸 🦸🏽♀️ Stephanie Zuniga-Maher, DEI Partner at Canva. Every organisation needs a Stephanie; a passionate champion for DE&I who walks the talk, leads by example, and isn't afraid to address the cupcake in the room (you know...the one that appears on International Women's Day in the staffroom & on the social media page of a company with family UN-friendly policies!). I noted down every drop of inspiration and tip she shared, yapped about how great she was multiple times on the way home, then felt like I was doing some kind of positive affirmation exercise as I read through those notes again before work today 😂 Special thanks to Fabiola Campbell 🇻🇪Until the End 🇻🇪, Diana Santibanez & Veronika Imrichová for a great event, and to Sabrina Spashett for sponsoring my ticket 🥰