Vaka Tautua Lands Disability Pilot Programme

Vaka Tautua Innovation Project Lead, Jacinta Tevaga, and Innovation Manager, Bernice Mene.

Vaka Tautua is to pilot the Ministry for Pacific Peoples’ Tupu Aotearoa programme with young Pacific disabled peoples and their carers. The two-year Auckland pilot, which starts on 5 April, will be the first “for Pacific disability by Pacific disability” programme of its kind.

Tupu Aotearoa is a national programme that provides employment and tertiary education opportunities and pathways for Pacific youth across Aotearoa. Established in 2010 by the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, Tupu Aotearoa (previously called Pacific Employment Support Service), has expanded over the past six months to increase its regional and national reach. Vaka Tautua’s programme is a further extension, and the first for Pacific disabled young people and their carers.

Vaka Tautua Innovation Manager, Bernice Mene, who is leading the pilot, commends the Ministry for its foresight. Also, its commitment to ensuring the programme is a “success” for Pacific disabled youth and their carers.

“Like Vaka Tautua, the Ministry is committed to achieving positive outcomes for our young Pacific disabled peoples and their carers,” says Ms. Mene.

“… the Ministry’s successful programme has been adapted for our Pacific disabled peoples by situating it within their realities and the Enabling Good Lives (disability) framework to ensure the programme components and targets are relevant… and the outcomes are achievable.”  

The programme adaptations include a “readiness” preparatory stage to ensure participants have the base knowledge, skills and capabilities before they enter into the formal training or employment stages. Ongoing mentoring support is provided; and additional support, equipment and tools to any address access issues.

 Vaka Tautua Chief Executive Officer, Dr Amanda-Lanuola Dunlop, says both organisations recognise there may be challenges, but are excited about the potential outcomes and learnings to come from the pilot.

“… some participants will obtain higher qualifications or employment and their lives will be changed forever… We will also obtain invaluable learnings to feed back into the programme to ensure it is even more successful in future… what a wonderful space to be in,” says Dr. Dunlop

The pilot is the latest of Vaka Tautua’s disability service offerings. Its other disability services are the national Pacific disability information advisory services, the Tōfā Mamao disability social networking project, and the Pacific disability model of support design work as part of the Tangaroa Disability Collective.

Vaka Tautua is a national Pacific health and social services provider with a strong regional presence in the greater Auckland, Wellington and Canterbury regions. It delivers disability, mental health, older peoples, social services, and financial capability services.

For all enquiries, please email: comms@vakatautua.co.nz