10 May 2016

Pasifika Practice Now On The Frontline Of Probation And Prisons

All new frontline Corrections staff now undergo training in effective engagement with Pasifika people as part of the Frontline Futures training delivered by the Department.

Central Region - Regional Adviser Pacific, Sosefo Bourke, helped create the training.

“If we are trying to help Pasifika people turn their lives around, we need to connect in a way that enables them to share and tell their story,” he says.

“Around 12% of the prisoner population and 10% of offenders in the community identify as Polynesian. When we approach our interactions with those people with a non-Pacific worldview, it can cause barriers, sometimes even tension and conflict.”

“This is why the concept of ‘talanoa’ is vital – creating a connection through conversation, story telling and sharing.

The Fauina O Le Fale Engagement model was developed in 2012 as part of the Department’s approach to working effectively with Pasifika offenders, their families and communities.

Fauina o le Fale is based on traditional Pacific cultural concepts such as Tofa Mamao (wisdom of family and communities), Va Fealoaloa’i (connections and relationships), Maopoopo (unity), Fa’aaloalo (respect) and Alofa (empathy and caring).

The model is a metaphor for the building of a traditional Pacific Island fale which integrates cultural values and principles into how each stage can be applied and used as an effective approach to everyday practice when working with Pasifika offenders, prisoners, their families and communities.

“The other element of the model that is vital to the success of this offender-centric approach is seeking aiga (family) and community involvement wherever possible to support their journey,” says Sosefo.

“Working with Pasifika offenders this way enables us to build mutually beneficial relationships and engage meaningfully. Using the model we can identify offender motivation levels and willingness to work through the issues that may have been related to offending. From there we can bring the family or community support on-board which provides a holistic approach to rehabilitation.”

The training also covers the migration theory of the Pacific, including the migration of Polynesian people to New Zealand,

“The idea is that if we give staff the chance to understand and discuss the social, political and economic landscape of the people they are working with, including the challenges that they face, they are already well on their way to creating the space for effective talanoa.”

Research indicates that strong cultural identity and support from cultural communities is a protective factor which reduces the likelihood of re-offending.

The Department of Corrections also has a Pacific Focus Unit (Vaka Fa'aola) at Spring Hill Corrections Facility which runs the Saili Matagi rehabilitation programme.

Saili Matagi is a group-based programme delivered in the Pacific focus unit for male prisoners of Pasifika descent who are serving a sentence for violent offences. It teaches a range of skills so that participants can change attitudes and behaviours and so reduce the likelihood of them re-offending. It involves family and community groups in the participants’ rehabilitation and reintegration.

ENDS

© Scoop Media