Prosperous Pacific Communities

The $7 million fund, which was allocated in Budget 2023, supports Pacific communities and is open to providers who can design and deliver their own employment and training programmes for their communities. 

This could be a mix of established organisations wanting to expand an existing programme or start a new one, and new organisations needing funding to get started. 

The funding will: 

• support community-led employment and training to assist Pacific workers get skilled jobs in high growth and sustainable sectors. 
• continue progress towards the implementation of the Pacific Employment Action Plan by diversifying the Pacific workforce and addressing systemic barriers to employment 
• advance the goals and objectives of the Pacific Prosperity and wider All of government Pacific Wellbeing strategy through economic empowerment and sustainable livelihoods for Pacific communities. 

For more information and how to apply click here

Pasefika Proud Principles

The following principles support and guide our work:

Education / Skills focused – supporting knowledge and skills acquisition that builds confidence and capability within Pacific families, communities and services.

Community-led – supporting communities to identify their own needs, and design and lead their own solutions. Community leadership happens at all levels – including in homes, churches and sport and cultural settings. Pasefika Proud taps into and nurtures those community leaders, influencers and role models who are able to inspire and support positive change.

Strengths based – drawing on Pacific cultural values to strengthen communities, build resilience and keep Pacific peoples safe. Focusing on assets and dispelling the myth that family violence is part of our various Pacific cultures. This helps to open doors that would otherwise be closed to conversations about family violence.

‘Ethnic-specific for Pacific’ – working intentionally in an ethnic-specific way to support the development of community-owned, culturally appropriate solutions. Experience and evidence to date suggest that a ‘one size fits all’ approach is not as effective as one that derives from unique cultural frameworks and strengths.

Diversity / Inclusion – recognising that Pacific peoples in New Zealand are incredibly diverse in terms of culture, ethnicity, migration experience, age, gender, location and many other factors. Acknowledging and understanding our diversity helps us to be more inclusive.

Evidence based – building expertise and an evidence base on what supports positive change / transformation that prevents violence within Pacific families and communities.

Sustainability – acknowledging the complexities and intergenerational impacts of family violence, and focusing on realistic solutions that help to embed and sustain social change at the community level.