Improving public health access in Fiji
Empower Pacific is a Fijian NGO which seeks to enhance the full potential of communities. They work in partnership with the Fijian government and other community agencies to ensure a holistic model of professional health service.
Empower Pacific offers a variety of programs aimed at enhancing the health and well being of our clients as well as facilitating opportunities for learning, income generation and personal growth.
PACE activities
Activities focus on Empower Pacific's counselling services and analysing the progress and impact of their community awareness programs. Previous activities have provided PACE students with experience in social research, health promotion/policy, statistical analysis, working with young people, and monitoring and evaluation
Psychology
Students conducted research on community awareness sessions in Fiji for violence against women, sexual and gender-based violence and child abuse campaigns. Through their work, students provided Empower with evidence to further develop and improve their community awareness outreach.
Students conducted research, analysis and survey design for youth suicide and suicide prevention. This activity included a field trip to remote Fijian villages to observe and implement the survey in collaboration with these communities.
Student experiences
Alexia Newsome
Q: What do you study and where did you go on your PACE International activity?
A: I’m studying a Bachelor of Psychology, and I completed my PSY399 research internship in Fiji with Empower Pacific.
Q: What was your role or project at your host organisation?
A: In a research team of five, we collaborated to design, develop and implement the mixed-method research tools required to assess the effectiveness of Empower Pacific’s community education program that aimed to prevent violence against women, sexual-based violence and child abuse. We travelled to rural provinces across the west coast collecting data; interviewing local women to discuss their experiences. At the end of our placement, we presented Empower Pacific with our key findings in an extensive research report and oral presentation
Q: What attracted you to the PACE International program?
A: Initially, it was the idea that I could complete my placement and travel to a new country at the same time. I was really excited about expanding my insular understandings of Psychology to an intercultural context; gaining an idea of what the application of my degree (or research in general) would look like beyond a local setting.
Q: What advice would you give a student who is thinking of applying for a PACE International activity?
A: EAT! Everything and anything you’re offered. On a more serious note - focus on the connections you make. The best part about PACE was leaving my placement behind having made deep and meaningful friendships with the locals, especially with our co-workers.
Q: What was the best part of your PACE International experience?
A: My experience with PACE gave me the opportunity to realise the potential I have as an individual to make a positive impact on the lives of others. Returning home knowing that I personally contributed to the incredible work that Empower Pacific does (in engendering community capacity to prevent and act on cases of violence against women and children) was the absolute highlight of my placement.
Gracie Hay
"PACE International was such an incredible experience. For the first time in my degree, I was given practical responsibility that I was able to use to support a community in need. It was incredible to see how the skills we have learnt at university can be translated into real-world work that changes lives."
Rachel Begg
"Working with Empower Pacific in Fiji was an absolutely incredible experience. I can’t imagine a more pleasant, selfless organisation to work with and to have developed a survey that will continue to help them and the Fijian community into the future is an absolute privilege. I never expected to have a PSY399 placement that would have such a direct positive impact on individuals and communities! I know that the experience has left me a more thoughtful, well-rounded person, and I’m sure it will continue to impact my future academic and career direction for years to come."
Haydee Katz
“My PACE international experience was truly something I’ll treasure for the rest of my life. Not only did I get to make friends of a lifetime, but I got to work with an organisation that is doing such inspiring work in the field I am so passionate in (Psychology). It was just so rewarding to be able to not only work with such an incredible organisation but even more so, to contribute to improving mental health in a country that was just struck by a natural disaster. I would recommend anyone and everyone to give PACE international a go – I couldn’t have asked for a better placement experience.”
Melissa Panetta
“I went to Fiji and did not know what to expect, my expectations were exceeded in almost every shape and form. Exercising my psychological skills, in a cross-cultural context enabled me to do what I love but also caused me to think about much more flexible ways that my theoretical and practical knowledge did not prepare me for."