Emily Fatu

Pacific Studies helped Emily sharpen communication and presentation skills that now serve her well in mental health policy.

My majors were Cultural Anthropology and Pacific Studies and then I carried on with Pacific Studies through to postgraduate level. These two subjects started out as interest courses I was taking for points. However, the first-year course was so eye-opening for me and my passion for the subject grew from there.

Pacific Studies wasn’t just a subject at university for me. It taught me about my own history and helped me understand the nuances of Pacific culture and why certain ‘traditions’ are what they are today. I also really enjoyed the variety in learning, and the opportunity to express our ideas creatively. We did a lot of group work and presentations, and we had the opportunity to lead class discussions based on the teachings and assigned readings. This style of learning also meant working closer with my peers and I’ve made lifelong friends.

I’ve always struggled with public speaking and one of the great things with Pacific Studies is we had oral presentations every year. This was a way to sharpen my communication skills but also helped with being able to share my ideas with a group of people. This is a critical skill in the jobs that I’ve had so far. We also had to constructively critique groups who were leading class discussions to tell them what was great and what could be improved. This really helped with my critical analysis in the work I did when providing feedback and advice to my colleagues, other organisations, and our Minister.

My first full-time job after my Master’s degree was a policy analyst role at the Ministry of Health in the Pacific health policy team. It has been useful to bring my lived and learnt experience to giving advice in the health and education sectors to help our Pacific people.

Even if Pacific or Samoan Studies isn’t your major, I recommend doing some courses because it provides a richer insight into a population who are a huge part of New Zealand’s culture. The Pacific population is growing, and our presence is becoming more and more prominent. Pacific Studies can develop your knowledge of the cultures, history, and experiences of Pacific people. Cultural understanding is something employers seek.

Update: Emily is currently Kaitātari Kaupapahere/Policy Analyst, Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission.