Good practice in action: Understand Pasifika culture
This second example of Code 2 Cultural context outlines the relationship between a funder and a Pacific provider.
Health Star Pacific Trust is a Pacific public health provider funded by the Ministry of Health to deliver a range of child health services
Key contract features included:
Understanding cultural contexts and protocols - Health Star Pacific Trust (HSP) is a public health provider led by Pacific personnel who use Pacific approaches in the delivery of their service. It is important for the Ministry of Health portfolio manager to understand these approaches when negotiating the service specifications of the contract.
HSP has been able to conduct outreach activities that engage the Pacific community in a number of settings and have been able to deliver ethnic-specific services, for example Samoan, Cook Island, Tongan, and Niuean services. It is also essential for the portfolio manager to respect the provider’s preferred protocols when meeting with Pacific providers such as prayer before and after meetings.
Go to them when meeting with Pacific providers. It is important that the portfolio manager is seen to be making an effort to visit them in their space and context. HSP often appreciate visits to their offices or while ‘on duty’, meaning attendance by Ministry of Health staff at their workshops or events where possible.
