Lifeline Pasifika
By Bryan Wilshire |
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Several years ago we were challenged by Lifeline International to take a more active role in assisting Lifeline members in the Pacific basin.
We knew folk working within Lifeline Tonga, Lifeline Fiji, Lifeline Samoa and worked with Lifeline Australia but were uncertain about Lifeline in the Cook Islands and a few other groups.
Bruce Mackie, when Director of Lifeline Auckland had visited the islands and provided training and support for their services and last year Lifeline Auckland's Board chairman, David Bogan and I went to Tonga along with other Pacific basin Lifeline members to work out ways to improve the effectiveness of Lifeline’s in our wider region.
Exchanges of ideas followed and resulted in the formation of Lifeline Pasifika which will become the umbrella group of all Lifeline members in the wider region.
Just recently David and I were both invited to Samoa, to meet with the newly appointed patron of Lifeline Pasifika – the Head of State of Samoa (a hugely influential figure in the Pacific) along with the High Commissioners of Australia and New Zealand and the Pacific Regional Manager from NZAid together with Lifeline members from other Pacific basin countries.
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The Head of State spoke enthusiastically of his support of Lifeline and the invaluable work it undertakes in Samoa - this was evident by the television, radio and newspaper coverage that Lifeline enjoys in Samoa.
Encouraging comments were also offered by the Australian High Commissioner and the NZAid Regional Manager as to funding support and agreement that the intent of the group was well within the scope of the joint initiatives of the Australian and New Zealand Governments.
Of significance was the statement from the High Commissioner and the NZAid Regional Manager of their criteria for supporting projects that demonstrated mutual respect, responsibility and accountability.
It was agreed that the establishment of a communication channel would be explored to link Lifeline Auckland and Lifeline Samoa together as a pilot to initially share information and eventually to provide telephone counselling to people in their own languages i.e establishing a global language village with Samoan speakers in New Zealand being able to connect to a Samoan counsellor in Apia.
We learned from Dr Ian Parkin, the sole psychiatrist in Samoa and a Lifeline Samoa Board Member about life in Samoa and something about the technical constraints we need to be aware of and work within. These include high temperatures and humidity effecting telephone and computer equipment, interruptions and surges in power supply and geckos which get into anything with holes larger than about 5mm and then lay eggs or faeces about the innards or fry themselves and the electronics on high voltage sections of the boards. Gecko + 240V = carbon.
Despite these practical challenges it is hoped that the sharing of knowledge and experience will benefit all of the Lifeline's making up the Lifeline Pasifica group and the various communities they serve.
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