The celebration recognised recipients who had gone through the Ngalu Fānifo mental health programme in partnership with PreKure – a mental health training organisation – and completed their certificates in Mental Health and Health Coaching.

The event was attended by PFL partners as well as family and loved ones of the graduates who filled the room with colour and excitement. PFL Chair Dr Francis Agnew (NMZN, FRANZCP, FACHAM) an international leader in the mental health sector, was in awe of the graduate’s success and potential as he shared with them and their families. 

For Dr Agnew the Ngalu Fānifo graduates represented a vision that is coming to fruition. A vision of a Pacific mental health workforce who are culturally aware and technically able, who will serve the Pacific community with integrity and excellence. 

“Congratulations to you and your families. You are all extraordinary and represent a new wave of mental health capability that is long overdue but is finally being realised with your success today and your work tomorrow. 

We need you. The struggles in mental health are vast but as our Pacific workforce grows so does the hope and aspirations of our community members who suffer from mental health issues”, says Dr Agnew.   

The graduates left the celebration feeling inspired and enabled with the learning they received and the qualification they gained.  

“As a health coach we predominantly focus on mild to moderate mental health conditions so learning mental health strategies and application of strategies is really beneficial for my role”, says Mr William Cann who graduated with both a Certificate in Mental Health and a Health Coach Certificate.

‘The mental health training program was really good for me. I learned many new things and it opened my mind up to living mindfully. Now, in my family we have serious mental health talks which is new for us. It’s slow but we’re making a change”, says Mr Phillip Vaifale who graduated with a Health Coach Certificate.

For Health Coach Certificate graduate, Ms Heimoana Tatu, she is looking forward to using what she has learnt to improve her engagement with others to for effect positive change. 

“Working with adults especially, you can help them in ways to better their lifestyles, and it feels good making better changes for and in our communities”. 

#pmafamily  

Date: Thursday 21 July 2022