Supporting Pasifika youth with new research collaboration

Launch of the research project supporting Pasifika youth on Swinburne's Hawthorn campus. From left to right: Professor Bronwyn Fox, The Hon Natalie Hutchins MP, Professor Pascale Quester, Jemal Ahmet (Centre for Multicultural Youth), John Kennedy MP, Professor Susanne Garvis and Dr Maryanne Pale.
In summary
- The Victorian Government has funded new Swinburne research to support Pasifika youth as part of the Building Safer Communities Program
- The research supports positive outcomes for Pasifika and Maori youth
- Swinburne will be the first Victorian university to undertake this type of research partnership with Pasifika students, in collaboration with the Centre for Multicultural Youth
A new Swinburne-led research and impact project, supported by the Victorian Government’s Building Safer Communities Program, will help support positive outcomes for Pasifika youth communities.
Working with the Centre for Multicultural Youth, Swinburne will be the first university in Victoria to lead a university-community research partnership to support secondary school completion rates for Pasifika Islander students and to encourage Pasifika students in further study and work.
Funding for the project was announced at an event on Swinburne’s Hawthorn campus by the Victorian Minister for Crime Prevention, Natalie Hutchins.
Speaking at the event, Swinburne’s Vice-Chancellor Professor Pascale Quester said the project was an excellent example of the collaboration between industry, government, community and research that Swinburne is known for.
“This collaborative approach – working with the community and co-designing solutions – ensures we have the greatest impact,” Professor Quester said.
“It ensures we are creating sustainable solutions that work, not just once, or in one location, but that can be scaled across the state, across the country and beyond.”
Supporting Pasifika youth
This research project aims to engage broadly across research, education, policy and the welfare sector to understand the cultural complexities driving Pasifika youth interactions with Australian educational processes, and co-design sustainable and scalable practice.
The project will work closely with the community to determine positive and negative contributors to life trajectories for secondary Pasifika Islander students and co-create resources and strategies within a cultural framework to assist schools and communities.
Project lead and Chair of Swinburne’s Department of Education, Professor Susanne Garvis, was joined by lecturer and researcher Dr Maryanne Pale at the launch. She said that this ‘ground-up’ approach would support stronger impact in the community and frameworks that that could be replicated across other schools and councils.
“The benefits of this university-community partnership are that we will have a whole society approach to upskill knowledge and understanding to support Pasifika students in secondary schools,” said Professor Garvis.
“The outcomes will help to build capacity within Pasifika communities in Victoria to develop positive life trajectories that are sustainable and long term.”
The launch event was also attended by Member for Hawthorn John Kennedy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research and Enterprise) Bronwyn Fox and representatives from the Centre for Multicultural Youth and other local community groups.
-
Media Enquiries
Related articles
-
- Student News
- University
IERF program transforms international student experience
Swinburne’s International Education Resilience Fund (IERF) Program has led to an increase in international students’ confidence in their future.
Wednesday 07 December 2022 -
- Education
Swinburne support for under-represented students wins Good Design Award
Students from under-represented backgrounds will be the beneficiaries of a Swinburne University of Technology win at the prestigious Good Design Awards.
Tuesday 20 September 2022 -
- Student News
- Technology
New cloud technology diploma helps mothers transition back into the workforce
Swinburne has launched a paid cadetship for women with industry partner Amazon Web Services (AWS).
Thursday 14 July 2022 -
- Education
STEM Hub for girls receives funding boost
An online hub that encourages girls to participate in STEM opportunities has received $1.2 million in funding from The Invergowrie Foundation.
Monday 18 July 2022 -
- Education
- University
Swinburne learning and teaching approaches awarded Adobe Innovation Grants
Nineteen projects developed by Swinburne staff have been awarded Adobe Innovation Grants to support innovative approaches to learning and teaching.Wednesday 22 June 2022