The past two years have been a tale from tragedy to triumph for Susana Danford. In December 2007 she reluctantly left her homeland of Fiji due to the economic downturn triggered by the military coup a year earlier.

Although she graduated from the Fiji School of Nursing in 2000 and was worked there as a general and obstetric nurse, she knew it wouldn’t automatically qualify her to become a New Zealand registered nurse.

“I was working for a GP practice when I heard about the Pacific (Workforce Development) Programme from friends and colleagues,” she recalls.

“I knew it would be hard financially, but more rewarding in the long run. Coming from a small country like Fiji to a new environment with first class healthcare and a lot of new technology was really challenging. But I’m so happy to have seen it through and I’m really looking forward to practicing as a New Zealand registered nurse.”

The Pacific Workforce Development Programme was launched in May 2007 by the Counties Manukau District Health Board to have New Zealand registered and trained nurses from the Pacific islands for its Pacific patients.

“South Auckland has by far the largest Pacific population in the country and, as we all know, the lowest health status,” says Esther Faitala, the Programme Co-ordinator.

“It makes sense to have a workforce that’s proportionate to that. Pacific nurses know how to relate to them, they understand the cultures and the values.”

The Nursing Council requires all aspiring nurses to pass an English language test and an approved competency programme. They sit the language tests at MIT (Manukau Institute of Technology) and, once passed, begin a 12-week clinical assessment programme. That involves proving they can practice safely and display care for the patients within the hospital and can conduct clinical assessments, interviews and participate in tutorials.

The majority of students come from Fiji, but also include those from Samoa, Tonga and Tuvalu.

Those who have passed have already secured positions at Middlemore Hospital in Otahuhu (under the Counties Manukau DHB) with Auckland Hospital able to offer placements for the seven nurses in the latest programme.

Like Susana, Vunirewa Uluilakeba left Fiji in late 2007 following the coup.

“It was following the nurses’ strike in August that year and conditions were getting worse, he says.

“I accompanied my granddad who was coming to New Zealand for medical help. He asked me to stay as I had a better future here.”

Vunirewa says although it was still a struggle, he wouldn’t have completed it without the financial support of Counties Manukau in assisting with payments for the qualifying papers and registration. And he urges those who have tried and failed to persevere with the programme.

“We know there are other nurses from the Pacific who are here working as caregivers or low paid jobs that have nothing to do with their profession,” he says.

“It’s important that if they don’t pass, they keep trying. It is a barrier, but once they overcome it and they become New Zealand registered nurses, they can practice their trade around the world because of its recognition.”

Fellow Fijian Maraia Sakaraia agrees.

“Graduating has given me an opportunity to a better future,” she says.

“The programme was challenging, even more challenging than I anticipated. But it has given me the chance to practice in New Zealand what I had studied for in the islands (she graduated from Fiji School of Nursing in 2002). There are many Pacific patients in New Zealand hospitals. We know we can help them because we can understand them.”

Because of the programme’s success, Faitala says there are moves in 2010 to spread it to other regions and expand it to other health professions such as GPs.

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