After several years of juggling studies, work and family life, the mother of five from Oamaru will be commuting to Timaru this year to begin her nursing bachelor’s full-time — and the first year of college is covered by a funding grant from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples.
Ms Tapa’atoutai said her early life experiences caring for her grandmother in Tonga and her more recent community and health care work had shaped her nursing aspirations, but her determination to be a role model for her children was what really inspired her.
“They are the ones who motivate me to keep going every day. For several years I have been combining two jobs and studying three programs at three colleges while taking care of my five children – one [of whom] has unique needs.”
Her dedication to study over the years has resulted in her earning an impressive list of qualifications: Level 3 Health and Welfare Services and a Level 4 Community Facilitation Internship through Careerforce, a Bachelor’s Degree in Applied Management through Otago Polytechnic, a Certificate of Competence in Pacific nutrition from Auckland University online and finally Ara’s level 4 pre-health online, which gave her access to Ara’s bachelor’s degree in nursing.
“I like that Ara allowed me to do my pre-health part-time. The way the program is delivered suited my busy lifestyle, working in community health care at Oamaru Hospital and as a peer mentor,” she said.
Mrs. Tapa’atoutai, one of eight children, came to New Zealand in her late teens.
She was grateful for her father’s work ethic, who combined two jobs to provide for his family, and for taking care of her mother.
“She taught me the core values of faka’apa’apa – respect; feiveitokai’aki – sharing, working together and fulfilling mutual obligations; lototoo – humility and generosity; [and] tauhivaha’a – loyalty, devotion,” she said.
Eager to make things happen, she applied for a Toloa grant from the Ministry for Pacific Peoples, which aims to inspire and support Pacific students involved in Steam: science, technology, engineering, art, and math.
The Ministry for Pacific Peoples established the Toloa program in 2015. It takes a multifaceted approach to raising awareness and providing workforce development opportunities to its communities.
When she learned that she had secured a $10,000 scholarship for 2023, she shed tears of joy.
“I was so happy, excited and overwhelmed knowing that my first year of nursing will be funded.”
She was looking forward to a party for the recipients in Christchurch in late February.
“I’m so excited for this journey and want to show my kids that if I can do it while taking care of them, they can do anything, right after school.”
It could be a long journey as she plans to do a masters as the kids get older.
Plans are in place for her husband to get the kids to school, after-school programs are booked, and with financial worries eased, Ms. Tapa’atoutai is ready to meet her classmates and get to work.