TOA PACIFIC Celebrate 20 Years
For the past two decades our older pacific population has been well cared for by a special group of people. Now that group – Treasure Older Adults of Pacific (TOA Pacific) has itself been acknowledged for the sterling work it has done over those 20 years.
TOA Pacific 20 Year Anniversary
The celebration, held in Auckland, was described as an important milestone, by Serena Curtis, General Manager, Pacific and Community Capability Programmes, Ministry of Social Development (MSD).
She said over those years TOA had shown dedication to make its vision, mission and values come true every day, and it was the older Pacific persons who benefitted from the efforts.
Serena Curtis, General Manager, Pacific and Community Capability Programmes, Ministry of Social Development
The work done by TOA in ensuring our Pacific seniors were well looked after had not gone unnoticed at the MSD, and Serena said it was fair to say the department could not have done its work without the help of the TOA, especially in the past few years when facing the extra challenges of Covid and the horrific weather events suffered in Aotearoa.
‘’I want to take this opportunity to thank the TOA team, past and present, for all your hard work. Events (such as Covid and flooding) exacerbate social and economic inequalities that already exist, impacting our Pacific communities, in particular, older people,’’ she said.
‘’TOA Pacific has been instrumental in the Care in the Community response ... to ensure our seniors are well taken care of.’’
The chief executive of Age Concern NZ, Karen Billings-Jensen, said TOA Pacific held an important place in the elder abuse response and prevention area.
Karen Billings Jensen
She said the work TOA Pacific had done was ‘exceptional. She praised the ‘’unique knowledge and skills’’ in working with older adults describing it as ‘’inspirational’’.
She said TOA Pacific had given other agencies an important understanding of elder abuse and there was so much more to learn from TOA.
‘’You enhance the wellbeing of so many people, and we see the advocacy you do at a local and national level,’’ she said.
‘’Keep it up. You deliver far more than you will ever be funded for.’’
View Photo Gallery of celebrations on Toa Pacific Facebook Page
Watch – Toa Pacific 20 Years Celebrations
Pasefika Proud is a Pacific response to focus on community-led solutions that harnesses the transformative power of traditional Pacific cultural values and frameworks to encourage violence-free, respectful relationships that support Pacific peoples to thrive and to build strong resilient families. Because it’s Our Families, Our People, Our Responsibility.