The Associate Minister of Health Hon Aupito William Sio (pictured) strongly encourages Pacific community organisations to apply for the Pacific Community Health Fund.
The Wellbeing Budget 2019 invested $9.8 million over four years to support Pacific community wellbeing, and a targeted approach to lifting Pacific wellbeing overall.
This year, $450,000 is available to support community-led initiatives which meet the vision of Resilient and Healthy Pacific peoples in goal three of the Pacific Aotearoa Lalanga Fou report and the Ola Manuia: Pacific Health Action Plan 2020-2025.
Minister Sio says Pacific communities are resilient and powerful agents who have the potential to create lasting positive changes for Pacific wellbeing in Aotearoa.
“We saw this during the COVID-19 lockdowns where Pacific communities throughout the country played a key role in keeping our people safe, particularly in Tāmaki Makaurau,” he says.
The Pacific Community Health Fund is a collaboration between the Ministry of Health and Ministry for Pacific Peoples (MPP).
Its objective is to provide Pacific communities with the opportunity to set and achieve their own wellbeing goals and aspirations.
Pacific community organisations such as Pacific churches, Pacific-owned charities or sporting organisations can apply.
In the last two years, the Pacific Community Health Fund has supported wellbeing initiatives across the motu, which have been led by Pacific community groups.
The focus of these initiatives has been diverse and included youth wellbeing, mental health, older people’s wellbeing and responding to the impacts of COVID-19, the Minister adds.
“Pacific communities provide essential wellbeing support and services to our Pacific peoples, often with limited financial assistance and resources.
“I am excited to see more Pacific communities’ benefit from the Fund," he adds.
The Pacific Community Health Fund is now open for applications and will close 5pm 19 July 2021.