PACIFIC 313 : Pacific Wellbeing: Empowering Dimensions

Arts

2025 Semester One (1253) (15 POINTS)

Course Prescription

Examines empowering notions of Pacific wellbeing for Pacific individuals, families and communities. Students explore definitions of Pacific wellbeing and the cultural concepts, models, practices and worldviews that have enhanced the overall positive wellbeing experiences of Pacific peoples across the Pacific region.

Course Overview

This course explores Pacific wellbeing through community case studies, Pacific knowledge systems, emerging research, and policy analysis. It examines how Pacific languages, traditions, mental health approaches, community development, structural change, and youth development contribute to family and community wellness for Pacific peoples. Students will engage with theoretical frameworks and research that define Pacific wellbeing in relation to Pacific knowledge systems and ways of being. The course introduces cultural concepts, models, and worldviews that have enhanced wellbeing across Pacific communities in Aotearoa and across the wider Pacific region.

Course Requirements

Prerequisite: 30 points passed at Stage II Restriction: PACIFIC 213

Capabilities Developed in this Course

Capability 1: People and Place
Capability 2: Sustainability
Capability 3: Knowledge and Practice
Capability 4: Critical Thinking
Capability 5: Solution Seeking
Capability 6: Communication
Capability 7: Collaboration
Capability 8: Ethics and Professionalism
Graduate Profile: Bachelor of Arts

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
  1. Provide a detailed and critical exploration of relevant theory, policy, frameworks, and research that are important to Pacific wellbeing (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5)
  2. Promote a holistic, culturally relevant, and critical appreciation for Pacific wellbeing and both traditional and contemporary realities therein (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 8)
  3. Envision community-centred wellbeing initiatives, grounded in the localised and specific needs of particular Pacific communnities. (Capability 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8)

Assessments

Assessment Type Percentage Classification
Policy Analysis Video Podcast 30% Group Coursework
Critical Essay on a Pacific Wellbeing Issue 30% Individual Coursework
Community Wellbeing Initiative and Presentation 30% Group & Individual Coursework
Course Engagement and Leadership 10% Individual Coursework

Module

Weekly Course Schedule

  • Week 1: Foundations of Pacific Wellbeing: Theory, Frameworks, and Cultural Values
  • Week 2: Understanding Policy and Social Determinants of Health
  • Week 3: Child, Youth, and Family Wellbeing
  • Week 4: Men's and Women's Wellbeing
  • Week 5: MVPFAFF+ Wellbeing
  • Week 6: Spiritual and Religious Dimensions of Pacific Wellbeing
  • Mid-semester Break
  • Week 7: Community Case Study/Visit 1 - Community Wellbeing Organisation
  • Week 8: Community Case Study/Visit 2 - Health Research Organisation
  • Week 9: Community Case Study/Visit 3 - Youth Development Organisation
  • Week 10: Developing Health Promotion Initiatives
  • Week 11: Community Wellbeing Project Workshop
  • Week 12: Group Presentations and Talanoa

Exam Mode

  • There is no final exam for this course

Workload Expectations

This course is a standard 15 point course and students are expected to spend 10 hours per week involved in each 15 point course that they are enrolled in.

For this course, you can expect 2 hours of lectures, a 1 hour tutorial, 3 hours of reading and thinking about the content and 4 hours of work on assignments and/or test preparation per week.

Delivery Mode

Campus Experience

Attendance is expected at scheduled activities including tutorials to complete components of the course.

Lectures will be available as recordings. Other learning activities including tutorials will not be available as recordings.

Learning Resources

Course materials are made available in a learning and collaboration tool called Canvas which also includes reading lists and lecture recordings (where available).

Please remember that the recording of any class on a personal device requires the permission of the instructor.

Student Feedback

At the end of every semester students will be invited to give feedback on the course and teaching through a tool called SET or Qualtrics. The lecturers and course co-ordinators will consider all feedback and respond with summaries and actions.

Your feedback helps teachers to improve the course and its delivery for future students.

Class Representatives in each class can take feedback to the department and faculty staff-student consultative committees.

  1. Move group project earlier so it's not near the end of the semester when students are a lot busier making it harder to find the time to work together
  2. More continuity between guest lectures so that it can foster greater understanding and discussion. There will be less guest lectures this time.

Academic Integrity

The University of Auckland will not tolerate cheating, or assisting others to cheat, and views cheating in coursework, tests and examinations as a serious academic offence. The work that a student submits for grading must be the student's own work, reflecting their learning. Where work from other sources is used, it must be properly acknowledged and referenced. A student's assessed work may be reviewed against electronic source material using computerised detection mechanisms. Upon reasonable request, students may be required to provide an electronic version of their work for computerised review.

Class Representatives

Class representatives are students tasked with representing student issues to departments, faculties, and the wider university. If you have a complaint about this course, please contact your class rep who will know how to raise it in the right channels. See your departmental noticeboard for contact details for your class reps.

Inclusive Learning

All students are asked to discuss any impairment related requirements privately, face to face and/or in written form with the course coordinator, lecturer or tutor.

Student Disability Services also provides support for students with a wide range of impairments, both visible and invisible, to succeed and excel at the University. For more information and contact details, please visit the Student Disability Services’ website http://disability.auckland.ac.nz

Well-being always comes first
We all go through tough times during the semester, or see our friends struggling. There is lots of help out there - for more information, look at this Canvas page https://canvas.auckland.ac.nz/courses/33894, which has links to various support services in the University and the wider community.

Special Circumstances

If your ability to complete assessed coursework is affected by illness or other personal circumstances outside of your control, contact a member of teaching staff as soon as possible before the assessment is due.

If your personal circumstances significantly affect your performance, or preparation, for an exam or eligible written test, refer to the University’s aegrotat or compassionate consideration page https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/academic-information/exams-and-final-results/during-exams/aegrotat-and-compassionate-consideration.html.

This should be done as soon as possible and no later than seven days after the affected test or exam date.

Learning Continuity

In the event of an unexpected disruption we undertake to maintain the continuity and standard of teaching and learning in all your courses throughout the year. If there are unexpected disruptions the University has contingency plans to ensure that access to your course continues and your assessment is fair, and not compromised. Some adjustments may need to be made in emergencies. You will be kept fully informed by your course co-ordinator, and if disruption occurs you should refer to the University Website for information about how to proceed.

Student Charter and Responsibilities

The Student Charter assumes and acknowledges that students are active participants in the learning process and that they have responsibilities to the institution and the international community of scholars. The University expects that students will act at all times in a way that demonstrates respect for the rights of other students and staff so that the learning environment is both safe and productive. For further information visit Student Charter https://www.auckland.ac.nz/en/students/forms-policies-and-guidelines/student-policies-and-guidelines/student-charter.html.

Disclaimer

Elements of this outline may be subject to change. The latest information about the course will be available for enrolled students in Canvas.

In this course you may be asked to submit your coursework assessments digitally. The University reserves the right to conduct scheduled tests and examinations for this course online or through the use of computers or other electronic devices. Where tests or examinations are conducted online remote invigilation arrangements may be used. The final decision on the completion mode for a test or examination, and remote invigilation arrangements where applicable, will be advised to students at least 10 days prior to the scheduled date of the assessment, or in the case of an examination when the examination timetable is published.

Published on 31/10/2024 03:03 p.m.