Creating Change Through Cultural Competency Workshops

Meaningful social change begins with understanding the communities we work alongside. It requires us to challenge the way we think, strengthen the way we connect, and create space for different perspectives and ways of knowing.

At Tapasā, we believe that Pacific knowledge and values have an important role to play in shaping how organisations work, lead and create lasting change.

Recently, we had the opportunity to facilitate a cultural competency workshop with the Tuia Waitākere team, sharing our expertise and Pacific approaches to strengthen their confidence and capability in working alongside Pacific communities.

Our work extends beyond the communities we directly serve. We also work alongside organisations, leaders and practitioners to strengthen their understanding, challenge existing approaches and build the capability needed to create more meaningful outcomes for communities.

We began the workshop by taking the team on a journey through the history of Pacific peoples, exploring our connections across the Moana long before colonisation, and the shared histories, values and traditions that continue to shape who we are today.

Through these conversations, we explored both the similarities that connect us and the differences that make our Pacific communities unique. It was an opportunity to broaden perspectives and challenge the idea that there is one way to understand or engage with Pacific peoples.

But understanding culture is only the beginning. The real opportunity for change comes when we put that knowledge into practice.

Through our interactive Vā Pipes activity, we introduced the concept of le vā, the relational space between people and the responsibility we have to nurture and maintain those relationships. Rather than simply explaining the concept, we invited participants to experience how communication, trust and collective responsibility influence the relationships we build.

We then challenged the team through our Lashing Tables activity, where participants had to work together, think innovatively and draw on each other's strengths to achieve a shared goal of imitation waka building.

Both activities reflected an important principle in our approach to social change: meaningful outcomes cannot be achieved in isolation. They require strong relationships, collective effort and a willingness to work differently.

For organisations working alongside Pacific communities, this means moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach and recognising the importance of relationships, cultural understanding and community knowledge in shaping their work.

By the end of the workshop, many of the Tuia Waitākere team walked away feeling more confident in their approach to engaging with Pacific communities. For us, this was an encouraging outcome, demonstrating how cultural knowledge can be translated into practical learning that influences the way people work.

We recognise that organisations like Tuia Waitākere are already doing important work to improve outcomes for our communities. Our role is to bring a distinct perspective and expertise that can strengthen that work, creating opportunities for different ways of thinking, working and connecting.

This is one of the ways Tapasā contributes to social change. By sharing the knowledge, experiences and approaches grounded in our communities, we help organisations strengthen their practice and become more responsive to the people they serve.

Because lasting social change isn't only about changing outcomes for communities. It's also about changing the systems, practices and relationships that shape those outcomes.

Interested in creating meaningful change within your organisation? If this approach resonates with you or aligns with your organisation’s goals, we’d love to connect. Get in touch to explore how Tapasā can work alongside your team to strengthen cultural capability, build meaningful relationships and create lasting social change.

Fa'afetai tele lava to the Tuia Waitākere team for their openness, curiosity and willingness to learn alongside us.

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