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Events and Programmes
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POPO Initiative – Health Sciences First Year
Mystery Bus Tour
The Mystery Bus Tour was held 19th March 2011 and was a way of initiating our first year students to Dunedin city and networking with senior Pacific health professional students. The Bus tour was also a way for our returning students to reconnect with each other and get themselves set for another busy but rewarding year of study.
The tour guide was Antonio (Kiwi Shuttles), a local Samoan businessman who took the students on a tour around the Dunedin Town belt, out to St Clair, up the mountain to Signal hill/Lookout point, back down to Baldwin St and then off to the mystery location in Leith Valley.
Students were split into teams and competed in various activities that included a race up Baldwin St (the steepest street in the world!!), games on the Beach, team building activities on Signal Hill and a quiz on the information included in the tour of the city.
The Mystery Bus Tour concluded with a brunch at the Mystery location and a hike through the pine forest. It was enjoyed very much by all who attended.
PIHPSA Friday Lunch Sessions
These sessions provide a mixture of academic, mentoring and general support. They are held every Friday from 1-2pm (during term time) at the Hunter Centre, Division of Health Sciences. The sessions provide good opportunities for support staff and PIHPSA students to meet. External guests are also invited to present on important topics. Friday sessions are open to PIHPSA students, PIHPSA Alumni and staff in the Division of Health Sciences.
Topics for presentation provided are shared between Dentistry, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, PIHPSA, Medicine and OSMS. PIHPSA Alumni and Post graduates students also have an opportunity to present during these meetings. Presentations include academic topics, cultural sessions, social activities and research-related topics. Sessions are chaired by either PIHPSA or staff member.
We are exploring the possibility of joining PIHPSA students and support staff from Wellington and Christchurch to these sessions.
Please contact us if you need more information.
Health Sciences Fono
The Health Sciences Pacific Camp was run by the PIRSSU team in collaboration with PIHPSA with support from the Pacific community. It was great to have PIHPSA students from Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown join us. The theme of the camp was “Building awareness of Pacific Health through Networking & Research”. Students were encouraged to consider doing research as part of their training in Health Sciences, either as undergraduates or post-graduates. Pacific Research staff and students presented their work and provided pathways for budding researchers.
Over the weekend 65 people attend the camp which was given a “thumbs up” by everyone. A big thank you to all who helped out including our camp parents Rev. Ieriko & Aniva Slater. Our exercise guru Ala – provided early morning Zumba exercise. Thank you – Zumba master!
The highlight for those with competitive streaks…was The Amazing Race – where five teams travelled across the Pacific testing their brains, stomachs, courage, dexterity and fitness! Later that evening everyone enjoyed the guitar skills of Dr Vaaiga (PIHPSA Alumni) and all joined in singing around the bonfire until the early hours of the morning – toasting marshmellows… yummy… yum. Now about those bananas… well that’s another story…
After only a few hours sleep, everyone was up again to help prep Sunday lunch. This was part of their cultural training: the making of an Umu – baking food the traditional way. Our Pro VC attended on Sunday to provide inspiring words for students…to help them on their journey.
Dare to Be Wise…Dare to Dream….Dare to Succeed!
Students joined staff and the community to a traditional Sunday lunch. Buon Appetito! It was sad when it was time for farewells…but then again…we will see each other again next Friday! Hooray!
POPO Initiative – Health Sciences First Year
POPO stands for Pacific Orientation
Programme at Otago. POPO is the Samoan word for “coconut”.
It has three meanings:
- To capture,
- To nurture and,
- To sprout new growth
This initiative aims to ensure that first year Health Sciences students with a desire to work in the health field are able to engage with and benefit from all support services available to them in their first year at
University. It nurtures the aspirations of students to do well and help them 'capture the moment' for success.
POPO is a Ministry of Health funded initiative and it runs for 13 weeks during the First Semester. Peer educators (PEs) are senior Pacific students in Health Sciences who meet with POPO students weekly. PEs meets with staff from the Student Learning Centre and PIRSSU each week to de-brief after engagement with their POPO students.
Academic performance of POPO students is monitored by the Associate Dean Pacific, and concerns are addressed early to ensure they receive appropriate academic and general support where required.
POPO students attend group tutorials offered by the Pacific Islands Centre. For those who need extra assistance additional tutorial sessions are organised through the POPO programme. The mid-year and end of year results for students will be obtained and compared with the performance of Pacific students in previous years. The preparedness of health sciences first year Pacific students prior to attending University will also be analysed.
The outcomes from the POPO initiative will be disseminated in 2011.
Pacific Health Research Development Day
The Health Research Development Day is an annual event that showcases and exposes Pacific research, researchers and research opportunities that are available to those interested in Pacific health.
Upcoming Events