title: Pululima Faifai Pea: Establishment of Sāmoan Immersion Early Childhood Education Centres & Bilingual Units in Primary and Intermediate Schools

authors: Vaitimu Tuāfuti, Patisepa

subjects: Samoan Bilingual/Immersion Education

abstract: Sāmoan Immersion Preschools (Ā’oga ‘Amata) and Bilingual Education units covering from year one to year eight of school have become well established in some areas in the Auckland region since the 1980s, due to the commitment, support and contributions of parents, the Sāmoan community, church leaders, families and some schools. Given that parents, families and communities appeared to have played such a seminal role in their establishment, this research was set out to investigate Sāmoan parents’ lived experiences in relation to the establishment of ā’oga ‘amata and Sāmoan bilingual education units. Fa’afaletui phenomenology, a term I developed in the process of conducting the research, was employed as a culturally appropriate coupling methodology. Phenomenology is about lived experiences and fa’afaletui is a process and procedure of revealing participants’ lived experiences. Insights into parents’ lived experiences were obtained by using various methods namely: questionnaire, focus group discussions, individual interviews, couple interviews and testimonies. The lived experiences were collated from the recounts of past events. The recounts were analysed for themes, which arose from the comments and interpretations of the past events, and the expressions of emotions attached to the events. Observations and analyses of past events highlight many challenges that the participants experienced. Challenges ranged from financial difficulties and lack of resources, to lack of understanding about bilingual/immersion education. What the results make clear is the resilience of the participants in defending what they believe is right as far as fa’asāmoa is concerned, and the powerful role of emotions in personal and educational lives. Resilience and emotions are coefficients in the results and they have theoretical importance in understanding the research findings.

text: Pululima Faifai Pea: Establishment of Sāmoan Immersion Early Childhood Education Centres & Bilingual Units in Primary and Intermediate Schools Sāmoan Immersion Preschools (Ā’oga ‘Amata) and Bilingual Education units covering from year one to year eight of school have become well established in some areas in the Auckland region since the 1980s, due to the commitment, support and contributions of parents, the Sāmoan community, church leaders, families and some schools. Given that parents, families and communities appeared to have played such a seminal role in their establishment, this research was set out to investigate Sāmoan parents’ lived experiences in relation to the establishment of ā’oga ‘amata and Sāmoan bilingual education units. Fa’afaletui phenomenology, a term I developed in the process of conducting the research, was employed as a culturally appropriate coupling methodology. Phenomenology is about lived experiences and fa’afaletui is a process and procedure of revealing participants’ lived experiences. Insights into parents’ lived experiences were obtained by using various methods namely: questionnaire, focus group discussions, individual interviews, couple interviews and testimonies. The lived experiences were collated from the recounts of past events. The recounts were analysed for themes, which arose from the comments and interpretations of the past events, and the expressions of emotions attached to the events. Observations and analyses of past events highlight many challenges that the participants experienced. Challenges ranged from financial difficulties and lack of resources, to lack of understanding about bilingual/immersion education. What the results make clear is the resilience of the participants in defending what they believe is right as far as fa’asāmoa is concerned, and the powerful role of emotions in personal and educational lives. Resilience and emotions are coefficients in the results and they have theoretical importance in understanding the research findings.

year: 2016

title: Vicarious Traumatization in the Workplace: A Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Social Support

authors: Whitton, Melissa

subjects: Vicarious Traumatization

abstract: Healthy employees have been linked with decreased absenteeism, lower turnover, less accidents in the workplace, higher employee engagement and commitment, and greater employee resilience. However, there are many occupational hazards which can compromise the health of employees, leading to negative consequences for organisations and service users. Helping professionals are often exposed to indirect trauma through working with traumatised individuals. This puts them at risk of developing Vicarious Traumatisation, which can result in disruptions to schemas, depletion, symptoms of hyperarousal, avoidance, negative changes to cognition and mood, poor concentration, flashbacks and dreams, and intrusive thoughts or memories associated to the trauma of another. A professional will react differently in response to Vicarious Traumatic Exposure due to intrinsic features of the individual and multiple characteristics of the work being done. Therefore, whether Vicarious Traumatisation occurs depends on an interplay between both internal and external influences. The present study examined the impact of social support on the outcome of Vicarious Traumatisation by running a meta-analysis on 21 studies which analysed this relationship. Results showed that the overall effect size suggested a significant, yet small negative relationship between social support and the negative outcomes of Vicarious Traumatic Exposure. However, due to the I-squared value being so large, the significance of this relationship is questionable. Therefore, further analysis needs to occur to examine where this dispersion is occurring, either through moderator or subgroup analysis.

text: Vicarious Traumatization in the Workplace: A Meta-Analysis on the Impact of Social Support Healthy employees have been linked with decreased absenteeism, lower turnover, less accidents in the workplace, higher employee engagement and commitment, and greater employee resilience. However, there are many occupational hazards which can compromise the health of employees, leading to negative consequences for organisations and service users. Helping professionals are often exposed to indirect trauma through working with traumatised individuals. This puts them at risk of developing Vicarious Traumatisation, which can result in disruptions to schemas, depletion, symptoms of hyperarousal, avoidance, negative changes to cognition and mood, poor concentration, flashbacks and dreams, and intrusive thoughts or memories associated to the trauma of another. A professional will react differently in response to Vicarious Traumatic Exposure due to intrinsic features of the individual and multiple characteristics of the work being done. Therefore, whether Vicarious Traumatisation occurs depends on an interplay between both internal and external influences. The present study examined the impact of social support on the outcome of Vicarious Traumatisation by running a meta-analysis on 21 studies which analysed this relationship. Results showed that the overall effect size suggested a significant, yet small negative relationship between social support and the negative outcomes of Vicarious Traumatic Exposure. However, due to the I-squared value being so large, the significance of this relationship is questionable. Therefore, further analysis needs to occur to examine where this dispersion is occurring, either through moderator or subgroup analysis.

year: 2018

title: Ethnobotany, germination and growth of eleocharis sphacelata

authors: Kapa, Mieke M

subjects: Eleocharis

abstract: Eleocharis sphacelata, distributed over Australia, Papa New Guinea and predominantly in the north of the North Island New Zealand, occupies the littoral margins of fresh water wetlands and lakes. To assist Eleocharis sphacelata revegetation efforts, research recorded traditional ecological knowledge held by users, determined best methodologies for germination of seed, and established techniques for improved transfer of juvenile plantlets. 
Interviews with cultural knowledge holders revealed a declining but persistent oral repository in tikanga (customs) and practices despite diminishing plant availability. Eleocharis sphacelata has traditionally and contemporarily been used as a fibre for weaving into mats, with its spongy pith providing increased warmth and comfort. Group harvesting, with some cutting and others sorting and binding is the first step in a short preparation sequence, with the drying of the stems (for most this is in the shade) the only other preparation needed before weaving commences. Cultural genealogical descriptions provide a clear portrait of the ecological position Eleocharis sphacelata sits within its natural habitat and presents a phylogeny or schemata comparable to biological science. Published information identifies cultural uses and practices for the fibre of this wetland sedge. 
Fresh and stored seeds were subjected to five treatments at three water levels to determine the best methodology for increased germination rates. Findings illustrate how a scarification pre-treatment and water depth increases up to 15 cm enhances germination rates of Eleocharis sphacelata. Overnight bleaching of seed harvested one month earlier (January 2008) then sown under damp conditions provided increased germination until April. Fresh bleached seed sown under 5 cm and 15 cm of water produced significant increases in germination from September. Seasonal timing and variation in water depth as germination triggers indicate dual germination strategies employed by Eleocharis sphacelata.
In November 2007 seed grown seedlings and vegetative propagules were planted in situ under three water depths to establish which plantlet type would provide increased juvenile survival when used in revegetation projects. Findings determined that seed grown seedlings planted under 15 cm of water had the highest survival and produced a greater number of culms per plantlet, however vegetative propagules were better able to survive in damp conditions. Flowering occurred in over 25% of remaining vegetative and seed grown seedlings by the following October indicating the potential for new transfers to be reproducing within one season. 
Further collaborating between Māori and western science would augment and enhance understanding of transferable environmental methodologies. Possible dual germination strategies by the seed were revealed and further research would determine if this replicates the reproductive and growth capabilities of Eleocharis sphacelata and other wetland sedges in their natural environment. Additional seed quality and technological research would increase potential for seed performance. Determining genetic variety within local, regional and national Eleocharis sphacelata swards would establish bounds of local provenance.

text: Ethnobotany, germination and growth of eleocharis sphacelata Eleocharis sphacelata, distributed over Australia, Papa New Guinea and predominantly in the north of the North Island New Zealand, occupies the littoral margins of fresh water wetlands and lakes. To assist Eleocharis sphacelata revegetation efforts, research recorded traditional ecological knowledge held by users, determined best methodologies for germination of seed, and established techniques for improved transfer of juvenile plantlets. 
Interviews with cultural knowledge holders revealed a declining but persistent oral repository in tikanga (customs) and practices despite diminishing plant availability. Eleocharis sphacelata has traditionally and contemporarily been used as a fibre for weaving into mats, with its spongy pith providing increased warmth and comfort. Group harvesting, with some cutting and others sorting and binding is the first step in a short preparation sequence, with the drying of the stems (for most this is in the shade) the only other preparation needed before weaving commences. Cultural genealogical descriptions provide a clear portrait of the ecological position Eleocharis sphacelata sits within its natural habitat and presents a phylogeny or schemata comparable to biological science. Published information identifies cultural uses and practices for the fibre of this wetland sedge. 
Fresh and stored seeds were subjected to five treatments at three water levels to determine the best methodology for increased germination rates. Findings illustrate how a scarification pre-treatment and water depth increases up to 15 cm enhances germination rates of Eleocharis sphacelata. Overnight bleaching of seed harvested one month earlier (January 2008) then sown under damp conditions provided increased germination until April. Fresh bleached seed sown under 5 cm and 15 cm of water produced significant increases in germination from September. Seasonal timing and variation in water depth as germination triggers indicate dual germination strategies employed by Eleocharis sphacelata.
In November 2007 seed grown seedlings and vegetative propagules were planted in situ under three water depths to establish which plantlet type would provide increased juvenile survival when used in revegetation projects. Findings determined that seed grown seedlings planted under 15 cm of water had the highest survival and produced a greater number of culms per plantlet, however vegetative propagules were better able to survive in damp conditions. Flowering occurred in over 25% of remaining vegetative and seed grown seedlings by the following October indicating the potential for new transfers to be reproducing within one season. 
Further collaborating between Māori and western science would augment and enhance understanding of transferable environmental methodologies. Possible dual germination strategies by the seed were revealed and further research would determine if this replicates the reproductive and growth capabilities of Eleocharis sphacelata and other wetland sedges in their natural environment. Additional seed quality and technological research would increase potential for seed performance. Determining genetic variety within local, regional and national Eleocharis sphacelata swards would establish bounds of local provenance.

year: 2009