On a Saturday morning on 26 April 2025, the University of the South Pacific’s Oceania Centre pulsed with energy and intent. The World Health Day celebration, hosted by Australia Awards Fiji (AAF) and Women Leading and Influencing (WLI) alumni in partnership with Medical Services Pacific (MSP), was a living movement of health, leadership, and connection.
“Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures”
Anchored in this year’s global World Health Day theme, the event was an inclusive wellness experience where alumni and their families gathered to learn, reflect, and act. A diverse group of alumni joined for Zumba, panel discussions, health checks, and family engagement – a vibrant gathering of changemakers with a shared desire to give back to their respective communities.
Voices That Inspire: From Knowledge to Impact
The event opened with energetic Zumba session that brought joyful movement to life. But the heartbeat of the event was the impactful panel discussion, which tackled some of the Pacific’s most pressing and often unspoken health issues: mental health, maternal care, teenage pregnancy, reproductive cancers, and the stigma that still surrounds them.
Lavenia Rasolo – Registered Midwife and Family Health Nurse, Ministry of Health and Medical Services & Australia Awards Alumna
Lavenia spoke with compassion and urgency about postpartum depression. A condition that remains misunderstood and often hidden within Pacific households. She highlighted how mothers are frequently celebrated during pregnancy but are sometimes forgotten once the baby is born.
“Mental health isn’t a luxury. It is a necessity. And our mothers, who bring life into this world, deserve to feel supported long after delivery. Families need to recognise the signs. We all have a role in surrounding new mothers with care, not silence.”
Her call to action: “Speak up. Ask her how she’s really feeling. Let’s break the silence and build support systems within our homes and communities.”
Titoko Koroirogo – Registered Nurse and Training Officer, St Giles Hospital & Australia Awards Alumna
Titoko addressed the growing concern of teenage pregnancy, substance abuse, and the alarming stigma tied to mental health in the Pacific.
“We wait until a crisis breaks us before we seek help. But mental health, like physical health, needs early attention. If someone in your circle is withdrawing, acting out, or showing signs. Reach out. Don’t wait.”
He reminded attendees that “there is no health without mental health”, stressing the importance of community awareness and early intervention.
His call to action: “Let’s normalize conversations about mental wellness in our homes, churches, and schools. One honest conversation could save a life.”
Nadia Aslam – National Program Officer- Cervical Cancer Prevention with the Ministry of Health and Medical Service & Australia Awards Alumna
Nadia courageously opened the discussion on reproductive cancers, an area that remains heavily taboo in many Pacific communities.
“Cervical, prostate and breast cancers continue to claim lives, not because there isn’t treatment, but because there’s fear, shame, and silence. Women often come forward too late. We must change that narrative.”
She advocated for routine screenings, open conversations, and culturally sensitive health education that begins in the home.
Her call to action: “If you love a mother, a sister, a daughter, encourage her to get screened. Empower her with knowledge, not fear.”
Alum
ni in Action: Family, Leadership, and Wellness
This holistic event was a wellness day for all generations, bridging professional insight with family participation. Children laughed through Zumba, alumni reconnected over breakfast, and parents participated in free voluntary health checks, all while learning about vital health issues often left unspoken.
AAF and WLI alumna and event organiser Neelta Goundar summed it up with passion:
“As alumni, we are not just here to celebrate our past. We are here to shape our future. This was about breaking stigma, building awareness, and bringing our families along on the journey of leadership and health.”
A Shared Journey: With Gratitude and Vision
The organisers expressed deep gratitude to DFAT for their support in fostering alumni networks that are bold, inclusive, and impact driven.
In a region where climate change, NCDs, and health inequalities continue to rise, alumni-led initiatives like this demonstrate that solutions don’t just come from institutions, they come from empowered individuals and families.
What’s Next?
This was not a one-time celebration. It was a call to every Pacific alum:
Use your voice. Share your story. Lead with empathy. Empower your community.
Australia Awards and enrichment programs like WLI will continue to support alumni who lead with heart, and understand that the road to better futures begins with healthy beginnings.
#AustraliaAwards #WLILeads #WorldHealthDay
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