So talking about learning Samoan, did you teach yourself or did you learn it from your family? How did you go about it?
It was a community effort! After my grandpa passed away in 2016, I realised time is not infinite, and I wanted to continue to build my relationship with my grandma. It’s been six years now, and I’d say I’m conversational. It helped me understand where I came from and also strengthened my values and foundations as a Samoan person. When I go out into the world, when I'm in the legal profession, I can represent myself, my family, my culture and my faith.
Now that I'm teaching others, it really makes me want to help them to be even more connected with themselves by connecting to their culture, and that kind of links to my work as a peer researcher. We do a lot of work helping to understand what the current perspective is for young Pasifika people, helping them to figure out ways to connect with their culture.
Can you tell me more about being a peer researcher? What does that involve?
Within the Pasifika community there's not a lot of research done about our people and by our people living within Australia. As a peer researcher I assist a public health lecturer at QUT, Dr Jo Durham, and we write papers about the current status of Pasifika young people. It's great work because there's a lot of help out there for our young people, but sometimes there are particular cultural nuances that will stop people from accessing health care or services.
Just to jump back a bit to the PLAQ breakfast. You were doing a performance, right?
Yes, I was. That was a little Samoan siva, which means dance. We as Pasifika people love to celebrate, and I thought, “What a great way to show some other legal professionals a little bit of our culture.” I was able to complete that with another recently admitted lawyer, Bless [Mafile’o].
What do you like to do in your downtime? How do you stay balanced? You’re so busy!
I exercise, but before exercising I read my Bible every day. Praying is something that flows on from that, and then exercising is the next step in my schedule when I wake up. Oh, and I love reading too!
As a law clerk I realised lawyers are very busy, and maintaining self-care is not only self-love, but love to others. That’s been a real benefit of taking the scenic route. I’ve been able to learn about the importance of not over doing things, not over committing.
I feel like there’s a shift coming, or already starting, to get lawyers to focus on looking after themselves and make changes from within the profession.
One of the highlights of my job was when our director said, very seriously, “Can everyone please make sure that they’re not reading their work emails once they go home?” What a great example set by the leaders of our firm about the importance of that work-life-home balance! I think it really does start from the top. So that was very encouraging to hear, especially in my first real law job.
What’s your proudest moment or accomplishment?
I would have to say when my sister told me she was proud of me. Having gone through that tough health battle, for so many years I didn’t feel like I was being an older sister, so for her to say that… I'm so grateful. I think when you have that perspective of gratefulness, it really does transform the way you see things.
Do you have a role model? Who’s your greatest influence?
Definitely my mum and dad. They have been ministers for the past 30 years, so my entire life I have seen them serve and love others. My parents have definitely been my biggest influence and my biggest cheerleaders.
