Australian Universities Pacific Associations Conference 2022

AUPAC is an event organised by Pasifika for Pasifika to celebrate all that we are and all that we can be. It’s theme was ‘Strengthening our mana to be bold, visionary and revolutionary Pacific leaders'.

Last week, UTS hosted the Australian Universities Pacific Associations Conference (AUPAC) 2022. As is the way of Tagata Pasifika, or people from the Pacific Ocean, we left our traces across the spaces we navigated. The city of Sydney was awash with the essence of Pasifika – we were the ones shouting ‘CHEEEEHOOO’ on Alumni Green, shedding red feathers on stage at the Great Hall as we donned our cultural wear, and wafting the smells of paradise in the Dr Chau Chak Wing Building with fresh gardenias draped over our ears and coconut oil rubbed into our brown skins.

200 Pasifika university students flew in from all corners of the country from a total of 17 universities: Australian Catholic University, Australian National University, Avondale University, Bond University, Macquarie University, Monash University, Queensland University of Technology, University of Notre Dame, University of Queensland, University of Sydney, University of Canberra, University of New South Wales, University of Newcastle, University of Sunshine Coast, University of Wollongong, and Western Sydney University. As students dragged their suitcases across campus through the rain, AUPAC 2022’s theme was becoming steady: by simply showing up for the community, we were ‘strengthening our mana to be bold, visionary and revolutionary Pacific leaders’.

AUPAC began as a sports tournament organised and hosted by Western Sydney University in 2018. AUPAC 2022 returned to campus for the first time since COVID-19 pushed the world online, with UTS Pasifika Society and UTS Pasifika Programs at the Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion incorporating new workshops centring on Pasifika identity.

Day 1

Plenary session 

Aunty Glendra Stubbs acknowledged the land and warmly welcomed us to campus with her signature wit and grace. Multidisciplinary artist Tommy Misa delivered the opening keynote. Tommy’s art sat proudly on their being; floral earrings following their wide smile with each story they shared about being proudly Fa’afafine, Pasifika and an artist. We cheered, laughed and cried as Tommy declared they were here and queer and that Pasifika heritage was a treasure we all should cherish to succeed. Tommy’s address truly empowered us with their mana and embodiment of AUPAC’s theme: being bold and revolutionary.

Workshops

In workshops, students explored how Pasifika identity enhanced personal development. We heard from Greens NSW’s multicultural organiser, Isaac Nasedra, about what it takes for Pacific youth to become leaders now and in future. Esita Sogotubu from UTS Careers and Amanda Moors-Mailei from the UTS Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion discussed leveraging Pacific ancestral intelligence for career and studies.

Cultural diversity counsellor Moera Tufunga facilitated a workshop on Pacific mental health and wellbeing in higher education – a critical session considering Pasifika's stigma when seeking mental health. Joseph-Zane Sikulu and the Pacific Climate Warriors (PCW) also joined us for a workshop on activism and using your voice for change. The PCW’s work has brought the world’s attention to the devastating effect the climate crisis has on the Pacific Islands. All these esteemed workshop leaders were of Pasifika heritage themselves, and so each session amplified the voices our students already had within.

AUPAC was truly an amazing experience that brought so many people together to enhance their mana & to embrace new friendships along the way – University of Queensland South Pacific Islander Association student

Pasifika Amazing Race

Students were split up and sent across the city campus for the UTS Pasifika Amazing Race. Over 12 tasks, students recognised how culture, especially within our diasporic community, shapes our existence from simple acts like ‘build a pyramid with nine people' to ‘finding the cost of this can of coconut cream commonly used in Pasifika recipes at the local supermarket’. It may have also brought out the competitive nature of a specific author of this article, but the last place is still a place! Students left campus with sore legs and full hearts, ready for the second and final day of AUPAC.

Day 2

Plenary session

Bronwyn Williams of the PATHE program from Western Sydney University challenged students to apply the conference theme in their own lives – to believe they were truly capable of being bold, visionary and revolutionary. She highlighted the need to move beyond limiting and deficiency-based labels placed on our community, ending her address by getting the whole audience to repeat a quote by the late, great Epeli Hau’ofa: "We should not be defined by the smallness of our islands, but by the greatness of our oceans. We are the sea, we are the ocean. Oceania is us."

This was so wonderful and valuable to me – I felt so emotional and connected to everyone throughout the whole conference – Leilana Levy, UTS Pasifika Society

Workshops

The second round of workshops focused on the creativity and physicality of Pasifika expression. Fred Schwenke, co-founder of the traditional Pacific performing Arts centre, Matavai, led students in a workshop that taught the art of fire dancing (don’t worry, the only thing aflame was the passion of the workshop participants). Author and artist Seini Taumoepeau led a workshop on wayfinding one’s story – impressing on us the value of recognising the power in lived experiences and how it can be manifested on the page. Joseph Tau from One Love Mentoring, a program that caters to communities often recognised as low SES, took over the UTS sports hall with games traditionally played by Tagata Pasifika during childhood. People walking by at that time might have thought it was the rugby world cup grand final, and the Wallabies were up against the All Blacks!

Cultural showcase

Representatives of Western Sydney University, Australian National University, the University of Canberra, Monash University, Macquarie University, University of Queensland and our very own University of Technology Sydney performed traditional dances in traditional clothing from countries all over the Pacific. Rotuma, Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Samoa, Tokelau and Tonga were loudly and proudly represented with the sounds of our people echoing around the Great Hall.

The showcase was a beautiful reminder of the generosity of our people. As performers got up on stage, people from other university groups – strangers only a day prior – jumped on stage and slammed their open palms onto the ground or on their chests in a culturally-recognised form of support. In Samoan, this is called aiuli, where the dramatic and high-octane actions perfectly contrast the graceful movements of the main dancers. Even as the closing dance began, performed by UTS Pasifika society events director Siokapesi Faiva, presidents of three different university societies were aiuli joining family members who had made their way from all over Australia for the performance.

Just like the oceans that connect our islands, we gathered at UTS as individual associations and left united, connected and showcased what Pacific excellence is and looks like. When one achieves, we all succeed and I hope that we all continue to be bold, brave and revolutionary in all that we do. – TJ Polataivao-Reupena, University of Queensland South Pacific Islander Association President

AUPAC 2022 Ball

The ball was the perfect ending to the conference – a celebration of Pasifika heritage, achievement, community and mana. UTS Pasifika Society president Anna Tasi Tevaga performed a final taualuga – an ode to the grand ceremonial finales traditionally performed for all events in her home country, Samoa. As the laughter and CHEEEHOOOs echoed off Aerial UTS Function Centre’s balcony and into the night, we recognised the importance of events like these. An event organised by Pasifika for Pasifika to celebrate all that we are and all that we can be. An event that 'strengthened our mana to become bold, visionary and revolutionary Pacific leaders'.