Dr Ta’avale Ioana Mulipola, has been awarded a NZ Health Research Council HRC, Pacific Postdoctoral fellowship to explore the use of Gagana Samoa in understanding mental health. As part of her research, she will look to interview both Samoan āiga and mental health service providers in Aotearoa, NZ. Dr Mulipola sees this as an opportunity to highlight the value of the Gagana Samoa, and the broader fa’a Samoa in describing what mental health and illness is according to Samoan worldview. She aims for findings of this study to help address stigma of mental illness and strengthen Samoan specific therapeutic tools for prevention and healing.
Dr Mulipola is a NZ Registered Nurse from the villages of Vailu’utai and Fasito’otai. Her parents are the late Mua’au Lea’itua Niko Liaina and Leueta So’onaai Penō Liaina. Dr Mulipola has worked in mental health services in Counties Manukau and Auckland District health board for over 17 years. She is currently a lecturer at the Auckland University of Technology’s School of Nursing in Auckland.
Upon completing her doctorate study in 2023, where she explored Samoan families experience and interpretation of the person and family-centred model of care in adult community mental health services, Dr Mulipola founded the Faugagana Practice. The first initiative is the Faugagana Podcast. The podcast was created to share important information about mental health and illness in the Gagana Samoa with Samoan listeners.
With the support of Samoan mental health professionals, she produced Season 1 where the focus was on providing general information of mental health and illness, symptoms, and where to find help. In season 2, Samoan community members including, matai, church leaders, taulasea, practitioners and academics contributed their insights into Samoan cultural practices and its connection to mental wellbeing. These series of conversations identified the importance of using the Gagana Samoa to understand Samoan mental health and wellbeing.
‘Often the answer we are looking for is within us’ Ole fale ma le anofale. This research is an opportunity to explore and reminds us of the strength of the Gagana and fa’a Samoa to our holistic wellbeing’
Dr Mulipola’s research commenced on May 1 st , 2026, and will take place over 4 years. She is looking forward to the journey and the opportunity to work together with the Samoan community in Auckland to bring a Samoan culturally perspectives to the mental health sector.
‘Fa’afetai tele lava to HRC for believing in my vision, and it is an honour to tautua for my community through this research project’
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