On 6 and 7 July 2023 Pacific practitioners working in the areas of family violence and/or sexual violence met for the first time at a national fono in
Auckland.

A key focus of the Fono was to strengthen connections amongst Pacific practitioners and create a shared understanding of Te Aorerekura - National Strategy to Eliminate Family and Sexual Violence.

The inaugural Pacific practitioners’ Fono brought together NGOs and community practitioners and leaders working in the areas of family violence (FV) and sexual violence (SV). The focus and subsequent outcome of the Fono was to:
- Build and strengthen connections amongst Pacific
FVSV practitioners;
- Create a shared understanding of Te Aorerekura,
Shifts and Actions;
- Consolidate and embed enduring engagement
platforms for Pacific stakeholders to contribute
towards the design, implementation, and review of
Te Aorerekura (ref Action 5 in Te Aorerekura Action
Plan);
- Strengthen and enable Pacific FVSV practitioners
to be better supported in their roles.

The Fono participants discussed first hand what is
important to each region to address barriers linking
national and regional strategies, and the importance
of shared understandings of models, practices, and
frameworks. It also led to a deeper understanding of the
regional, local workforce and appetite for future fono
and methods of engagement. (From the report). Record #8649