My job: Helping Pasifika people step up

Isabella Rasch says it's very satisfying seeing those she has helped go on and graduate. Photo / Supplied

Name: Isabella Rasch.
Age: 48.
Employer: Pasifika Student Support Adviser.
Hours: 37.50 hours per week (sometimes more depending on projects).
Salary: $40,000 to $60,000.
Qualifications: AUT University: Master of Arts Art & Design [Hons], Post Graduate Diploma in PR and Communication, Tertiary Teaching Certificate. Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design: Diploma of Fine Arts.

Describe what you do

I am a Pasifika Student Adviser at Auckland University of Technology Student Services. I am responsible for providing support and advocacy services for Pasifika students and staff at the AUT city campus. This usually begins by assisting students' transition from secondary to tertiary education, and then advising them one-to-one or in small groups.

I plan and deliver student workshops on topics such as scholarship information, and I have an equity-support role within one of the university's faculties to improve retention and academic success for its Pasifika students. I assist in developing faculty and university initiatives that can effectively encourage the students' progression such as establishing and monitoring a Pasifika student online forum. Celebrating Pasifika student academic success is another important role that is probably the most satisfying.

Why did you choose this line of work?

I am a New Zealand-born Samoan with German and Chinese ancestry and I'm passionate about learning, encouraging, supporting and championing Pasifika people to achieve their life goals. I'm very interested in how education can make a positive difference.

After school I travelled, then returned to New Zealand and started working at the ANZ, attracted by the way they supported training. I worked in banking for 17 years, and was the first Pasifika female branch manager in the central city. Over that time I did part of a business diploma as well as completing a fine arts diploma through Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design.

Then, when I was in my thirties, Mum got cancer and that made me rethink my career, life choices and personal values. I returned to full-time study and completed a post graduate diploma in public relations at AUT. Through that I got a part-time job with the Auckland City Council working in events which led to getting the publicist role for the inaugural Auckland City Pasifika Festival.

I decided to apply for my current role because I wanted to work within the tertiary sector with Pasifika peoples and the role brought together my alofa for education and for the Pacific peoples. When I started at AUT, 10 years ago, I was the only Pasifika student liaison person for both campuses. Now there are three dedicated people on each campus as well as liaison teams.

Who do you work with?

I work with AUT Pasifika students and their families. All of the Pasifika ethnic communities are represented at AUT either in the student body or in the academic and allied staff groups. I have professional relationships with many lecturers and faculty heads, as well as student support teams, programme leaders and post-graduate research centre staff.

What skills or qualities do you need for this job?

You need the ability to build rapport quickly and inspire trust and confidence with students who are of all ages, cultures and educational backgrounds and often feel uncertain and self-conscious about seeking support.

You need a practical yet in-depth cultural knowledge and the ability to read and understand situations to be able to offer possible solutions. I can be called in by faculties to help with a student when something goes wrong, by finding out the student's perspective and relaying that to the faculty in a way that makes sense to both.

You need to be flexible as a member of a team and to collaborate with others. But I think the most important skill is to understand and respect people's identity and personal development and have the ability to encourage them.

Best part of the job?

I really enjoy watching students graduate and hearing about their academic successes. I also enjoy the constant variety of learning experiences and being able to contribute to opportunities for Pasifika peoples' tertiary educational advancement.

Challenges?

Meeting the changing and evolving needs of Pasifika students, and encouraging older, mature Pasifika people to enter into and complete tertiary education.

Advice, for those interested?

Practical experience is as important as a tertiary qualification if you want to make a difference among Pasifika students. This could be in business, education, counselling or youth and community work.

Pasifika community experience is very important too, as is being able to speak a Pasifika language. Acknowledge and build up this knowledge and experience.

Future?

I want to continue to study part-time to keep growing and to inform my practice so I am considering enrolling in a doctoral programme part time to further my exploration of my thesis on the concept of alofa.