Benchmarking Breakout: Rolling out the Fala – a broader approach to engaging with young people and aiga.

Event Description

After attending Single Session Family Consultation (SSFC) training together, the Pasifika Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service (CAMHS) at Capital and Coast came together for an a’oa’oga (learning) about how they might interpret this approach for the young people and aiga (families) they work alongside.

This discussion grew into a broader exploration of how to engage and work with Pasifika families, drawing on some of the principles within the SSFC framework. The team began thinking about Rolling Out the Fala – a concept shared across Pacific cultures, where the fala creates a space for people to come together, connect and share important conversations – and what this might offer within a mental health context.

Alongside Mercy Brown, Cultural Advisor with more than 25 years’ experience working in Pasifika CAMHS, Clinical Psychologist Kennedy Stewart has helped develop and embed this approach within the service. While the SSFC framework provides a basis for collaborative working, Rolling Out The Fala is a broader approach to engaging with young people and aiga.

Join Kennedy and Mercy for a 1.5 hour workshop where they will introduce the approach, explore what guides their practice, and share what it looks like in action. The session will also invite thoughtful reflection about how others might engage families in their own services and contexts.

The learning from this session is relevant not only to those working in CAMHS services, but to all kaimahi working across the mental health and addictions system.

Benchmarking Breakouts are run in a wānanga style. This means we encourage active participation in the session. We create a welcoming and safe space to share your experiences, ask questions and make connection with peers from across the motu.

Single Session Family Consultation (SSFC) is a framework for engaging and building connection with people who use services, their support networks and loved ones. It was developed by the Bouverie Center, La Trobe University, Australia.

Training in Aotearoa New Zealand is provided by Whāraurau the workforce centre for infant child and adolescent services. SSFC training is open to all kaimahi working in mental health and addiction.

This session links to improving the whānau engagement indicator.