Insights from the Welcoming Universities Summit Series Webinar #9 – UniSC Pasifika Mentorship Program Panel Discussion
The latest session of the Welcoming Universities Summit Series explored how culturally grounded mentoring can support Pasifika young people to see higher education as a place where they belong. Featuring speakers from the University of the Sunshine Coast (UniSC), the webinar highlighted the development and impact of the UniSC Pasifika Empower Program, a growing initiative designed to strengthen educational pathways for Māori and Pasifika students.
The discussion brought together Peter Lavercombe (Widening Participation Manager), Anne Fili (Pasifika Program Coordinator) and Cathy Sakaio (former participant, current mentor and Bachelor of Paramedicine student), who shared both program outcomes and lived experiences.
From Representation Gap to Community-Led Action
The origins of the program can be traced to conversations between local schools, community organisations, Moreton Bay City Council, and UniSC, through alignment of Welcoming Cities and Welcoming Universities portfolios. While schools in the region had significant Māori and Pasifika student populations, very few students appeared to continue into higher education. This prompted a collaborative effort to create stronger transition pathways and culturally safe support structures.
These early discussions led to the establishment of the Agava’a Mentorship Program and the creation of a UniSC Pasifika Advisory Group, bringing together university staff and community representatives to guide the program’s growth.
Building Confidence Through Connection
Funded through Queensland Government multicultural grants alongside UniSC’s widening participation initiatives, the pilot Agava’a program launched in 2025 for Year 11 and 12 students. The program connected Pasifika high school students with current university students who had been trained as mentors. Through workshops, campus visits, cultural activities and career conversations, participants explored future study options while strengthening their sense of identity and belonging.
The results were encouraging:
- 85% of participants reported feeling connected to other students.
- 82% felt that university or TAFE study was achievable.
- 100% of workshops included involvement from community organisations and stakeholders.
- 84% of participants reported increased confidence in their ability to achieve study goals.
Importantly, many students entering the program had never previously visited a university campus. Repeated exposure helped reduce uncertainty and build confidence in navigating higher education spaces.
Starting Earlier
In 2026, the program expanded to include a Year 10 stream, recognising that conversations about study and careers often need to begin before senior subject selections are made. Working directly with schools, mentors facilitated workshops focused on pathway awareness, subject choices and transferable strengths that already exist within Pasifika communities.
Program leaders emphasised that many young people possess valuable leadership, project management, hospitality and organisational skills developed through family, church and community life, but may not recognise these experiences as strengths relevant to university and future careers. The program seeks to make those connections visible.
All participating Year 10 students reported feeling welcome at university and gaining a better understanding of available education pathways.
Culture as a Strength, Not a Barrier
A central theme throughout the discussion was the importance of cultural identity.
Rather than asking students to leave parts of themselves behind in order to succeed academically, the program positions culture as an asset. Workshops are built around Pasifika concepts of community, family and collective responsibility, helping students see how their existing strengths can support educational success.
As Anne Fili explained, effective engagement is not simply about presenting university information. It requires meeting students where they are, recognising the importance of family decision-making and creating environments where students can see people like themselves thriving in higher education.
For institutions looking to develop similar initiatives, the panel stressed the importance of designing programs with Pasifika communities rather than for them. Community partnerships, cultural knowledge and ongoing consultation were identified as critical ingredients for success.
The Power of Peer Mentoring
One of the session’s most compelling reflections came from Cathy Sakaio, who participated in the inaugural program as a high school student before returning as a mentor while studying paramedicine at UniSC.
Cathy described entering university feeling shy and disconnected, unsure whether she belonged. Through mentoring relationships she gained confidence, built networks and discovered pathways she had not previously considered. As a mentor, she now helps younger students navigate similar uncertainties.
Her story illustrates the long-term vision of the program: a self-sustaining cycle in which participants become mentors, creating visible role models for the next generation of Pasifika students.
Relationships at the Centre
Throughout the webinar, speakers repeatedly returned to one key lesson: relationships matter.
Whether between students and mentors, universities and schools, or institutions and communities, trust and sustained engagement were identified as the foundations of meaningful change. The program’s success has been built not only on pathway information, but on creating a sense of welcome, familiarity and belonging.
As the UniSC Pasifika Empower Program continues to evolve, its experience offers valuable insights for universities seeking to strengthen equity in higher education. The discussion demonstrated that when cultural identity, community partnership and mentoring are placed at the centre of engagement efforts, universities can move beyond access alone and create environments where students feel they genuinely belong.
Trisnasari Fraser is Coordinator of Welcoming Universities, an initiative supporting Australian universities to create conditions of welcome, inclusion and belonging for people of all backgrounds.