Teupoko'ina Utanga Morgan Memorial Award
The purpose of the Teupoko'ina Utanga Morgan Memorial Award is to advance Pacific early childhood education. Early childhood education refers to both informal and formal pre-school teaching of young children by people outside the family or in settings outside the home. The award is for an established innovation in early childhood education that advances at least one of the following: programme management, the learning environment, interactions between pre-school children, their families and communities. Preference will be given to innovations shown to be sustainable and of benefit to the wider Pacific community in New Zealand.
The Teupoko’ina Utanga Morgan Memorial Award for Innovation in Pasifika Early Childhood Education was awarded to Betty Pulefolau for her LIMAR project. This project develops resources to assist Pasifika early childhood educators to work with and support Autism.
Tribute
The Teupoko'ina Utanga Morgan Memorial Award is sponsored by Anau Ako Pasifika as a tribute to the life of Teupoko'ina Utanga Morgan (Poko). Poko had an outstanding career, being involved in developing policies to benefit Pacific communities and advocating for women's leadership issues. Her contribution to education, women's and children's issues was recognised with a QSM for service to her community in 1986 and in 1990 she received a Fullbright scholarship to study overseas.
Betty Pulefolau (centre) with Dr Tanya Wendt-Samu (left, University of Auckland) and V. Togiamua (right)
Betty Pulefolau-Kolose is dedicated to raise awareness of Autism in the Pacific communities. She is of Samoan descent from the villages of Falealili and Suifaga Savaii. Betty currently sits on the Board for the Fountain of Knowledge Trust. Betty Pulefolau and her husband Brian are the founders of Pasifika Autism Support Group (PASG). This is a new initiative for Pasifika parents and carers to meet with others for support and share similar experiences, gain new information and to bring awareness of autism to the Pacific community.
The NHWT Teupoko'ina Utanga Morgan Memorial Award will support Betty in creating and developing resources for supporting students on the Autism Spectrum Disorder at two Early Childhood Education Centre under the Fountain of Knowledge Trust. Early intervention has consistently been shown to improve outcomes in these individuals. The LIMAR tool kit will be created for Pasifika Early Childhood centres and staff to support within an inclusive learning environment and improve outcomes for children that are affected by Autism, alongside the individual and the entire family