Letava Thompson

Additional details

After graduating with a Bachelor of Health Sciences degree, majoring in Pacific and Global Health, minoring in media film and communications as well as environment society, Letava was eager to seek out meaningful work. Her search led her right back to the Pacific student support service that guided her through her studies at the University of Otago; the Pacific Opportunities Programmes at Otago (POPO). Here Letava received a position at the Va’a o Tautai – Centre for Pacific Health as the Programme Co-ordinator (Media).

She provides media support for activities undertaken within the POPO Prorgamme. Her skills in media stemmed from her background of working with Women in Business Development Inc in Samoa as their communications officer for several years.

She is passionate about the role that she plays in engaging and supporting the future Pacific health workforce of Aotearoa and Pacific Island nations. She works to boost social media engagement with prospective students, current Pacific students studying Health Sciences at the University of Otago, as well as use the POPO social media platforms to provide real-life updates of the support and Pacific community that Otago has to offer for families who send their children to Otago to pursue tertiary education.

Letava is now completing a Bachelor of Law and a Diploma in Public Health at the University of Otago where she hopes to bring together her passions of healthcare, environmental sustainability, and public policy to improve Pacific health both here in Aotearoa New Zealand and in the Pacific Islands.