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Contact Details

Phone
+64 3 479 8493
Email
tai.sopoaga@otago.ac.nz

University Links

Position
Professor, Director of Va’a o Tautai, Lecturer Dunedin School of Medicine
Qualifications
PhD FNZCPHM FRNZCGP MPH DPH MBChB
Research summary
Pacific health, the medical curriculum, Pacific health workforce, and equity

Research

Faumuina Professor Fa’afetai (Tai) Sopoaga leads Va’a o Tautai (VOT) – Centre for Pacific Health in the Division of Health Sciences.

She was born and raised in Samoa before moving to New Zealand to pursue tertiary studies. Faumuina is a public health physician and trained also as a GP. She was awarded the Companion of the NZ Order of Merit for services to education and the Pacific community in 2022. She received the Prime Minister’s award for tertiary teaching excellence in 2018, including excellence in teaching award at the University of Otago, and endorsement for excellence in supporting Pacific learners, Ako Aotearoa.

Faumuina's work involves strengthening engagements with local, national, and regional Pacific communities seeking opportunities that have mutual benefits when engaging them in the work of the university in teaching, services and research. She was a Health Advisor to the NZ Ministry of Foreign Affairs for work in Samoa 2021-2023, and is current Heath Advisor to the Director General, Ministry of Health, Samoa. She is involved in leading efforts in response to regional disasters such as the Tsunami and measles in Samoa, and is a member of the Secretariat for the Pacific Community (SPC), Scientific Technical Expert Group (STEG). She is also a member of the Pacific Expert Advisory Group to the NZ Ministry of Health, and involved in the local and national context to support efforts during Covid-19.

Faumuina leads the Va’a o Tautai ensuring its work is aligned with the University of Otago Pacific Strategic Framework. Faumuina’s research focuses on Pacific health, the medical curriculum, strengthening the Pacific health workforce and addressing equity issues in society. She is of Samoan descent.

Publications

Sopoaga, F., Nada-Raja, S., & Lameta, M. (2025). Tertiary institution's duty of care for the health and well-being of Pacific students during COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional survey. Journal of Primary Health Care, 17(1), 17-22. doi: 10.1071/HC24039 Journal - Research Article

Sopoaga, L., Nada-Raja, S., Colhoun, S., Leckie, T., & Sopoaga, F. (2024). First-year Pacific students' perception of their well-being journey at university in Aotearoa New Zealand. Open Journal of Social Sciences, 12(11), 756-779. doi: 10.4236/jss.2024.1211051 Journal - Research Article

Rudland, J., Al-Busaidi, I., Aldabe, D., Bryant, K., Jones, V., Kane, P., Ma, S., Moffat, S., Noller, G., Peterson, A., Ross, J., Sopoaga, F., & Anderson, L. (2024). Addressing unacceptable behaviours in clinical learning environment. In S. Marshall (Ed.), Proceedings of the 16th Tertiary Education Research in New Zealand (TERNZ) Conference. (pp. 47-48). HERDSA Aotearoa/New Zealand. Retrieved from https://www.herdsa.org.nz/ternz Conference Contribution - Published proceedings: Abstract

Sopoaga, F. (2024, September). Imagining our future through our past: The context and journey of Tagata o le Moana in Aotearoa. Invited presentation at the New Zealand College of Public Health Medicine Annual Scientific Meeting, Waitangi, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

Sopoaga, F. (2024, September). Pacific leadership: Leading with confidence and influence. Keynote presentation at the Pasifika Physiotherapy Association Annual Coconnect Event: Weaving Connections and Inspiring Future Leaders, Dunedin, New Zealand. Conference Contribution - Verbal presentation and other Conference outputs

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