Photovoice as pedagogy: Exploring complexity in Cook Islands food environments

Trask, S., Singh, D., Joseph, D., Joseph, M., Solomona, P., Williams, M., Seba, N., Roberts, N., Peters, M., Aiturau, M., Taurarii, T., Tafale, U., & Bay, J.​

Food systems have changed over time, with negative consequences for the well-being of Pacific populations. Research has shown that young people who understand complex influences on health are more likely to reference systems-level drivers and less likely to attribute issues to personal-level blame.
This presentation from the Pacific Science for Health Literacy Project explains outcomes from a learning programme supporting adolescent awareness and exploration of Cook Islands food environments.

Data were drawn from a three year co-development partnership and teacher professional learning in seven Cook Islands schools. Sources included workshop discussions, interviews, teacher observations, and student work samples. The use of Photovoice enabled learners to capture and share unique perspectives without requiring high-level literacy.

Teachers reported that students were better able to identify systems-level influences, including barriers and enablers to healthy eating. Teachers provided examples of students transferring their learning to contexts outside school. Students shared personal stories about impacts of non-communicable diseases in ways that had not happened before. The programme stimulated parents’ interest who requested further learning about healthy nutrition.

The learning and connections achieved between schools and families provide a strong rationale for continuing to develop this work.

Trask, S., Singh, D., Joseph, D., Joseph, M., Solomona, P., Williams, M., Seba, N., Roberts, N., Peters, M., Aiturau, M., Taurarii, T., Tafale, U., & Bay, J.​ (2024). Photovoice as pedagogy: Exploring complexity in Cook Islands food environments. New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE) Conference, Hamilton, New Zealand.