The Pacific Science for Health Literacy Project: A case study of collaboration and capability development

Suzanne Trask¹, Jane Taurarii², Jacquie Bay¹

1. Liggins Institute, University of Auckland, New Zealand; 2. Cook Islands Ministry of Education, Cook Islands.

The Pacific Science for Health Literacy Project is a 5-year MFAT-funded partnership between the Cook Islands Ministries of Education and Health and the University of Auckland | Waipapa Taumata Rau. The project goal is to realise long-term benefits associated with improved adolescent health. To achieve this, education-health partnerships are essential, requiring professional, technical and leadership capability development.
This presentation reports evidence from a case study of one section of the project. The case describes how the development and use of Photovoice as a learning tool to support adolescent health and scientific literacy is contributing to professional capability development.

Data are drawn from meeting notes, interviews, and focus groups. Three dimensions are discussed in the context of this case: (1) capacity building in education-health teams by collaborative development and piloting of (2) local design adaptable learning materials to support (3) cohesive, cumulative student learning.

Trask, S., Taurarii, J., & Bay, J. (2022). The Pacific Science for Health Literacy Project: A case study of collaboration and capability development. New Zealand Association for Research in Education (NZARE) Conference, Online, New Zealand.