Niue Language Week 2022: "My family and my roots as a Niuean are so important to me"
Updates / News, 22 Oct 22
Nursing Director for Etu Pasifika Auckland and proud Niuean, Falena Prouting, spoke at the recent Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) Conference about her inspiring journey as a nurse and is grateful to have shared words of encouragement to attendees.

Mrs Prouting has worked in Primary Care as a Practice Nurse/Urgent Care Nurse for seven years after completing a Bachelor of Nursing at Manukau Institute of Technology (MIT) at the age of 36, a part of her journey she talked about at the PMA Conference. 

“At first, I was nervous and unsure to speak about myself and talk about my personal life and the struggles my family and I experienced to get to where I am now. 

But after I spoke that day, I did feel relief that I was able to share and hopefully give someone else the courage to not be afraid to go back and study and achieve something better for themselves and their family.”

Mrs Prouting was born and raised in Niue until she was ten and says she makes an effort to utilise the language and values as a Niuean where she can in her field of work. 

“I try to use my Niuean Language daily in my workplace, from basic triaging, explaining about the Covid vaccine or advising an elderly patient about their medications. I treat our patients with respect and kindness as it’s important to gain trust from patients through good rapport.

As a Nursing Director and a Niuean woman, I am proud to be part of the PMA family and a clinic that maintains their commitment to providing the best care for our Pacific community.”

Mrs Prouting holds a lot of pride as a Niuean and is grateful that the language and culture was a part of her upbringing. 

“Niue is a small Island, but we are proud people. My family and my roots as a Niuean are so important to me. This is something my parents have instilled in me from a young age; I am grateful they taught me how to speak Niuean and taught me Niuean traditions and the importance of family and culture.”

Date: Saturday 22 October 2022

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