Accident Compensation Corporation in Manukau, south Auckland, ended its Samoan Language week celebration last Friday.
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The week-long celebration had become an annual concept designed to embrace the diversifying population of Auckland, as well as making the staff aware of the cultural values required when dealing with clients of different ethnicities.
This year's celebration was a touch different with the four main characters that helped shaped Samoa to what it is today, Nafanua, Samalaulu, Salamasina, Levalasi being the main focus of the celebration.
“Those four characters are prominent ladies of the ancient history of Samoa,” says the Samoan Pacific Cultural Advisor, Leuga Ata Tauaana Sofara.
“The idea is to research the history of these four prominent ladies and what legacy they leave behind – it is a significant move to learn the history behind the legacy and to understand and celebrate the Samoan culture. It's an important part of the work here at ACC so our staff can understand the protocols of dealing with different people that walks into our office looking for help.”
Celebrating language week is into its eighth year now and according to Orepa Efaraimo, who has been at ACC for 25 years, there had been remarkable changes to the office and celebrating language week had added and improved the way office staff handles the clients.
“It's been all good changes in my 25 years here,” she says.
The Accident Compensation Corporation office has 22 Samoan staff on its payroll of about 140 employees while there are others who are connected through marriages – it is something Toleafoa Neil Faamatala So'onalole, a Community Injury Prevention Consultant is quite proud to point out in regards to how each Pacific languages should be celebrated at every workplace, “To acknowledge the presence of our Pacific people at workplaces.
It helps us communicate better with people of other ethnicities and improves our workplace performances.”
Celebrating Samoa language week is a tradition ACC has embraced.
It's one area it see that will strengthened its obligations to serve the public over the counter or through the telephone.
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