From Māngere To Medicine: Pacific Migrant Dreams Big
The scarcity of Pacific professionals in medicine empowers her, and she says visibility matters.
Māngere teen Selina Camillo, 18, migrated from Fiji to Māngere just a few years ago, but she's already making academic waves as she works towards becoming a heart surgeon.
Since setting foot in Aotearoa for the first time in December 2022, Camillo has topped her class, served as head girl at Southern Cross Campus, and is now studying at the University of Auckland – the first of her family to do so.
Studying a Bachelor of Biomedical Science, she is one of only 16 students awarded a Milford Foundation Scholarship this year, which provides up to $10,000 annually. She also received a University of Auckland Top Achiever Scholarship.
The funding has helped ease the cost pressure of studying, as she didn't want to be a financial burden for her parents, who secured permanent residency in January this year.
'I was always worried about how am I going to pay for my tuition fees,' she says.
'It really made me feel that it will bring me closer to achieving my dream of becoming a doctor.'
Her interest in the human heart stems back to a young age in Fiji and is what motivated her to specialise in cardiology.
'That was the first organ that I was taught in year 7 back home,' she says.
Camillo grew up seeing heart disease impact her family and other Pacific households, a pattern that school later confirmed was part of a global trend as one of the leading causes of death.
'So I was very interested in just being able to get into that field as a Pacifica to be able to help our people not only to treat the disease but also to help promote healthy lifestyle and bring a reduction to lives being affected by heart disease.'
Through her academic success, Camillo is proud to highlight her culture.
The scarcity of Pacific professionals in medicine empowers her, and she says visibility matters:
'So far I don't know any Rotuman doctor here nor my family, but there's only one Tuvaluan doctor I know who's based in Wellington,' she says.
'[Representation] is very important, especially coming from very small islands, Tuvalu and Rotuma. Most people don't even know where Rotuma is at all.'
Still, Camillo remains undeterred, her motivation is clear. 'I just want to be able to represent my island, my culture.'
Only 981 people in New Zealand identified as Rotuman and 4653 as Tuvaluan, according to the 2018 Census,
With small numbers, these groups are often lumped into the broader 'Other Pacific Peoples' category in education and government data, limiting their visibility and access to targeted resources.
Most assume she is Samoan, but she has to correct them by saying she's Rotuman or Tuvaluan – a culture many are unfamiliar with, she says.
'It helps people to know more about my people, my culture. So sometimes I feel proud of being able to put my culture somewhere that's good for others to see and also learn something new.'
She says her cultural upbringing shaped her values and her drive.
'Tuvaluan is my first language, mother tongue,' she says.
'Growing up with my grandparents and mum in Tuvalu, I learned a lot about my culture … we were just dependent on fishing and plantation.'
Also raised in Fiji, she learned to read using a Bible.
'My first book was the Bible because we couldn't really afford books. And by the end of Year 2, I also topped Year 2 in Fiji.'
She credits her grandparents' values – respect, humility, and discipline – with guiding her academic journey.
'I just wanted to be a role model to my siblings as I wanted to make a change in my family to make my parents proud in performing well in school.'
Milford Foundation CEO Bryce Marsden says the scholarship is about more than financial support.
'We've seen fantastic results from our first two cohorts. We look forward to the 2025 group joining them as future leaders and visionaries.'
This year, the Foundation has committed nearly $460,000 across three cohorts.
Camillo says her family is her 'why' and hopes to inspire others.
'Do not let your circumstances make you feel doubt about yourself or limit you from reaching your goals,' she says. 'Just grab every opportunity.'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Will Reflective Roofs Help Beat The Heat?
Press Release – University of Auckland Cool roofs could be a climate change adaptation tool that might have huge benefits for the health of people in vulnerable communities, Bunkley says. About 500 roofs across four continents have been painted with a reflective coating, as part of research into tackling the health impacts of climate change. Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland is leading the REFLECT project, which is testing whether reflective white roof paint provides relief from extreme heat in Niue, Mexico, India and Burkina Faso. Climate change has pushed temperatures to extremes that can be harmful for people's health in these nations and many others around the world, says Dr Noah Bunkley from the University's Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, Centre for Pacific and Global Health. Bunkley is managing the global project, which is led by centre director Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga and Dr Aditi Bunker from Heidelberg University in Germany. 'Cool roofs could be a climate change adaptation tool that might have huge benefits for the health of people in vulnerable communities,' Bunkley says. 'We know that heat kills: it increases the risk of health problems, such as heart disease, kidney failure, heat stroke, and diabetes. 'We urgently need solutions that are affordable, easy to implement, safe, and scalable.' Temperatures soar above 45 degrees Celsius in Mexico, India and Burkina Faso and above 32 degrees in Niue, where humidity can linger above 90 percent. 'Climate change has more severe impacts on low-income communities, those living in fragile housing and people who don't have the means to adapt,' Bunkley says. The University of Auckland team is carrying out the research on cool roofs in Niue, while local universities are contributing to the research in the other three nations. While more than 500 roofs have been painted so far, hundreds more households in Mexico are set to receive cool roof coatings. Since the project launched in Niue in 2023, more than 200 of the 530 households on the tiny Pacific Island have signed up to take part. Half those houses have had their roofs painted, while the other half are in the research control group, which will get cool roofs if they prove effective. People aged over 18 within the research households will have physical health assessments for a year and cognitive tests. Surveys will check whether they suffer heat-related conditions, assess their mental health and wellbeing, and note how often they visit healthcare providers and hospitals. 'We're thinking of all the impacts heat has on people's lives and measuring to see if cool roofs have an influence,' says Bunkley. The project aims to generate detailed evidence that could be used in future to seek funding, so the project could be rolled out across areas of the world where heat has become a health threat. 'Serendipity' drew Bunkley into the cool roofs project, which is the topic of his PhD in public health. When he was 25 years old, he spent two months in a rural hospital Tanzania in East Africa, as part of training for his first degrees in medicine and surgery. 'It was really eye opening to see the conditions people lived in and the healthcare provided, which was very minimal, because of the lack of resources for doctors working there and for patients. 'Some patients couldn't afford antibiotics, so their infections got so bad it led to amputations. 'That made me passionate about global health equity,' he says. He began to consider taking a masters degree in public health, an idea that gained momentum when he worked as a junior doctor at Tauranga Hospital for three years. 'I was seeing lots of people with preventable conditions and realised the same people were coming in with the same conditions again and again. 'I wanted to do something to address the underlying causes of disease and to help create healthy environments where people can thrive. 'Public health offers that potential to improve the lives of people on a large scale,' he says. After gaining his masters, Bunkley was asked to help seek a grant for the global cool roofs project and the Wellcome Trust came through with two million pounds. When REFLECT leaders suggested he could get involved in the research and work towards a PhD in public health at the same time, he leapt at the chance. 'It was such a cool opportunity to work on a project that has massive potential to help improve global health equity and tackle some of the impacts of climate change too,' says the 33-year-old. Since then, the Rockefeller Foundation has provided funding for the REFLECT project team to gather in Italy and the Niue research has been supported with grants from the Tindall Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and The Pacific Community. Results from the research are expected early next year.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Will Reflective Roofs Help Beat The Heat?
Press Release – University of Auckland Cool roofs could be a climate change adaptation tool that might have huge benefits for the health of people in vulnerable communities, Bunkley says. About 500 roofs across four continents have been painted with a reflective coating, as part of research into tackling the health impacts of climate change. Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland is leading the REFLECT project, which is testing whether reflective white roof paint provides relief from extreme heat in Niue, Mexico, India and Burkina Faso. Climate change has pushed temperatures to extremes that can be harmful for people's health in these nations and many others around the world, says Dr Noah Bunkley from the University's Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, Centre for Pacific and Global Health. Bunkley is managing the global project, which is led by centre director Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga and Dr Aditi Bunker from Heidelberg University in Germany. 'Cool roofs could be a climate change adaptation tool that might have huge benefits for the health of people in vulnerable communities,' Bunkley says. 'We know that heat kills: it increases the risk of health problems, such as heart disease, kidney failure, heat stroke, and diabetes. 'We urgently need solutions that are affordable, easy to implement, safe, and scalable.' Temperatures soar above 45 degrees Celsius in Mexico, India and Burkina Faso and above 32 degrees in Niue, where humidity can linger above 90 percent. 'Climate change has more severe impacts on low-income communities, those living in fragile housing and people who don't have the means to adapt,' Bunkley says. The University of Auckland team is carrying out the research on cool roofs in Niue, while local universities are contributing to the research in the other three nations. While more than 500 roofs have been painted so far, hundreds more households in Mexico are set to receive cool roof coatings. Since the project launched in Niue in 2023, more than 200 of the 530 households on the tiny Pacific Island have signed up to take part. Half those houses have had their roofs painted, while the other half are in the research control group, which will get cool roofs if they prove effective. People aged over 18 within the research households will have physical health assessments for a year and cognitive tests. Surveys will check whether they suffer heat-related conditions, assess their mental health and wellbeing, and note how often they visit healthcare providers and hospitals. 'We're thinking of all the impacts heat has on people's lives and measuring to see if cool roofs have an influence,' says Bunkley. The project aims to generate detailed evidence that could be used in future to seek funding, so the project could be rolled out across areas of the world where heat has become a health threat. 'Serendipity' drew Bunkley into the cool roofs project, which is the topic of his PhD in public health. When he was 25 years old, he spent two months in a rural hospital Tanzania in East Africa, as part of training for his first degrees in medicine and surgery. 'It was really eye opening to see the conditions people lived in and the healthcare provided, which was very minimal, because of the lack of resources for doctors working there and for patients. 'Some patients couldn't afford antibiotics, so their infections got so bad it led to amputations. 'That made me passionate about global health equity,' he says. He began to consider taking a masters degree in public health, an idea that gained momentum when he worked as a junior doctor at Tauranga Hospital for three years. 'I was seeing lots of people with preventable conditions and realised the same people were coming in with the same conditions again and again. 'I wanted to do something to address the underlying causes of disease and to help create healthy environments where people can thrive. 'Public health offers that potential to improve the lives of people on a large scale,' he says. After gaining his masters, Bunkley was asked to help seek a grant for the global cool roofs project and the Wellcome Trust came through with two million pounds. When REFLECT leaders suggested he could get involved in the research and work towards a PhD in public health at the same time, he leapt at the chance. 'It was such a cool opportunity to work on a project that has massive potential to help improve global health equity and tackle some of the impacts of climate change too,' says the 33-year-old. Since then, the Rockefeller Foundation has provided funding for the REFLECT project team to gather in Italy and the Niue research has been supported with grants from the Tindall Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and The Pacific Community.
Scoop
3 days ago
- Scoop
Will Reflective Roofs Help Beat The Heat?
About 500 roofs across four continents have been painted with a reflective coating, as part of research into tackling the health impacts of climate change. Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland is leading the REFLECT project, which is testing whether reflective white roof paint provides relief from extreme heat in Niue, Mexico, India and Burkina Faso. Climate change has pushed temperatures to extremes that can be harmful for people's health in these nations and many others around the world, says Dr Noah Bunkley from the University's Te Poutoko Ora a Kiwa, Centre for Pacific and Global Health. Bunkley is managing the global project, which is led by centre director Professor Sir Collin Tukuitonga and Dr Aditi Bunker from Heidelberg University in Germany. 'Cool roofs could be a climate change adaptation tool that might have huge benefits for the health of people in vulnerable communities,' Bunkley says. 'We know that heat kills: it increases the risk of health problems, such as heart disease, kidney failure, heat stroke, and diabetes. 'We urgently need solutions that are affordable, easy to implement, safe, and scalable.' Temperatures soar above 45 degrees Celsius in Mexico, India and Burkina Faso and above 32 degrees in Niue, where humidity can linger above 90 percent. 'Climate change has more severe impacts on low-income communities, those living in fragile housing and people who don't have the means to adapt,' Bunkley says. The University of Auckland team is carrying out the research on cool roofs in Niue, while local universities are contributing to the research in the other three nations. While more than 500 roofs have been painted so far, hundreds more households in Mexico are set to receive cool roof coatings. Since the project launched in Niue in 2023, more than 200 of the 530 households on the tiny Pacific Island have signed up to take part. Half those houses have had their roofs painted, while the other half are in the research control group, which will get cool roofs if they prove effective. People aged over 18 within the research households will have physical health assessments for a year and cognitive tests. Surveys will check whether they suffer heat-related conditions, assess their mental health and wellbeing, and note how often they visit healthcare providers and hospitals. 'We're thinking of all the impacts heat has on people's lives and measuring to see if cool roofs have an influence,' says Bunkley. The project aims to generate detailed evidence that could be used in future to seek funding, so the project could be rolled out across areas of the world where heat has become a health threat. 'Serendipity' drew Bunkley into the cool roofs project, which is the topic of his PhD in public health. When he was 25 years old, he spent two months in a rural hospital Tanzania in East Africa, as part of training for his first degrees in medicine and surgery. 'It was really eye opening to see the conditions people lived in and the healthcare provided, which was very minimal, because of the lack of resources for doctors working there and for patients. 'Some patients couldn't afford antibiotics, so their infections got so bad it led to amputations. 'That made me passionate about global health equity,' he says. He began to consider taking a masters degree in public health, an idea that gained momentum when he worked as a junior doctor at Tauranga Hospital for three years. 'I was seeing lots of people with preventable conditions and realised the same people were coming in with the same conditions again and again. 'I wanted to do something to address the underlying causes of disease and to help create healthy environments where people can thrive. 'Public health offers that potential to improve the lives of people on a large scale,' he says. After gaining his masters, Bunkley was asked to help seek a grant for the global cool roofs project and the Wellcome Trust came through with two million pounds. When REFLECT leaders suggested he could get involved in the research and work towards a PhD in public health at the same time, he leapt at the chance. 'It was such a cool opportunity to work on a project that has massive potential to help improve global health equity and tackle some of the impacts of climate change too,' says the 33-year-old. Since then, the Rockefeller Foundation has provided funding for the REFLECT project team to gather in Italy and the Niue research has been supported with grants from the Tindall Foundation, Habitat for Humanity and The Pacific Community.
