PACIFIKAI: Community-Led Co-Design for Health Equity
Tracks
Ballroom 1 - In-Person Only
| Monday, October 12, 2026 |
| 11:35 AM - 12:05 PM |
| Ballroom 1 |
Overview
Robati Harrison, & Kirstine Kira Pacifikai, Children's Health Queensland
Presenter
Mr Robati Harrison
Senior Multicultural Coordinator
Pacifikai, Children's Health Queensland
PACIFIKAI: Community-Led Co-Design for Health Equity
Presentation Overview
This project demonstrates the transformative potential of community-led co-design in health promotion. Tasked with redeveloping the identity and branding for Good Start—a Queensland Health initiative supporting Māori and Pacific Islander children and families—the team applied a culturally safe, participatory approach that placed community voices at the centre.
Through creative workshops and iterative action learning, Māori and Pacific Islander community members co-created a new identity: PACIFIKAI, a culturally grounded brand that authentically reflects their values and aspirations. Concurrently, the research team employed research-through-design methods to develop the Community-led Co-design Framework, a practical tool for embedding cultural integrity in future health projects.
The outcomes extend beyond branding. This approach fostered trust, relevance, and shared ownership, demonstrating that when communities lead—not just consult—health initiatives achieve greater equity and impact.
Community Impact within Queensland Health:
The co-design framework is now informing Queensland Health’s multicultural engagement strategies, offering a replicable model for culturally attuned design practice. It has strengthened relationships between health services and Pacific communities, improving trust and participation in health programs.
Keywords:
Co-design, Community-led, Māori and Pacific Islander health, Cultural Integrity, Health Equity, Participatory Design
Expected Outcomes:
Participants will join a talanoa-style discussion forum, creating space for deep dialogue on co-design principles and cultural integrity. They will explore practical strategies for embedding community-led approaches in mainstream health systems and share experiences in an open, collaborative environment.
Alignment with Conference Objectives:
This project promotes Indigenous wellbeing by centring community voices in health program design. It introduces innovative methods through a replicable co-design framework and creative engagement processes. Its talanoa-style approach ensures community holds decision-making authority, fostering trust and shared ownership between Queensland Health and Pacific communities.
Through creative workshops and iterative action learning, Māori and Pacific Islander community members co-created a new identity: PACIFIKAI, a culturally grounded brand that authentically reflects their values and aspirations. Concurrently, the research team employed research-through-design methods to develop the Community-led Co-design Framework, a practical tool for embedding cultural integrity in future health projects.
The outcomes extend beyond branding. This approach fostered trust, relevance, and shared ownership, demonstrating that when communities lead—not just consult—health initiatives achieve greater equity and impact.
Community Impact within Queensland Health:
The co-design framework is now informing Queensland Health’s multicultural engagement strategies, offering a replicable model for culturally attuned design practice. It has strengthened relationships between health services and Pacific communities, improving trust and participation in health programs.
Keywords:
Co-design, Community-led, Māori and Pacific Islander health, Cultural Integrity, Health Equity, Participatory Design
Expected Outcomes:
Participants will join a talanoa-style discussion forum, creating space for deep dialogue on co-design principles and cultural integrity. They will explore practical strategies for embedding community-led approaches in mainstream health systems and share experiences in an open, collaborative environment.
Alignment with Conference Objectives:
This project promotes Indigenous wellbeing by centring community voices in health program design. It introduces innovative methods through a replicable co-design framework and creative engagement processes. Its talanoa-style approach ensures community holds decision-making authority, fostering trust and shared ownership between Queensland Health and Pacific communities.
Biography
Robati Harrison is a proud I‑Kiribati Australian, born on Kombumerri people’s land and raised across the Pacific. He has spent over 15 years championing community wellbeing and cultural connection in Southeast Queensland through his involvement with the Kiribati community and his climate advocacy for Pacific nations. Robati is the Senior Multicultural Coordinator at Pacifikai, a Children’s Health Queensland initiative supporting Pacific children, young people, and families to thrive. In this role, he oversees daily operations for Multicultural Health Workers and Liaison Officers and contributes to the strategic direction of the program to ensure culturally informed, family‑centred care.
Ms Kirstine Kira
Program Manager
Pacifikai
PACIFIKAI: Community-Led Co-Design for Health Equity
Presentation Overview
This project demonstrates the transformative potential of community-led co-design in health promotion. Tasked with redeveloping the identity and branding for Good Start—a Queensland Health initiative supporting Māori and Pacific Islander children and families—the team applied a culturally safe, participatory approach that placed community voices at the centre.
Through creative workshops and iterative action learning, Māori and Pacific Islander community members co-created a new identity: PACIFIKAI, a culturally grounded brand that authentically reflects their values and aspirations. Concurrently, the research team employed research-through-design methods to develop the Community-led Co-design Framework, a practical tool for embedding cultural integrity in future health projects.
The outcomes extend beyond branding. This approach fostered trust, relevance, and shared ownership, demonstrating that when communities lead—not just consult—health initiatives achieve greater equity and impact.
Community Impact within Queensland Health:
The co-design framework is now informing Queensland Health’s multicultural engagement strategies, offering a replicable model for culturally attuned design practice. It has strengthened relationships between health services and Pacific communities, improving trust and participation in health programs.
Keywords:
Co-design, Community-led, Māori and Pacific Islander health, Cultural Integrity, Health Equity, Participatory Design
Expected Outcomes:
Participants will join a talanoa-style discussion forum, creating space for deep dialogue on co-design principles and cultural integrity. They will explore practical strategies for embedding community-led approaches in mainstream health systems and share experiences in an open, collaborative environment.
Alignment with Conference Objectives:
This project promotes Indigenous wellbeing by centring community voices in health program design. It introduces innovative methods through a replicable co-design framework and creative engagement processes. Its talanoa-style approach ensures community holds decision-making authority, fostering trust and shared ownership between Queensland Health and Pacific communities.
Through creative workshops and iterative action learning, Māori and Pacific Islander community members co-created a new identity: PACIFIKAI, a culturally grounded brand that authentically reflects their values and aspirations. Concurrently, the research team employed research-through-design methods to develop the Community-led Co-design Framework, a practical tool for embedding cultural integrity in future health projects.
The outcomes extend beyond branding. This approach fostered trust, relevance, and shared ownership, demonstrating that when communities lead—not just consult—health initiatives achieve greater equity and impact.
Community Impact within Queensland Health:
The co-design framework is now informing Queensland Health’s multicultural engagement strategies, offering a replicable model for culturally attuned design practice. It has strengthened relationships between health services and Pacific communities, improving trust and participation in health programs.
Keywords:
Co-design, Community-led, Māori and Pacific Islander health, Cultural Integrity, Health Equity, Participatory Design
Expected Outcomes:
Participants will join a talanoa-style discussion forum, creating space for deep dialogue on co-design principles and cultural integrity. They will explore practical strategies for embedding community-led approaches in mainstream health systems and share experiences in an open, collaborative environment.
Alignment with Conference Objectives:
This project promotes Indigenous wellbeing by centring community voices in health program design. It introduces innovative methods through a replicable co-design framework and creative engagement processes. Its talanoa-style approach ensures community holds decision-making authority, fostering trust and shared ownership between Queensland Health and Pacific communities.
Biography
Hailing from Te Tai Tokerau, proud Ngāpuhi wahine Kirstine Kira is the Program Manager of Pacifikai. With a professional background in dietetics, she has dedicated her career to developing wellbeing programs that uplift Māori & Pacific Islander families. Kirstine is deeply committed to health equity, ensuring culture is the foundational conduit to care. Guided by a vision of hauora and strengthened wellbeing for the next generation, she leads a passionate team to develop and implement innovative, culturally tailored, community health programs across Queensland.
