Māori and Pacific Island university students and recent graduates share their lived experiences of navigating identity in the Australian context, with a particular focus on South East Queensland – the fasting-growing population centre for Pacific peoples. This presentation explores the nuanced realities of cultural connectedness, the term “Pasifika”, and the impact of colonial legacies on our educational and wellbeing journeys.

As young Indigenous peoples of the Pacific, we reflect on how cultural expectations, stereotypes and institutional barriers shape our sense of belonging in both academia and society. We explore how colonial histories continue to shape the ways our identities are defined, perceived and either uplifted or limited withing educational spaces. Our discussion highlights how these ongoing tensions around identity impact our wellbeing across spiritual, mental, social and emotional dimensions.

Rather than presenting a single narrative, we offer a collective insight grounded in lived experience, cultural resilience and critical self-reflection. This session contributes to conversations about Indigenous youth empowerment by calling for educational and wellbeing frameworks that recognise the specificities of Pacific heritage and identity. We advocate for deeper engagement with youth voices in shaping policies and practices that foster belonging, pride and holistic wellbeing.

By centring Pacific young people as knowledge holders, we invite educators and Indigenous researchers to move beyond pan-ethnic labels and deficit framings, towards relational, strengths-based approaches that honour diversity, history and the leadership of future generations.

Three Key Learnings:
1. Identity is complex
2. Challenging assumptions are critical for improving the education outcomes and wellbeing of Pasifika peoples in diaspora spaces
3. Youth voices are central to culturally responsive wellbeing strategies