Sam Motu is our Polynesian Liaison Office and is available Monday to Friday.
Sam provides support to Maori and Pacific Islander (MPI) students and their families. He monitors student attendance in class, liaises with other support personnel to provide personal support, visits families with other support personnel to assist engagement, supports student participation in extra-curricular activities and provides learning and behaviour support for MPI students.
Areas of Support
MPI Student Mentoring and Support - Students with poor attendance rates are monitored and checked upon each week. Goals are set and strategies discussed, so they can attend every day. Some of these strategies may be as simple as having an early night and setting an alarm.
MPI University Programs - L.E.A.D (Legacy, Education, Achievement, Dream) is a Griffith University-led Pasifika outreach program designed to broaden the career aspirations of young people, Forest Lake SHS has been part of this program since 2018.
School Cultural Groups - At Forest Lake SHS, we have over 55 different ethnicity groups with the Polynesian group being the second largest. Each year our groups showcase their cultural heritage by performing at events such as Multifest, Polyfest, Harmony Day, Multicultural Day and Fiafia Night.
Breakfast & Lunch Program - It is important that our students start the day with high energy; therefore, breakfast and lunch is provided to students 3 days a week and is supplied by charity organisations.
GOODSTART - The Good Start Program is a Queensland Health initiative which aims to improve the health and wellbeing of Pacific Islander and Maori children and their families. The program focuses on working with communities to help build skills, knowledge and confidence, to eat well and lead a healthy lifestyle, therefore giving Pacific Islander and Maori children a good start on the road to a healthy future.
Rock and Water - The Rock & Water program engages young people in a course that develops skills for personal development and social capability. It focuses on body awareness, emotional awareness and self-awareness.
Sam can be contact on smotu7@eq.edu.au or 3714 2333