From Māngere To Medicine: Pacific Migrant Dreams Big
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
18 hours ago
- Scoop
Thousands Of Kiwi Kids Harmed Online, And No One Is Accountable
Newly released police data confirms what B416 is hearing from the front lines of education, health and law enforcement: children in New Zealand are being harmed by social media, and no one is being held responsible. More than 2,000 children have been recorded as victims of harmful digital communications since it was introduced in 2015, according to data released to B416 under the Official Information Act. Three out of four victims are girls. Nearly 900 children were recorded as offenders under the Harmful Digital Communications Act (HDCA), but very few cases make it to court. The majority are handled informally, often through warnings or alternative action. The HDCA covers serious online harm, including emotional abuse, privacy breaches and sharing intimate images without consent. B416 spokesperson Dr Samantha Marsh, from the University of Auckland, says the figures reflect a system failing to keep pace with the scale of harm. 'This data backs up what we are hearing every week from schools, health professionals and those working in law enforcement: children are being harmed online, and the guardrails that should protect them are missing,' says Dr Marsh. 'We don't let 12-year-olds into nightclubs. Why are we letting them into algorithm-driven digital environments that are designed to manipulate and addict?' She says the majority of cases never make it to court not because the harm isn't real, but because the current laws are not fit for purpose. B416 is calling for a minimum age of 16 for access to social media, alongside stronger enforcement, platform accountability, and education. The campaign is encouraging those on the frontlines of this issue, including parents, teachers, health professionals, and young people themselves, to share their experiences as part of the current Parliamentary inquiry into social media and youth mental health. Submissions close on 30 July. 'Online harm is often hidden and there is shame for many around this. And this inquiry is a chance for families and young people to let lawmakers know how harmful things are for young people,' Dr Marsh said. Submit here:
Otago Daily Times
5 days ago
- Otago Daily Times
Govt to go ahead with new Waikato medical school
A new medical school will be established at the University of Waikato, the government says. Health Minister Simeon Brown and Universities Minister Dr Shane Reti confirmed the decision in a statement today, saying it was part of the government's plan to build a stronger health workforce. 'Cabinet has approved the business case for the new school, which will have a strong focus on primary care and rural health,' Mr Brown says. 'With $82.85 million in government funding and over $150 million from the university, supported by philanthropic investment, this is a substantial commitment to education and regional development in the Waikato. The proposal for the third school has proved controversial with the University of Auckland and University of Otago, which together provide New Zealand's existing medical training. Both have argued they can train more doctors more efficiently and effectively than establishing a new medical school. However, the government says the new school will "more students the opportunity to study medicine in New Zealand'. It said the school would offer a graduate-entry programme, "providing a flexible new pathway into medicine that helps attract a broader range of students and build a stronger, more diverse workforce". 'It's an innovative model that supports our focus on strengthening primary care, making it easier for people to see their doctor – helping Kiwis stay well and out of hospital. 'It also builds on the university's recent additions of nursing, pharmacy, and midwifery programmes, demonstrating a strong and growing commitment to developing New Zealand's health workforce.' A full cost-benefit analysis was presented to Cabinet before any proposal was finalised, as part of the National–Act coalition agreement. Brown said the school built on the government's record investment in the health system and workforce. 'Today's announcement adds 120 doctor training places each year, starting in 2028 – a significant boost to our long-term pipeline of homegrown medical workforce. "This is on top of the 100 additional medical training places that are being added over the term of this Government across the University of Auckland and University of Otago.' Dr Reti said the decision represented a significant step forward for both the University of Waikato and the wider region. 'This is a major milestone for the university and a real boost for tertiary education in the Waikato. 'It strengthens the university's position as a leader in education, training, and research, and creates new academic and economic opportunities for Hamilton, the Waikato, and rural communities. 'By expanding access to medical training, we're creating new opportunities for students from across the region and beyond, while also helping to future-proof the local workforce. 'This is exactly the kind of forward-thinking initiative this government wants to see from our universities – investing in regional growth, building local capability, and delivering on the needs of rural communities.'
Scoop
5 days ago
- Scoop
Cure Kids Urges Support For Red Nose Day Following Health Research Budget Cuts
With New Zealand's health system under pressure and the science research sector recently facing significant funding cuts, Cure Kids is calling on New Zealanders to support lifesaving child health research this Red Nose Day. New Zealand researchers warn that these cuts could place further strain on an already pressured health system, risking skilled researchers moving overseas, leaving child health research and other critical areas underfunded and at risk. 'Research is critical to our health system preforming better and delivering high-quality care' says Professor Stuart Dalziel, Cure Kids Chair of Child Health Research, at the University of Auckland and a Paediatric Emergency Specialist. 'New Zealand has world-leading paediatric researchers, whose research, funded by Cure Kids, makes a real difference to thousands of children each year and provides economic return for the community. For example, every $1 invested by Cure Kids in cot death research resulted in a $12 return to the community, in addition to the many hundreds of lives saved.' 'Our tamariki are our most precious taonga. We need to strive as a country to ensure they reach their maximum health.' Amid this climate, Cure Kids has re-opened its annual funding round to support high-impact research projects tackling New Zealand's most urgent child healthissues. Last year, this enabled a wide range of research – from improving surgical outcomes for rheumatic heart disease, to tackling youth mental health and addiction through more accessible services. 'Cure Kids remains committed to backing researchers who are pushing boundaries and tackling the biggest challenges facing our tamariki,' says Cure Kids CEO, Frances Soutter. 'Securing donations in this economic climate is challenging, but we continue to fund child health research to ensure bold ideas with the potential to save lives don't fall through the cracks. Every dollar raised this Red Nose Day helps fund New Zealand research so breakthroughs in child health can happen.' As New Zealand's largest charitable funder of child health research, Cure Kids is currently funding 40 research projects across Aotearoa, including a new drug that could reduce disability in newborns who suffer oxygen deprivation at birth, and a first of its kind national study into autism prevalence and healthcare access. The long-term impact of Cure Kids funded research is evident in a 2018 project led by neonatologist Dr Max Berry, which has helped transform care for extremely premature babies. Her findings showed that babies born as early as 23 or 24 weeks, once considered the edge of viability, can survive and go on to lead healthy lives. The study has since informed clinical practice nationwide and improved outcomes for hundreds of New Zealand's most vulnerable babies. But Soutter says this progress is only possible with consistent support from generous donors. 'Throughout our 54-year history, we've seen thousands of children's lives saved, extended or improved thanks to the research we help fund. None of that can happen without the generosity from New Zealanders.' 'Cure Kids funding plays a critical role in ensuring we can keep advancing treatments for conditions like childhood cancers, asthma, and other life-threatening paediatric conditions.' For families like the Holecliffes, Cure Kids has been lifechanging. When their daughter Lucca was just 16 months old, she was diagnosed with an extremely rare and aggressive cancer, Epithelioid Inflammatory Myofibroblastic Sarcoma. With limited global cases and no standard treatment plan, her prognosis was uncertain. Following urgent surgery, Lucca was introduced to oncologist Dr Andy Wood, whose return to New Zealand was made possible thanks to Cure Kids. Dr Wood recommended a pioneering treatment that helped shrink the tumour and avoid the harsher side effects of traditional chemotherapy. 'Without Cure Kids backing Andy's research, Lucca wouldn't be here today,' says mum, Jordanna Holecliffe. 'They gave us hope at the worst time in our lives.' Now 10, Lucca is thriving and proudly serves as a Cure Kids ambassador. She and her family are dedicated to helping others by encouraging New Zealanders to get behind Red Nose Day this year. Red Nose Day takes place on Friday, 25 July, with fundraising events happening across the country. You can donate online, or at Briscoes and Rebel Sport stores nation wide. Every dollar raised goes directly to child health researchers working on projects that make a tangible difference in the lives of Kiwi kids. About Cure Kids Cure Kids is New Zealand's largest charitable funder of child health research. Over its 54 year history, it has invested more than $70 million into projects that aim to improve the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of serious health conditions affecting children. Cure Kids is currently supporting around $12 million in research across 40 projects. Learn more at
