Pasifika greetings from Melissa Malu, our new Pasifika Collections & Engagement Manager

I acknowledge the land of the Gadigal people upon which I work, and the land of the Dharawal people upon which I live, and pay my respects to Elder’s past, present and into the future. I extend that respect to all Aboriginal and First Nations Peoples. I pay tribute to my Pasifika Ancestors who came before me and settled in this country. I acknowledge our role as migrants and our responsibility to stand in solidarity with First Nations peoples.

Pasifika Greetings, I am Melissa Malu, Pasifika Collections & Engagement Manager. I am a Fijian and Tongan woman. My mother is Tongan and hails from Holopeka Ha’apai, Malapo Tongatapu, Tu’anuku Vava’u and my father is Fijian from Nukunuku, Lakeba, Lau. I am humbled and honoured to take on this role and acknowledge leaders and cultural keepers that have paved the way for me to be in this position. I am humbled by the appointment and will strive to ensure our Pasifika Collection and its links to culture, heritage, history, tradition, truth and community both in the Pacific and diaspora are strengthened.

It is an extremely exciting time for the Australian Museum as plans for the Pasifika exhibition start to take form in anticipation for its delivery in September 2023. We are immensely grateful for those who took time to complete the Pasifika Gallery survey and are happy to share that the data has been collated. We are sharing the results and feedback received and would like to assure you that we are listening and are planning the exhibition around your feedback and stakeholder conversations.

We currently have the Pacific Spirit exhibition and an impressive and extensive Pasifika collection of more than 60,000 objects. As restrictions due to Covid start to ease, we welcome you to visit, reach out and talanoa with us as we move towards becoming more inclusive and interactive with our diverse and beautiful Pasifika community.

Vinaka Vakalevu, Faka’apa’apa atu,

Melissa Malu