Photo caption: Practitioners learning together through the O le Tofa Mamao Samoa micro-credential training at The Cause Collective.
O le Tofa Mamao is the Samoan Cultural Framework that centres deep wisdom, foresight and reflection as the foundation for safe and effective practice with Pacific families.
Delivered through the Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu Level 6 Micro-credential, this framework supports practitioners to apply Samoan cultural knowledge, values and ways of being when responding to family violence, with a strong focus on prevention, safety and relational care.
Core concepts explored include O Le Tofa Mamao (deep wisdom and knowing) and vā (relational space), and how these principles guide communication, relationships and decision-making in professional settings.
Who is this framework for?
Nga Vaka o Kāiga Tapu Level 6 Micro-credential is designed for practitioners working across social services, health, education, justice, and community sectors, particularly those supporting Pacific individuals, families and communities.
The framework is suitable for both Pacific and non-Pacific practitioners who want to:
- Strengthen cultural understanding and confidence.
- Improve relational and reflective practice.
- Apply Samoan-led approaches that support safety and wellbeing.
At the heart of Fa’a Samoa (the Samoan way of life) is the responsibility to protect peaceful and respectful relationships within aiga (families) and across the wider community. O le Tofa Mamao draws on this principle, recognising that wellbeing is held collectively and guided by the wisdom of families, churches and communities.
Responding to family violence requires cultural insight and an understanding of relationships and context. Tōfā refers to deep wisdom developed through lived experience, family knowledge and collective learning, and encourages compassionate thinking rather than rushed decision-making.
O le Tofa Mamao helps practitioners work with families respectfully and safely by drawing on Samoan cultural values.
Learning Through Shared Experience
A key strength of the O le Tofa Mamao training is the emphasis on collective learning. Practitioners consistently value the opportunity to learn alongside others working in similar spaces.
“One of the most valuable parts of the training was hearing from other practitioners.
Their experiences provided real insight into how cultural knowledge can shape safer, more effective practice.” – Cultural training participant.
Shared reflection reinforces that cultural knowledge is held collectively and strengthened when practitioners learn from one another.
“It gave me perspective on how we know what’s best for how to approach our families. We can create models and assessments from the deep knowledge we carry through our experiences.” – Cultural training participant.
Strengthening Talanoa and Cultural Confidence
The framework also supports confidence in Talanoa (a relational approach to dialogue and storytelling) which builds trust, openness and understanding.
“The power of shared knowledge really stood out. It was a reminder that we all hold pieces of understanding that can help create change when we bring them together.” – Cultural training participant.
For many participants, O le Tofa Mamao affirms cultural identity and validates Pacific knowledge as essential to ethical and effective practice.
Pathway to Qualification
Practitioners who complete two cultural framework trainings can earn the Ngā Vaka o Kāiga Tapu Level 6 Micro-credential, a nationally recognised qualification.
There are eight Pacific Cultural Frameworks available, each offering a unique pathway to deepen cultural knowledge and strengthen practices that prevent harm and promote family wellbeing.