The Fono story
Our history
Creating healthy communities together
At The Fono, our journey of providing accessible and quality health services since 1987, bringing families and communities together under our place. We believe in cultivating well, safe, vibrant and informed communities. Our warm embrace and commitment to inclusivity shape the heart of our story.
How we started
Nurturing beginnings - West Fono
Our journey humbly started in 1987 as a small general practitioners clinic in West Auckland. We swiftly established the West Fono Health Trust by 1990, to provide services that confidently support the growing needs of Pasifika and other communities to access quality healthcare.
Over the years, our organisation have expanded into services like dental care and social services support, elevating the standard of health care delivered. In 2007, Pasifika Healthcare trust registered under the Incorporated Societies Act and also renamed to West Fono Health Trust. This change enhanced our ability to deliver effective services and steering us towards strong leadership to lead The Fono into the future.
Empowering communities and uniting forces
The Peoples Centre Trust's legacy
The Peoples Centre Trust, a nonprofit organisation, has been a pillar of support in Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland since the early 1990s. The trust provided medical and dental care at its two practices: St Patrick's medical centre in the Auckland CBD and Manurewa Peoples Centre, in Manurewa. They also provided dental care in Ngati Whatua’s Otahuhu medical centre.
The Peoples Centre Trust was a well-established and beloved healthcare centre within the community. With a shared focus in delivering quality, affordable healthcare to people who otherwise had limited access, The Fono solidified a partnership. In 2012, The Peoples Centre Trust became part of The Fono, a move that amplified our collective impact.
Pasifika Horizon Healthcare's integration
The Pasifika Horizon Healthcare was established in 2006 in Blockhouse Bay, a centre offering primary healthcare, health education and social services to their local community. By 2013, Pasifika Horizon Healthcare merged seamlessly with The Fono, becoming an integral part of our commitment to holistic well-being.
Oceania Career Academy (OCA)
OCA is focused on ensuring that learners are supported into employment, apprenticeships, or further study. For past 8 years we have consistently delivered qualification completion rates above 70% and equitable to non-Pasifika rates. Since 2014 we have established ourselves as a trusted Education Partner in the eco system of students and families, from schools and tertiary institutions through to employers providing skilled, well paid work.
OCA delivers educational training and programs for Pasifika young people in a culturally relevant context that aims to lift educational and employment outcomes. Our students are predominantly between the ages of 15-26, of Pasifika ethnicity and have been disengaged from any form of learning and employment.
Leading towards a brighter tomorrow
At The Fono, we're driven by an unwavering passion to bridge health inequalities across the wider region of Tāmaki Makaurau, Auckland, by finding innovative ways to deliver culturally appropriate services across our healthcare and family care centres.
The Fono aims to be a leader in healthcare for the people who need it the most, fostering well, safe, vibrant and informed communities.