Page 19 - IB August 2021

AUT A Nuclear Engineer’s

Solar Company

Pacific

youth

mental

health When Dawn Renewable Energy founder and New Guinea. “We are looking for some good Dawn Renewable Energy CEO and Chairman, Paul Huang (left) and
Aaron Chen (right). Photos: Supplied

CEO, Paul Huang was looking to move on from
South Pacific,” Paul says.
his role with a nuclear power plant, he looked companies and partners as wholesalers in the
study tor suggested “why don’t you think about Fiji?” Integrated Solar Home Generator System. “It’s
at Australia, Canada and Dubai before his pas-
For residential customers, he suggests an
Paul spent a year researching and surveying
the most suitable for families’ basic power
the Fiji market, flying here twice, before decid-
islands.
ing to establish Dawn Renewable Energy (Fiji). demands, especially for rural areas and outer
“I was attracted by the natural landscape and “It can power the deep freezer, fridge, wash-
AUT Associate Professor, Dr EL-Shadan Tautolo.
peaceful ‘bula culture’, as well as the big po- ing machine, TV, fan, light, charger, laptop, rice
tential for development of renewable energy,” cooker, small sound system and small photo
he says. “I checked the solar potential. Fiji has copy machine.
Almost 1000 Pacific youth living in South Auckland, New Zealand, Pacific youth, that have enhanced their resilience, and working out how great opportunity, with many areas still lacking “All electrical components are integrated in
will be invited to take part in newly funded research to explore how we can unpack those in a way that they can be shared to help others power, so I think maybe we can do something one generator, as well as the solar batteries
cultural identity, family and employment affect their mental health. who are struggling mentally.” good here.” for safety. There’s no fuel and no noise. We
And how their experiences can be used to improve mental health ser- Paul aims to build a professional solar com- installed some systems at Vanua Levu before
vices for Pacific youth. An advisory group made up of largely Pacific experts working in
the mental health sector will support the research team and help ensure pany offering a one-stop service; from system Cyclone Yasa, and they are still working well
Associate Professor El-Shadan Tautolo, Director of the AUT Pa- that their findings are disseminated widely to have the biggest pos- design, supply, installation, and commissioning now, despite the cyclone.”
cific Health Research Centre at South Campus, has received a $1.2 sible impact. Members of this group include representatives from the to maintenance in Fiji and in the wider Pacific
million Pacific Project Grant from the Health Research Council of New Ministry of Pacific Peoples, New Zealand Mental Health Foundation, islands region. Handover event with Republic of Fiji Military Forces
Zealand (HRC). It is one of a record five HRC Pacific Project Grants Waitematā District Health Board, and the Mental Health and Wellbeing “I’m not a rich businessman, I’m an engineer,
funded this year, to a combined total of $5.79 million. Commission. and I’m always learning and improving,” he
Tautolo, of Cook Islands and Samoan heritage, is also Lead Investi- “The evidence we collect will be used by key stakeholders and agen- says.
gator for the HRC-funded AUT Pacific Islands Families (PIF) Study, cies to design policies and implement strategies to ensure our grow- “We aim to provide high quality, modern and
which has tracked the health and development of a large cohort of 1398 ing numbers of vibrant and gifted Pacific young adults can thrive and affordable solar to the public. That’s our mis-
Pacific children born in South Auckland in 2000. contribute to a prosperous future for their families and the wider New sion in solar. And we’d like to share our knowl-
As part of this new project, he and his team will interview members Zealand society,” says Tautolo. edge with communities—especially in rural
areas and in outer islands—so they can install
of the PIF cohort, now aged 21 years, about the specific cultural, family HRC Chief Executive, Professor Sunny Collings, says this study has solar systems by themselves to save on costs.
and employment factors that influence their mental health and wellbe- the distinct advantage of being able to build upon the significant data “Of course, everyone is welcome to con-
ing in positive or negative ways. gathered from the 21-year AUT PIF Study – the longest longitudinal tact us about free consultations on their solar Residential Solar
“We know Pacific people in New Zealand carry a higher burden of study of Pacific people in the world – to support meaningful changes needs. We’d like to help people to analyse their
psychological distress and mental disorders than the general popula- and solutions to Pacific mental health and wellbeing in New Zealand. systems. You can call me or my team any time.” For more information or a consultation, contact:
tion, with our Pacific youth aged 16 to 24 disproportionately affected, In addition, she says the all-Pacific research team, which spans the Dawn Renewable Energy offers a wide range
and that they are less likely to access mental health services. Disrup- range of senior, emerging and young researchers just starting out, of solar products including air conditioners,
tions to schooling and increased unemployment associated with the should provide a great space for Pacific researchers to develop and freezers, home generators and solar lights;
COVID-19 pandemic have only added to the pressures some of our grow. drying machines, ice making machines and
young people face,” says Tautolo. solar pumps. They can also set up solar power
“El-Shadan was recently appointed chair of the HRC’s Pacific Health
He says this latest research is not about producing statistics that Research Committee, and he is a passionate advocate for developing systems for factories and entire villages, as well Dawn Renewable Energy (Fiji) Pte. Ltd
highlight what we already know, but about identifying tangible ways in and mentoring young Pacific health researchers. We are proud to have as solar power plants. Mobile: (679) 9791300; 7849322
Email: paul@dawnfiji.com
which we can turn these mental health inequities around. supported him throughout his academic career, beginning with an HRC The company has supplied its products Address: Martintar, Nadi
“For our team, a big part of this research is about identifying the Summer Studentship back in 2004 and continuing with PhD, postdoc- and services to customers in Kiribati, Nauru, Website: www.dawnfiji.com
situations and ways of coping that have had a positive influence on our toral and project grants,” says Collings. Tuvalu, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and Papua Facebook: Dawn Solar in Fiji Solar generator installation at customer Ratu Iliesa’s home
Islands Business, August 2021 19