Invisible mothers: young Pasifika women, health inequalities and negotiating wellbeing
The Invisible Mothers project is an interdisciplinary, community-engaged study on the experiences of young Pasifika mothers (ages 18–24) in Melbourne, Australia. The project will be conducted with young Pasifika mothers from the municipalities of Brimbank and Wyndham. It addresses the lack of scholarship on Pasifika parenthood and highlights how inequities in health and wellbeing are shaped by race, class, gender, and migrant status. Using talanoa, a conversational Pasifika research approach, the project emphasizes collaboration, cultural frameworks, and strengths-based methods guided by community members. Its goal is to inform inclusive health services and contribute to both academic and policy discussions on parenthood in culturally diverse societies.