Bhavish – Fiji Indian cultural approach

Spirituality is fundamental to Fiji Indian life and ways of being, and connected to wellbeing. Fiji Indians express their spirituality through religion, with the majority being practising Hindus, Muslims, Sikhs or Christians. Religious orientation is strongly connected with identity, and caregivers and parents impress on their bachō (children) from an early age to uphold their religious faith and traditions. The strength of their religious conviction is demonstrated by Fiji Indians' strong preference to marry within their religion – when this isn't possible, it is not unusual for there to be an expectation that the bride will convert to her husband's religion.

The spiritual beliefs of Fiji Indians permeate all aspects of their lives, including time of worship, choice of partner, gender roles, friendships, dress, as well as more routine aspects of daily life such as food consumption and preparation, personal grooming and hygiene practices.

Practice consideration – Religious practices and beliefs inform appropriate conduct pertaining to gender. Muslim women wearing a burka (veil) will not unveil themselves in front of a male. Although Muslim women wearing a burka from other parts of the world would be unlikely to engage with a male professional such as a social worker, Fiji Indian Muslim women wearing a burka might choose to. However, wherever possible, female professionals (social workers) should engage with Muslim women. Similarly, while female professionals may not have difficulty engaging with a Muslim man, the presence of a male professional would help engagement.

We need to understand the religious characteristics and practices of parivāar (family, families), along with associated expectations of their bachō (children). This includes the significance of spiritual beliefs attached to daily practices that Fiji Indian bachō are expected to uphold.

Practice consideration – The religious diversity of Fiji Indians requires our exploration, rather than assumption, of this crucial dimension of their wellbeing. We do not assume that what we have understood about one parivāar (family) can be generalised across others. Explore with bachō (children, young people) and parivāar their religious affiliations to understand what's important to them and why. This includes significant rituals and practices, which might be daily, occasional, communal or individual.

The essence of spirituality for Fiji Indian people is reverence to God, compelling them to honour bachō as a gift from God in recognition that gifts from God are to be revered and honoured.

In Fiji Indian society, the traditional caste system of India has undergone changes and adaptations over time as many Fiji Indians have moved away from traditional caste practices towards a more egalitarian society. Their experience of indentured labour significantly undermined the maintenance of a caste hierarchy when labourers were forced to work and live together in arduous conditions regardless of caste, and the practice of assuming, or counterfeit claims to, higher caste names during this time of migration made authentication of status difficult. Nevertheless, while the rigidity of caste distinctions may have diminished over time, its relevance persists in various forms in Fiji Indian society, including through class distinctions based on wealth and economic status.

Features of the traditional system maintain a continuing influence in social interactions and marriage choices. Many Fiji Indians still prefer their adult bachō (children) to marry someone of the same caste, but additional key considerations are social standing, occupation, wealth and education of the spouse. Wealth and occupation are overriding factors in many marriage alliances.

Class distinctions within the Fiji Indian community, arising from key cultural and socio-economic influences, can result in varying levels of access to resources and opportunities. Those at the lower end of the class continuum, usually unskilled and lacking formal education, can have less access to resources and opportunity for upward mobility.

The Brahmin caste were priests and academics, Kshatriya were warriors and kings, Vaishya were merchants and landowners, and Sudhras were commoners, peasants and servants. Brahmin was the most enduring of the castes because of the position of priests. Those Brahmin who were priests continued to be accorded deference. However, not all priests were Brahmin and caste status was not a determinant of participation in religious ceremonies. Priests could belong to any caste and were chosen for their ability to bring people together and because people believed they were endowed with supernatural powers.

Practice consideration – While traditional case distinctions are becoming less pronounced, features of caste-based dynamics and discrimination persist in Fiji Indian communities. It is important to understand how these complexities manifest, and their implications for bachō (children) and the parivāar (family, families) we are working with.

Parivāar (family) is a fundamental concept for Fiji Indians that encompasses not just the nuclear family but includes extended family members as a collective in which everyone understands their role and responsibilities. It is a structure of family that supports the wellbeing of Fiji Indians' parivāar through collective support, preservation of culture and traditions, opportunities to enhance economic stability and encouraging social unity.

At the core of parivāar is the nuclear family, typically consisting of parents and their bachō (children). Traditionally, the father is the primary breadwinner and decision-maker, whereas the mother plays a crucial role in managing the household and caring for the bachō.

The extended family includes grandparents, uncles, aunts and cousins, and is central to the interconnectedness of familial relationships and the support that family members provide to each other. The structure of parivāar emphasises strong intergeneration ties where elders play a significant role in the development of younger generations by imparting wisdom, cultural values and traditions to them. Multiple generations frequently live together or in proximity, with grandparents often involved in childcare and passing down cultural teachings that reinforce the family's heritage and values. Respect for elders is deeply ingrained in Fiji Indian culture, with bachō expected to show deference to their grandparents and older relatives.

Parivāar instils a sense of responsibility and duty among its members and an expectation that individuals contribute to the wellbeing of the family and community. This extends to economic cooperation among family members, which can lead to financial stability and success. Joint family systems are common where brothers and their parivāar live together, sharing resources and responsibilities.

It is not unusual for adult bachō to remain living with their parents until marriage and perhaps beyond, and respect for elders is exemplified through the practice of adult bachō caring for ageing parents.

Parivāar is deeply linked to the broader community in which cultural practices, traditions and values, essential to the identity of Fiji Indian parivāar, are preserved and transmitted through communal activities, including celebrations, festivals and religious gatherings. Community is the space where parivāar come together to perform rituals, share food, provide support in times of adversity, worship, strengthen their social networks and pass down their traditions to younger generations.

Traditionally, the family structure is patriarchal, with the eldest male (father or grandfather) holding authority and decision-making power. With this authority, the head of the family is responsible for the welfare of the family and their decisions carry significant weight. However, while still maintaining their cultural heritage and traditions, women's roles in Fiji Indian parivāar are gradually adapting to changing social and economic contexts. In Aotearoa New Zealand, this evolution can mean that a husband's status as head of the household does not preclude him from consulting with his wife before making important decisions.

Practice consideration – Paternal family have a pivotal role in decision-making and should always be involved in decision-making processes, including (but not limited to) family meetings and family group conferences.

Sons and daughters

In Fiji Indian parivāar (family), the position of eldest son comes with expectations of leadership and responsibility. Eldest sons are often regarded as the primary caregiver and decision-maker after the parents. They may be responsible for making important parivāar decisions, managing finances and taking care of ageing parents. Eldest sons may lead parivāar rituals during festivals or ceremonies.

Sons, in general, are bearers of the parivāar name and lineage. They are expected to contribute to the parivāar economic wellbeing and uphold its honour.

Daughters are traditionally seen as caregivers within the parivāar, contributing to household duties and supporting with the care of younger siblings. However, education is highly valued in Fiji Indian parivāar, and daughters are increasingly encouraged to pursue academic and professional opportunities.

Brothers and sisters

The relationship between brothers and sisters is sacred, characterised by mutual support, love and protection. A brother has a responsibility to protect his sister, while a sister will nurture and emotionally support her brother. The protective instinct is deeply ingrained in cultural values where a brother’s honour is often tied to the wellbeing of his sister. Protecting a sister can extend from protecting her from harm to monitoring her social interactions and behaviours and to protecting her from inappropriate relationships and choosing her husband.

Raksha bandhan, also known as raakhi, is the celebration of the bond between brothers and sisters. The central ritual involves the sister tying a sacred thread, a raakhi, around her brother's wrist, symbolising her prayers for her brother's wellbeing and protection. In return, the brother pledges lifelong protection and support for his sister.

Practice consideration – The duty to protect, or uphold honour, can lead to unhealthy control, including physical abuse of a sister by a brother. It is important to understand the cultural values and family beliefs influencing this type of behaviour and what motivates a duty of protection to manifest in harm towards sisters.

Grandparents

Grandparents hold a significant and revered position within Fiji Indian parivāar (family); passing down and reinforcing the importance of cultural values, traditions and spiritual beliefs; providing emotional and practical support for their bachō (children) and grandchildren, usually closely involved in caring for their grandchildren; and as respected authority figures in the parivāar. The relationship between the grandparents and the grandchildren is strong.

Practice consideration – Social workers should respect parivāar hierarchy. Elders hold positions of authority and respect and should be included in discussions and decision-making, utilising their influence and wisdom.

Place of bachō (children and young people)

The relationship between mother and bachō (child) begins from conception. This belief is fundamental to Fiji Indian culture and emphasises the spiritual connection between the mother and bachō, a sacred bond with the mother viewed as a vessel for divine creation.

Bachō are treasured and guarded, guided and protected by their parivāar (family) and God. Parivāar is central and key – all members, immediate and extended, have duties and responsibilities to the collective good, which includes aspirations for bachō. Bachō are considered critical for the future of the parivāar, being the connecting link between the generations, essential to carrying the parivāar name, religion, norms, beliefs culture and traditions or rituals into the future.

The concept of filial duty, the responsibilities and obligations of bachō  towards parents and parivāar members, is deeply ingrained in Fiji Indian culture. Bachō are raised with high expectations to succeed and contribute to the honour of parivāar. Values that take away from this traditional path are resisted. Fiji Indian parivāar look negatively on bachō rights to express views and have more social freedom.

Practice consideration – The voice of the bachō (child) is the voice of the parivāar (family). Be aware this creates a dilemma for them when their voice is encouraged in other social contexts, such as school or being spoken to by a social worker, while at home the values of respect and duty prevail.

Bachō are taught to view their role in their parivāar in terms of relationships, obligation and responsibilities. Bachō are quite likely to live with parents as adults until married or even after. There is also a strong sense of responsibility towards extended family.

Practice consideration – It is important to recognise that no Fiji Indian bachō (child) exists in isolation from their parivāar (family) or the larger collective, who have clear roles and responsibilities for the child's wellbeing. It is the strength of rishta (relationships/connections) that supports the child's wellbeing. The notion that parivāar comes before 'self' is central to parivāar life.

The concept of rishta signifies relationships and connections, especially within the context of parivāar and community. This concept emphasises cultural principles that are foundational to relationships for Fiji Indian people, guiding interactions and shaping family dynamics. These include respect, interconnectedness, support and care, loyalty, and cultural continuity, principles that uphold the centrality of parivāar and distinct significance of family roles and positions such as elders, parents (mother and father), eldest son, brother and sister.

For example, the proverb 'Heaven lies beneath a mother's feet and the father opens the door' expresses the concept of rishta and the principles it embodies. 'Heaven lies beneath a mother's feet' emphasises the significance of a mother's love, care and sacrifice for the upbringing of her bachō (children), comparing this to the closest thing to heaven on earth. 'The father opens the door' signifies the father's role as protector and provider, creating opportunities for his bachō to do well in life. Despite the traditionally patriarchal structure of Fiji Indian parivāar, this proverb conveys the complementary roles of both parents. It acknowledges that both parents are essential for the nurturing and wellbeing of their bachō and must be respected in equal measure. While a father is the traditional decision-maker, the mother may often be a behind the scenes influence.

Family honour

Family honour is a significant cultural value in Fiji Indian society and an important concept to understand from a practice perspective because it influences relationships, social interactions and individual behaviours. Understanding family honour provides insights into the cultural dynamics of Fiji Indian parivāar (family). Family honour upholds the actions and behaviours of individual family members as a reflection on the entire parivāar. This concept encompasses a range of factors, including moral conduct, adherence to cultural traditions, and the behaviour of family members especially relating to gender roles. The reputation of the parivāar is tied to how its members conduct themselves in public and in private. Academic and professional achievement, material success and exemplary social behaviour are highly valued for enhancing family honour.

Filial duty (see above) is connected to family honour. Bachō are expected to behave in ways that reflect positively on their parivāar – for example, they are expected to show deference to their elders. They are encouraged to do well in their studies and careers, bringing pride and honour to their family name, reinforcing their parents' investment in their success. This can be an area of contention for bachō when, for example, their traditional norms clash with the more permissive cultures of their non-Fiji Indian peers. Bachō may challenge traditional norms, leading to conflict with parents and elders who hold firmly to these values, or acting outside parivāar expectations might lead them to experience feelings of guilt and shame.

Practice consideration – Understanding the significance of family honour can help bridge the gap between traditional values and contemporary realities for bachō (children) and other parivāar (family) members. Don't dismiss this. Frame concerns in a way that acknowledges the values of the parivāar and recognises the weight placed on maintaining a good reputation in the community.

Family honour plays a critical part in shaping relationships not only in the parivāar but also the community. Parivāar are often judged on their adherence to cultural norms and the behaviours of its members, influencing social interactions and relationships with neighbours and friends.

Practice consideration – Despite the responsibility of the larger collective for the wellbeing of bachō (children), family honour often means that relationship issues are solved within the nuclear parivāar (family). Shame is real for parivāar in crisis when things go wrong, and parents are likely to resist wider involvement of parivāar or the community when Oranga Tamariki are involved with them. However, extended members of parivāar are integral to the support network and decision-making for bachō and shouldn't be peripheral. Understanding the cultural significance of family honour will help social workers to navigate this type of resistance with sensitivity.

Connection to the divine. A strong connection to spirituality, expressed through the religious practices across a diversity of faiths, is central to wellbeing for Fiji Indians. This involves prayer, participation in religious festivals and adherence to religious principles. Feeling connected to a higher power and living a life guided by spiritual values contributes significantly to overall wellbeing.

The physical dimension of wellbeing includes good physical health through good nutrition and exercise and access to healthcare. It is also connected to economic wellbeing and financial security, having one’s basic material needs met and having sufficient resources to meet the basic needs of the parivāar (family). More broadly, this encompasses access to education and job opportunities and the ability to contribute to the overall prosperity of the parivāar.

The concept of rishta – relationships and connections – is closely tied to emotional wellbeing. Strong parivāar bonds through close-knit and supportive parivāar relationships and the maintenance of parivāar traditions are fundamental to wellbeing. This includes adherence to the parivāar structure and its hierarchy, respecting and maintaining good relationships with elders. A strong sense of belonging and connection within the community and contributing to the wellbeing of the community is vital.

Strong parivāar bonds and community connection are an essential aspect of mental wellbeing and spiritual practices are integral to the maintenance of good mental health. The cultural emphasis on strong relationships, connections and spirituality for wellbeing can sometimes lead people to attribute mental health issues to personal weakness, karma, spiritual imbalance or other supernatural causes. This in turn can bring stigma and shame to parivāar. Traditional healing practices include those sought from spiritual leaders which focus on restoring the balance of mind and body.

Spirituality represents one’s soul, one’s existence in the world and connection to it and one’s fate. It informs what is important in life and guides one’s purpose in it. Spiritual and religious beliefs inform and shape relationships. Beliefs bind one to honour one’s relationships. The sacredness of relationships acknowledges status and respect through the use of titles and creating safe spaces.

Application to practice

• Recognise the significance of bachō (children and young people) for Fiji Indian parivāar (family) as gifts from God.
• Be aware of the diversity of religions practised by Fiji Indian families and seek to understand the religious orientation of the parivāar you are working with, rather than making assumptions.
• Religion is a crucial dimension of wellbeing, and the religious practices of bachō and parivāar are an extension of this. We need to understand, support and advocate for bachō to maintain their practices in whichever environment their circumstances find them.
• Seek help or advice from religious leaders or community elders who might provide support for the bachō and parivāar.
• Explore the influence of, or connection between, religious beliefs and benevolent intent which may be contributing to harm occurring in parivāar.
• Be aware of the different religious values, rituals, celebrations and connections for bachō and parivāar, and acknowledge the significance of these with them.
• Acknowledge the importance of faith in the lives of the bachō and parivāar to create a foundation of trust and rapport.
• Explore the bachō surname, which may help us understand the spiritual and religious beliefs of the parivāar.
• Crisis in the parivāar, or things going wrong for bachō and parivāar, is often interpreted by parivāar or community as a spiritual consequence or punishment form God for doing something wrong and therefore there will be a stigma for the parivāar. We need to understand how this impacts both bachō and parivāar.

Connections to the physical world – seas, land, sky –and metaphysical world through ancestral knowledge embodying a sense of belonging. Acknowledging one’s life journey and experiences of adversity and connection to one’s history in shaping who one is.

Application to practice

• Explore and understand the extent to which roles and responsibilities within parivāar (family) structures are traditional or contemporary in nature.
• Recognise the importance of status and position in the parivāar, community, society and educational background.
• Take time to explore and understand the cultural values and beliefs of the bachō (children) and parivāar we're working with.
• Draw on the support of elders to help bachō struggling with identity issues.
• Acknowledge the history of the parivāar with sensitivity.
• Explore bachō and parivāar connections with the environment.

Interactions are respectful, and sacrifice and selfless actions are fulfilling endeavours. We need to understand that, for Fiji Indian people, the way you treat others is a more important reflection of who you are than the status you hold. We need to be aware that valued actions and behaviours are selfless, in the best interests of others, and undertaken unassumingly in a respectful and committed manner.

Application to practice

• Be conscious of how your body language, tone of voice and approach is being interpreted.
• Be aware that, for parivāar (families), the way you treat others is a more important reflection of who you are than your status.
• Take time to listen to parivāar narratives and their aspirations for their bachō (children).

Compassion is aligned with good intent and karma, leading to better outcomes and giving thanks to God. Kindness is shown to those in need, such as giving alms to the poor. Love always begins from the premise of seeing the goodness in people. Bachō (children) are treasured, guided and protected by their family and God. They are the future of the parivāar (family) to continue the parivāar name, religion, norms, belief, culture and traditions to subsequent generations.

Application to practice

• Do not misinterpret the absence of physical demonstrations of affection by Fiji Indian parents towards their bachō as a lack of affection. Love is expressed through acts of care and support, such as parents investing in the education and wellbeing of their bachō and working long hours to provide opportunities for them. Parental love is demonstrated through sacrifice and encouragement.
• Love is intertwined with spirituality. Love for the divine is expressed through devotion, prayers and rituals that reinforce the importance of spiritual connection in everyday life. Respect these practices and uphold them for bachō and their parivāar (family).
• Love is also expressed through communal support, communities coming together to help those in need, embodying the values of compassion and care. Our genuine demonstration of compassion and care towards bachō and parivāar is an expression of love from a professional standpoint and will be appreciated.
• Acknowledge difficulties and challenges bachō and parivāar face when bachō are in care, and take action to alleviate these.
• Explore with the parivāar the outcomes they are seeking for the wellbeing of their bachō.
• Explore with the parivāar the supports they need to care safely for their bachō.
• Take time to listen to bachō and parivāar narratives and be sensitive to their history.

The centrality of parivāar (family) and significance of parivāar roles and positions such as elders, parents, eldest son, role of mother and father is quite distinct. Parivāar is central and key – immediate and extended members have duties and responsibilities to the collective good, including aspirations for bachō (children). Spiritual and religious beliefs inform and shape relationships. Beliefs bind one to honour one’s relationships. The sacredness of relationships acknowledges status and respect through use of titles and creating safe spaces. Understanding the value of reciprocity for establishing and maintaining good relationships with the act of giving or offering is the most important aspect of reciprocity.

Application to practice

• Explore with the parivāar (family) significant roles and responsibilities to care for and protect their bachō, understanding the importance of parivāar relationships, which are often close-knit and interdependent.
• Involve parivāar in the decision-making process, recognising the importance of parivāar ties and collective decision-making.
• Appreciate that relationships are more than connections but a sense of who one is in the collective and in relation to their faith and community.
• Explore with the parivāar their beliefs and aspirations for their bachō.
• Empower the parivāar by recognising their strengths and resilience.
• Build trust and rapport with the parivāar by showing respect, empathy and understanding of their cultural values and traditions.
• Demonstrate respect through the use of titles such as aunty, uncle, bhaya (brother) and bhayni (sister) in creating safe spaces.
• Take time to listen to the bachō and parivāar narratives, and be sensitive to their history.
• Acknowledge difficulties and challenges bachō and parivāar face when bachō are in care.
• Be aware of language barriers to effective communities with parivāar.

Respect is a fundamental value expressed through behaviours that demonstrate deference, consideration and esteem for others, especially elders, authority figures and tradition. This value is demonstrated through language – the use of honorific titles and greetings, body language, dress and conduct and following traditional norms and expectations such as those that govern behaviour and relationships.

Application to practice

• Be respectful of parivāar (family) hierarchy and structure, and engage accordingly. For example, elders hold positions of authority and respect and should be included in discussions and decision-making, utilising their influence and wisdom.
• Be cognisant of the expectation on bachō (children and young people) to respect their parents and elders, and to follow their guidance and advice.
• Be attuned to and validating of the deep-seated importance of parivāar honour within parivāar, addressing concerns about potential harm to family honour with sensitivity and respect. Work with parivāar to find solutions that respect both traditional values and the needs of individual parivāar members, especially bachō.
• Explore honorific titles for elders as a sign of your respect for them. (Elders are addressed with honorific titles such as bhai (brother), bhabhi (sister-in-law), chacha (uncle) or chachi (aunt).)
• Be aware that the way you dress and your conduct, speech and language are being interpreted. Ensure you dress, act and speak in ways that show respect towards members of the parivāar.
• Fiji Indians use respectful language when interacting with each other and try to avoid conflict. Be sure to do the same – be polite, avoid a confrontational tone and demonstrate respect for their feelings and perspectives.
• Take time to listen to the parivāar narratives and their aspirations for their bachō.

Practice consideration – 'Ji' is a gender-neutral term of respect for people and relationships. Adding 'ji' to the end of someone’s name is a demonstration of respect. When addressing elderly members of the family or family priests, for example, adding 'ji' demonstrates your respect for them and their status, thereby upholding the sacredness of that relationship. 'Ji' is used to denote respect in any relationship – for example, mata-ji (respected mother), baba-ji (respected father), uncle-ji, behen-ji (respected sister), bevi-ji (respected madam), bhabhi-ji (respected sister-in-law), guru-ji (respected master), pandit-ji (scholar sir). (In another context such as a general conversation, 'ji-nahi is a respectful way of saying 'no'. The addition of ‘ji’ denotes respect.)

The encompassing principle for working with Fiji Indian bachō (child or young person) and parivāar (family, families)

Guardianship is the encompassing principle of the Va’aifetū practice model

Rakshak is the unwritten understanding of care of, and responsibility for, people.

This principle is the umbrella under which all notions of pyaar (love), kinships, belonging, identity, responsibility and protection lie.

This is the enabling space for recognition, dignity, forgiveness, recovery, reciprocity, resilience, restoration and shared prosperity.

Practice

Practice includes:

• seeking and recognising the ways guardianship is expressed through Fiji Indian values and drawing on this to promote safety and wellbeing of Fiji Indian bachō and parivāar
• enabling the space for reciprocity and restoration and promoting the resilience and prosperity of Fiji Indian bachō and parivāar by ensuring their worldviews are understood and included
• proclaiming the value of human life and the principle of guardianship, promoting and protecting this as a human right.

Reflective questions

• How am I connecting the unique values in this cultural approach with the principle of guardianship?
• How am I demonstrating the Fiji Indian principle of guardianship within the parivāar?
• How have I promoted the values that inform Fiji Indian views of guardianship?

Maan (values)

Relationships – parivāar (family, families) is central and key – immediate and extended members have duties and responsibilities to the collective good, including aspirations for bachō (child).

Spirituality – bachō are treasured, guided and protected by their family and God.

Identity – ancestral knowledge and connection to history promotes identity and knowledge.

Practice

Practice includes:

• understanding the value of a bachō (child) for Fiji Indian people as a gift from God in recognition that all things that come from God must be revered and honoured
• an awareness of the treasured status of the bachō for Fiji Indian people, and its importance for the future of the parivāar in carrying the family name, religion, norms, beliefs, culture and traditions to subsequent generations
• recognising that no bachō exists in isolation of their parivāar or the larger collective, which has clear roles and responsibilities for the wellbeing of bachō
• valuing the importance of relationships that support the wellbeing of bachō – parivāar coming before the 'self' is central to parivāar life.

Reflective questions

• How do I understand the way this bachō is valued within their parivāar?
• How am I valuing the importance of the relationships supporting the wellbeing of bachō and parivāar?
• What supports my understanding about the best interests of this bachō alongside the best interests of the parivāar?
• Whose rights am I upholding when there is intergenerational conflict with differing worldviews?

Maan (values)

Spirituality – represents one’s soul, one’s existence in the  world and connection to it and one’s fate. It informs what is important in life and guides one’s purpose in it.

Identity – connections to the physical world, seas, land, sky and metaphysical world through ancestral knowledge embodying a sense of belonging.

Love – compassion is aligned with good intent and karma, leading to better outcomes and giving thanks to God.

Practice

Practice includes:

• awareness that spirituality is a source of life, purpose and guidance for Fiji Indian people and is expressed through diverse faiths and practices
• understanding the essence of spirituality for Fiji Indian people is reverence to God, compelling them to honour children as a gift from God and recognising anything that comes from God is to be revered, guided and honoured
• being aware of, and respecting, the significance of daily rituals and practices as part of diverse expressions of spirituality through which wellbeing is preserved
• understanding that spirituality is significant across family, social, cultural and political structures.

Reflective questions

• How am I demonstrating my awareness of what is important for a Fiji Indian bachō (child) and parivāar (family) spiritual needs?
• What are my own values about spirituality and how do these influence my practice with Fiji Indian bachō and parivāar?
• What support do I need when I am conflicted by the spiritual practices that are important for this bachō and parivāar?

Maan (values)

Spirituality – acting with good intent aligns with karma, leading to good outcomes and giving thanks to God. Includes kindness that will be reciprocated in another form.

Identity – we don't forget the adversities we experience that make us who we are.

Love – embodies the importance of compassion and always beginning from the premise of seeing the goodness in people.

Practice

Practice includes:

• understanding that, for Fiji Indian people, the way you treat others is a more important reflection of who you are, rather than the status you hold
• an awareness of how your body language, tone of voice and approach are being interpreted
• an awareness that humility is closely connected with identity – that is, a sense of self shaped by historical experiences of adversity and overcoming that through hard work
• awareness that valued action and behaviours are selfless, in the best interests of others, and undertaken unassumingly in a respectful and committed manner.

Reflective questions

• How am I demonstrating humility in my practice with Fiji Indian bachō (child) and parivāar (family)?
• How am I maintaining a compassionate approach alongside my professional obligations?
• How do I think my body language, tone of voice and approach is being experienced by the bachō and parivāar?

Maan (values)

Spirituality – the life source that informs and guides purpose in life and connecting one's soul with the experiences of the physical world.

Identity – acknowledging one's life journey and experiences of adversity and privileging ancestral knowledge and connection to one's history in shaping who one is.

Relationships – the centrality of family and significance of family roles and positions such as elders, parents, children and siblings is quite distinct.

Love – showing compassion and always working from the premise of seeing the goodness of people.

Practice

Practice includes:

• understanding and employing the sensitivity required to navigate the ancestral caste system (social structure) of Fiji Indian people
• recognising the value and contribution of elders and those who are knowledgeable with lived experience
• taking the time to explore and understand the cultural values and beliefs of the Fiji Indian bachō (child) and parivāar (family, families) you work with
• being aware of and sensitive to the history of the parivāar.

Reflective questions

• How is my practice respectful of elders and other key roles in the parivāar?
• What will I see, hear or feel when I am being sensitive to the history of the parivāar and their cultural values and beliefs?
• How is my relational practice balancing the dignity of bachō and parivāar with the need to address complex or sensitive issues?

Maan (values)

Identity – privileging ancestral knowledge and connection to  history.

Humility – interactions are respectful. Sacrifice and selfless actions are fulfilling endeavours.

Spirituality – spiritual and religious beliefs inform and shape relationships. Beliefs bind one to honour one's relationships. The sacredness of relationships acknowledge status and respect through use of titles and creating safe spaces.

Love – kindness is important to others and self. Compassion is extended to those in need.

Practice

Practice includes:

• understanding rishta in the context of parivāar (family, families), friends, faith, community, neighbours and the nature of their connections
• having an awareness that, for Fiji Indian people, a bachō (child or young person) and mother's relationship begins the day the mother conceives, and understanding the significance of that
• understanding the nature and significance of roles and relationships within the family (for example, parents' relationship must be balanced and respectful, grandparents are usually closely involved in caring for bachō)
• understanding the significance of reciprocity for establishing and maintaining good relationships, where the act of giving or offering is an important aspect.

Reflective questions

• How am I using the concept of rishta to understand and work towards restoration with members of this parivāar?
• How am I understanding the sacredness of relationships compared with my own worldview?
• What am I bringing to my relationship with the bachō and parivāar that demonstrates reciprocity?

Maan (values)

Spirituality – informs what is important in life and guides one's purpose in life through honourable conduct, which includes honesty, obedience and being true to oneself.

Identity – language defines practices and expectations of behaviour. One's sense of identity is importantly shaped by one's life journey, experiences of adversity and dedicated to work ethic.

Relationships – family is central and encompassing of responsibilities for its strength and maintenance.

Humility – respect and care for people is demonstrated through sacrifice and selfless actions that don't see reward.

Love – includes compassion and kindness towards others and self and never doing harm.

Practice

Practice includes:

• recognising the significant role and responsibility of spiritual leaders in parivāar (family) discussions and drawing on this appropriately
• recognising the importance of position in the parivāar, community, society and educational background
• understanding how the nature of traditional and contemporary roles and responsibilities in parivāar can be a potential source of conflict
• an awareness that loyalty towards and care of extended family (in Aotearoa New Zealand and Fiji), and the tendency for adult children to continue living with their parents until or after marriage, are tangible expressions of responsibility and its significance for Fiji Indians.

Reflective questions

• What helps me to understand the roles and responsibilities within the parivāar?
• How do I know when the parivāar are experiencing my practice as upholding my responsibilty to them?
• How does my understanding of roles and responsibilities help me to practise restoratively?