Graduation and acknowledgments

In December 2024 I graduated with a Doctor of Philosophy - Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences from The University of Melbourne. My PhD thesis was titled 'Understanding the impacts of the climate crisis on the sexual and reproductive health and rights of Pacific youth: Identifying opportunities for risk reduction'. I decided to share the words from my acknowledgments section below, as a snapshot of all the experiences I’m still processing:

First, as a migrant settler I express my solidarity with the traditional owners and custodians of the unceded lands on which I live and work, the Wurundjeri Woi-wurrung and Bunurong peoples of the Kulin nations. I pay my respects to their elders past and present, and acknowledge their enduring connection to, and deep respect for, the lands, oceans, and waterways of this continent. Achieving equity and justice in climate and health is only possible through meaningful partnership with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. We have a lot to learn from their enduring and sustainable practices of caring for Country.

I am indebted to the participants from Fiji, Vanuatu, and Tonga who were so generous in engaging with this research, especially during such challenging times over the last four years. Thank you for trusting me with your stories, experiences, insights, and expertise. I hope I have done them justice. My heartfelt gratitude especially to the Fiji research team – my collaborators, co-conspirators, and friends – Tamani, Alanieta, Ilaisa, and Kelera. I am honoured to have met and worked with you all. Your friendships mean more than I can adequately express. You have taught me that shame dies when stories are told in safe spaces, and I am forever grateful. Vinaka vaka levu and sote tale. Our work together has just begun, and I look forward to many more years of work rooted in shared values, passion, and solidarity. ??

A huge thank you to my PhD supervisors – my primary supervisor Associate Professor Meghan Bohren, and my co-supervisors Professor Peter Azzopardi and Professor Kathryn Bowen. Your combined expertise and guidance have been invaluable to my progress and my personal and professional growth. Especially over the last few months of my PhD when I encountered so many challenges to my health and in my personal life. A special thank you to Meghan for agreeing to be my primary supervisor, and for always taking the time to understand and support my decisions throughout the research process. I am extremely thankful for your encouragement and support, without which I am not sure I would have managed to complete this PhD. Pete, thank you for your perspectives and thoughtful questions, which always challenged me to interrogate my assumptions and helped me gain deeper clarity of thought. Kathryn, I am so fortunate that you joined Melbourne University and agreed to join the supervisory team at just the right time. I have learned a lot from your expertise and have loved being a part of Melbourne Climate Futures Academy – a truly collaborative and interdisciplinary environment. I am also immensely grateful for my advisory chair Professor Lisa Gibbs who was always on hand to provide impartial advice, wisdom, and support.?

To all the wonderful friends and colleagues I have been lucky enough to meet during the PhD, both at Melbourne School of Population and Global Health and Melbourne Climate Futures, thank you for the friendships, conversations, and encouragement. I look forward to staying in touch and continuing to be inspired by, and learn from, all of you. A special mention goes to Meghan’s squad (especially Martha, Thiago, Helen, Rana) for the fun company and the spicy food adventures.

Always grateful for my family and my friends in the Maldives and the UK. ?While living away from so many loved ones is hard, it has strengthened my appreciation for the enduring friendships and support groups that are only a WhatsApp chat, phone call, or Zoom call away. My family – Mamma and Bappa, Kokko, Mana and Maya – your encouragement and love kept me going, especially over the last few months when everything became so much harder. ?

Thank you, Steve, for your love and understanding, your delicious cooking, your sense of humour, and the many ways you stepped up so that I could continue to do this work. I am sorry that it was too much for us in the end. You were a big part of this work, and I could not have done this without you. Special mention to our dog Theo - my constant companion who provided so much love, comfort, and companionship. He made sure I got out into nature multiple times a day and tried his best to get random people to talk to us. He kept me sane, especially during COVID-19 lockdowns when often the only interactions I got were in the dog park during our 1 hour a day allowance outside for exercise, within 5km from home.

Doing a PhD during a pandemic and through multiple unprecedented global events has been a transformative journey. As I finish this thesis my life has completely changed. I have no idea what the future holds, but this journey has strengthened my passion and commitment for intersectional, feminist, anti-racist, anti-colonial work towards environmental, social, and gender justice. I finish my acknowledgements by quoting the Radical Gratitude Spell by Adrienne Maree Brown. I dedicate this to all the participants and collaborators in the Pacific, and to everyone I know who are tirelessly working for freedom, liberation, and environment and social justice. You all inspire me to do better and be better. I also dedicate this to my future self, the person I hope to become, as an act of radical love and commitment to my work going forward.

you are a miracle walking

i greet you with wonder

in a world which seeks to own

your joy and your imagination

you have chosen to be free,

every day, as a practice.

i can never know the struggles you went through to get here,

but i know you have swum upstream

and at times it has been lonely

i want you to know

i honor the choices you made in solitude

and i honor the work you have done to belong

i honor your commitment to that which is larger than yourself

and your journey

to love the particular container of life

that is you

you are enough

your work is enough

you are needed

your work is sacred

you are here

and i am grateful

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