A recent article from sbs news states that more than one in three people with Pacific ancestry in Australia lives in NSW. 

That population is largely concentrated in Blacktown & Southwest Sydney. Blacktown is  where Ms Ianeta Baker Isaako, who was reported by media outlets as having died as a result of COVID-19 last week, lived. 

An official statement from the Family of Ianeta Isaako released yesterday, states that Results from the coroner declared Ianeta’s cause of death was pneumonia.

The statement goes on to say that Ianeta had tested positive for covid-19 on Friday 15th August. NSW Health gave consent for Ianeta to isolate in her home, inside her bedroom for 14 days. Ianeta, her husband Isaako and their children had complied with all directives given by NSW Health. Ianeta was not vaccinated yet. We - as a family - had been conversing and teaching each other about vaccinations and COVID-19 only days before she had passed. 

Professor Ravulo, a researcher in social work and policy studies, has been working to improve uptake of vaccines in Sydney's Pacific communities. 

Australia’s first professor of Pasifika heritage at an Australian university, Professor Jioji Ravulo, research and areas of interest include mental health and well being, alcohol and other drugs, youth development, marginality and decoloniality. He is passionate about creating and implementing social work educational and research approaches that are engaging and engaged.