Children’s Health Queensland has given its well-known Good Start Program a fresh new identity, rebranding it as Pacifikai to better connect with the diverse Māori and Pacific Islander communities it serves.
The award-winning program was established in 2011 to promote health and wellbeing and prevent chronic diseases in Māori and Pacific Islander children, young people and families. It currently supports more than 14,000 participants across Queensland annually.
Pacifikai is the fusion of two words – Pacific, representing the strong connection to the Pacific region, and Kai, symbolising food, a fundamental element that brings Pacific Islander communities together.
The name change to Pacifikai follows a year-long co-design project with more than 300 Māori and Pacific Islander children and young people.
Pacifikai Program Manager, Kirstine Kira, said the goal of the rebrand project was to place the voices of children and young people at the heart of the program and foster a deeper connection to their cultural identities and health needs.
"From face-to-face interviews in Cairns, to community votes across Southeast Queensland, every phase of the project centred around inclusion and respect. The final brand is more than a logo and a name - it’s a symbol of cultural pride and community ownership,” Ms Kira said.
The program continues to deliver culturally tailored support through school-based education, pregnancy and early childhood services, family cooking classes, and care for children affected by obesity or type 2 diabetes.
The new logo and artwork showcase the significance of the Pacific Ocean and its role in uniting these diverse cultures. The colour blue is prominently featured, representing both the ocean and the interconnectedness of communities across the Pacific region.
The artwork also includes three symbolic motifs, each tied to the three subregions of the Pacific:
- Shark Teeth (Micronesia) – named Reirei, the Kiribati word for "School". This motif represents the shared resources of the ocean and the value of collective learning.
- Seabird (Polynesia) – named Amata, the Samoan word for "Beginnings". This motif symbolises the journey of culturally tailored healthcare and the importance of navigation in the lives of Pacific Islander peoples.
- Necklace of Flowers (Melanesia) – named Vuvale, the Fijian word for "Family". This motif honours the central role of agriculture and family in sustaining thriving communities.
“Pacifikai supports Children’s Health Queensland’s mission to deliver culturally tailored health promotion and care that supports the health and wellbeing of tamariki (children) throughout Queensland,” Ms Kira said.
“It represents a shared vision, built with the communities we serve.”
For more information on Pacifikai and its programs, visit childrens.health.qld.gov.au/our-work/pacifikai
Read the media release.