This course will begin with a detailed overview of the various types of communities and will then explore the impact of various social structures such as gender, ethnicity and social class. An introduction to the key health issues facing Pacific Islander communities will be provided and then an analysis of how these health issues impact on various sub structures of our communities will be undertaken. This course will also provide opportunities for students to reflect on their own values as well as exploring the role of compassion when working with others. Finally the course will outline practical approaches to identify evidenced based participatory and empowering approaches to community development to address health issues.