Selane Tairea is a Research Officer at Te Puna Vai Marama Cook Islands Centre for Research. She holds a background in psychology and statistics and specializes in community-based data collection, analysis, and reporting. Selane has a passion for blending research with purposeful community engagement. Currently one of 5 recipients of the Punanga Tauturu Itivaine counselling scholarship, Selane is working towards becoming a qualified counsellor. Serving amongst a number of NGOs in the Cook Islands she pushes for people to understand that “Wellbeing is not something passive that comes naturally to people, it is something that requires action on a holistic level”.