2026 Intake Dates: 5th Feb - 26th March, 7th May - 26th June, 17th Sept - 5th Nov For more information, contact intake1@number8prisonproject.org.au
The Mana Suite Workshop is an intensive, person-centred 8-week program designed to support meaningful and lasting reintegration. Participants commit to three hours per week across three core modules: Culture, Faith, and Behaviour. These foundations are central to restoring mana, strengthening identity, and supporting positive life change. The program moves beyond surface-level intervention by addressing the whole person, recognising that sustainable reintegration requires more than compliance. It requires connection to values, purpose, and responsibility within family and community. Mana Suite challenges the norm of what has traditionally been done by placing culture, faith, and lived experience at the centre of change. It creates space for honest reflection, accountability, and growth, while remaining culturally safe and strengths-based. The workshop is relational rather than transactional, empowering participants to reshape their thinking, behaviours, and future pathways. Further detail on each of the modules is outlined below.
Mana Restoration (Reconnect and Reintegration Module)
Restoring MANA is essential for Pasifika people as it represents our inherent dignity, strength, and spiritual essence, Mana is not just individual; it is deeply tied to family, culture, and community, making its restoration a collective process. However, it can be diminished by experiences of incarceration, disconnection, and systemic barriers. When mana is restored, individuals regain their sense of identity, self-worth, and purpose, empowering them to make positive choices and rebuild their lives. Through culturally grounded support, faith, and reconnection with their roots, we help individuals reclaim their mana, fostering resilience, healing, and a renewed sense of belonging. The Program The Mana Restoration Program is a culturally grounded initiative designed to support Pasifika individuals impacted by incarceration. Rooted in Pasifika values and spirituality, this program restores a person’s true identity—their mana—which represents their strength, resilience, dignity, and spirit. Program Structure The program is delivered over 6 weeks or 6 months (once day per week), with each week focusing on a different module. Participants begin their journey while in custody and are encouraged to complete the full program in the community after release, ensuring continuity of support and cultural connection during reintegration. In Custody: Participants may complete one or more modules while in custody (pre-release). In Community: Those who start in custody are encouraged to complete the full program upon release, reinforcing personal growth and connection to a support network (post release). Program Modules Each module builds on the last, guiding participants through a process of reflection, healing, and transformation. Some of the modules include: Mana & Identity – Understanding the meaning of mana and reconnecting with cultural identity. The Impact of Violence – Understanding the effects of violence and developing non-violent solutions. Addiction & Recovery – Exploring the roots of addiction and steps toward healing. Leadership & Service – Learning to give back and serve the community. Planning for the Future – Setting goals and building practical life skills. Graduation & Next Steps – Celebrating progress and committing to ongoing growth. Why Cultural Connection is Essential for Reintegration Research shows that cultural identity and belonging are critical for rehabilitation and successful reintegration. Studies on culturally responsive programs highlight that individuals who reconnect with their cultural roots experience: ✔ Greater self-worth and resilience – Knowing who you are strengthens your ability to navigate challenges. ✔ Reduced reoffending rates – A strong cultural foundation and support network lower the risk of reoffending. ✔ Improved mental and emotional well-being – Understanding cultural values like alofa/loloma (love), vā (relational space), and tautua (service) fosters healing and purpose, waka (community and the journey of life). For many Pasifika individuals in the justice system, disconnection from culture leads to isolation, shame, and a loss of identity. The Mana Restoration Program reverses this by using a cultural lens—centering Pasifika ways of thinking, healing, and growing. A Cultural Lens for True Restoration Rather than applying a Western correctional approach, our program embraces Pasifika ways of knowing and being: ✅ Talanoa & Storytelling – Creating safe spaces for open and honest conversations. ✅ Collective Healing – Strengthening family and community ties. ✅ Spiritual and Cultural Practices – Prayer, song, and traditional customs to restore identity and self-worth. ✅ Values-Based Transformation – Teaching responsibility through cultural concepts like faka’apa’apa (respect) and fa’atuatua (faith). More Than Rehabilitation – A Pathway to a New Life The Mana Restoration Program is more than rehabilitation—it is a restoration of spirit, dignity, and future pathways. By using a culturally safe and empowering approach, we help individuals not just reintegrate, but thrive as valued members of their families and communities. Click on the email below to talk to us about MANA RESTORATION Email: Mana1@number8prisonproject.org.au
Malohi Mana (Domestic and Family Violence Module)
Malohi Mana creates improved safety by addressing the root causes of violence—disconnection from cultural identity, unaddressed trauma, shame, and silence—through a framework that speaks directly to the heart of Pasifika families. The DV program is an 8-week culturally grounded module as part of Mana Restoration for Pasifika men and women impacted by family and domestic violence. It integrates Pasifika values such as respect (faka‘apa‘apa), sacred relationships (va), and collective healing. Sessions are delivered through the talanoa method, which promotes safe storytelling, reconnection to cultural identity, emotional regulation, and restorative accountability. A qualified Domestic Violence worker co-facilitates alongside Pasifika cultural leaders. Participants are supported with referrals, legal education, and spiritual care. In alignment with Pasifika worldviews, this program acknowledges the importance of supporting both the victim and the offender. Healing is not individual, but collective. It is through collective accountability, shared knowledge, and restoring the va—the sacred relational space between people—that true and lasting transformation can take place. This approach seeks not only to interrupt cycles of harm but to rebuild the cultural and spiritual foundations of safety, dignity, and respect for all members of the aiga/kāiga (family). For more information email us on mana1@number8prisonproject.org.au
Discipleship (Faith for Healing Module)
The Faith Module supports participants to reconnect with faith as a foundation for identity, healing, and reintegration. For many Pasifika people, faith is not separate from daily life, it sits at the centre of who we are, how we relate to others, and how we understand responsibility, forgiveness, and hope. This module creates space to explore faith safely and respectfully, recognising its role in restoring mana, strengthening conscience, and supporting lasting behaviour change. Evidence and lived experience show that faith-based discipleship can provide structure, accountability, purpose, and community, all critical factors in reducing reoffending and supporting successful reintegration. Through reflection, discussion, and culturally grounded teaching, participants are encouraged to reconnect with faith as a source of strength, resilience, and transformation for themselves, their families, and future generations.
MANA SUITE
Re-Integration Workshop
Culturally Responsive Programs Work
Guiding Principles
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Talanoa (involves open and respectful dialogue to build relationships, find shared understanding, and foster collaboration)
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Alofa/Loloma/Aroha (Love, respect, dignity)
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Whakapapa/Fonua/Vanua (genealogy, identity, belonging)
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Lotu (spirituality and faith)
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Vā - Reciprocity and Relationships (a fundamental aspect of Pasifika cultures, highlighting the interconnectedness of individuals and communities.
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Vaka/Waqa – Shared experiences and collectivism
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Kuleana/Mana – responsibility to self and community
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Non-clinical, culturally grounded, trauma-informed
At Number 8 Prison Project (N8PP), we facilitate our own reintegration workshops because culturally targeted programs are far more effective for our Pasifika communities than mainstream, one-size-fits-all approaches. Our workshops are built by Pasifika, for Pasifika—designed through our values, language, and cultural worldview.
Reintegration is not just an individual journey—it is a collective process. For Pasifika people, healing requires the restoration of cultural identity, family relationships, spiritual strength, and mana. Our programs address complex issues such as trauma, addiction, shame, and disconnection, using methods like talanoa (dialogue), spiritual care, and culturally grounded practices that centre va (sacred relational space) and collective accountability.
When people engage in programs where they see their own culture reflected and respected, they are more likely to connect, take responsibility, and begin the process of transformation. As noted by Allan, Briskman, & Pease (2009), culturally relevant practice is essential in working with diverse populations, particularly where systemic inequality and marginalisation are present.
Our approach supports long-term change—not just for individuals, but for families and communities—because it honours who we are, where we come from, and how we heal. (Read our report - link on our homepage)