High cost of living is causing Samoans living in Australia to break away from the cultural practice of fa'alavelave, according to a report.

The Pacific Communities in Australia report, which draws on 2021 census data, reveals the extent of the cost-of-living crisis in communities.

The report found it was much more common for Pasifika people to live in houses with eight or more people.

At the same time, fewer Pasifika people are high income earners because of barriers like access to higher education.

In its simplest form, gifting money as part of fa'alavelave is a "manifestation of love", according to Lefaoali'i Dr Dion Enari from the Auckland University of Technology, told the ABC.

"For example, if my child passes away and my extended family come with $5,000, my love for them or our relationship has forever been strengthened because they were there for me in my time of need," he said.

"So, in their time of need, when one of their children passes away, I'm there with my $5,000. It continues to act as a bridge in strengthening bonds."

"At a lot of Samoan events, they publicly present money to those who hold chief titles, to ministers, and they gift money in acknowledgement of the different roles people play at funerals and at weddings," Dr Enari said.

This can alienate those who may not be able to afford to participate, or encourage people to overspend or take on debt.

Dr Enari has also said it was "extremely incorrect" to blame Samoan culture.

"There is a Samoan saying, E sui faiga, ae tumau fa'avae (change how it's done, but the foundation remains the same)," he said.

"The Samoan concept of gift giving is beautiful and good and should be maintained but certain ways we practice it at times may put people out of pocket."

Dr Enari said there is a belief that money regularly comes and goes in the Samoan community, which underlies bad spending habits.

"Money is regularly supposed to come in from cultural events, and it's supposed to regularly go out, whereas the Western way is you save your money, and continue to grow it for yourself," he said.

"If you can't afford to do it, or your children aren't going to eat, then don't do it or just give what you can.

"In this day and age, everyone is more understanding. In the islands and the diaspora, we are a far more understanding society."

Samoan director of the Pasifika Young People's Wellbeing Network Sarai Tafa works closely with Australia's large Pasifika community in South-East Queensland.

Ms Tafa was born in Brisbane and has felt the pressure to contribute big amounts of money to fa'alavelaves before.

"The minimum I've ever experienced is probably $1,000. So $1,000 plus," she told the ABC.

Ms Tafa said that younger generations are now pushing back.

"They will post or make an announcement [on social media] that someone passed in their family, but then say 'strictly no fa'alavelaves'," she said.

"They don't want to be burdened with it – there's a whole lot of things that go into it. Some families just don't want to deal with that.

"The family [receiving fa'alavelaves], have to organise orators to come and speak, you would have to organise or prepare what you would give back.

"I think nowadays there is more of an understanding, because more people are doing it but 10 years ago even, it probably would've been frowned upon."

Ms Tafa said many families are struggling just to put food on the table.

She worked on a public health initiative to respond to food insecurity in Pacific households, called Feeding Our Mana.

The team has been helping people overcome the shame they feel for accessing food banks.

"When there's a family gathering and everyone's expected to bring a plate, some families won't show up because they can't afford to take a plate," she told the ABC.

"It affects their self-confidence and self-worth and dampens their spirit.

"Our services are about giving a push to community to access what is needed, while also removing the expectation of bringing a plate and saying, 'just come for a feed'."