As the only Samoan resident in the Barossa Valley, Maualaivao Maima Koro balances her dual role as a Pacific Research Fellow at the University of Adelaide and an advocate for the voices of her homelands, Samoa and Tokelau. 

Maualaivao's journey began when she relocated to Adelaide to work on a Defence Funded Programme to build skills and development initiatives for the Pacific. 

"It's called the Regional Perspectives Research Project," said Maualaivao.

"It's basically to understand Pacific countries and their security priorities. And, you know, some people say - in this age of geopolitical competition, everything is kind of securitised. And I think there's a bit of that, but I think it's what this research is trying to do which is to capture the voices from the communities," added Maualaivao.

With a deep commitment to understanding the security priorities of Pacific nations, she has become a vital link between her community and the academic sphere, extending her research efforts into the heart of Barossa. 

Having transitioned from Adelaide to Barossa Valley last year, Maualaivao appreciates the surroundings that allow her to focus on her crucial work but added that she often gets homesick. 

“It’s quiet here. You get a lot of time and space to yourself, which is refreshing given my travel commitments for work,” she added.

Her current project keeps her busy as it seeks to capture the often-overlooked narratives of remote communities in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu. Though physically distant from these regions, she collaborates closely with local partners in the Pacific, ensuring that their voices are included and leading the research process. 

“Engaging with community people talking about their realities profoundly impacts our understanding of local needs,” Maualaivao explained. 

Recently, she journeyed to Vanuatu to launch her project's findings, where community members shared their insights on development and security.

Maualaivao witnessed firsthand the disconnection between policy discussions and the lived experiences of the people in these regions, reinforcing her belief that advocacy for marginal voices is imperative. 

"I think this is the thing that when you're in that room with community people talking about their realities, it does something about the way they talk about the security, influence, people in power and that. But at the community level, people are just interested in how to survive," said Maualaivao.

Despite the geographical distance from her homelands, she remains committed to fostering dialogue between communities and policymakers. 

She enjoys walking and cycling to the nearest town, which is about a 10 to 15-minutes journey along an old train track. In her free time, she likes browsing the Op Shops and enjoys a nice cup of coffee in the town centre.