Fiji

Fiji, a popular tourist destination for many, is an island nation in the southwest Pacific Ocean consisting of 332 islands with a population of approximately 922,000 people. The two largest islands, Viti Levu and Vanua Levu, account for more than 85% of the total land area. Viti Levu is the most developed and populated, and the location of Suva, the capital city.

Motivation Australia’s engagement with Fiji began following an initial visit in 2011. Since then, Motivation Australia has worked closely with Fiji’s rehabilitation and assistive technology stakeholders, including Fiji’s Ministry of Health and Medical Services, Fiji National University’s school of physiotherapy, the Fiji Spinal Injuries Association (SIA) and Frank Hilton Organisation.

Disability related statistics and information:
• As of 2009, there were 11,402 persons reported with a disability. However, the Fiji National Council for Disabled Persons (FNCDP) estimates that the real figure is likely to be over 85,000 people.
• Based on WHO statistics an estimated 8,810 people require a wheelchair and 4,405 people require a prosthesis or orthosis.
• On the 7th of June 2017, Fiji ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CRPD), committing to align all national legislation with the provisions of the CRPD.
• The FNCDP is the National legislated co-ordinating body for disability development in Fiji.
• The Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act 2018 (Act No. 4 of 2018) was adopted in Fiji on the 16th of March 2018. For more information about the act please see the International Labour Organization website.

A profile picture of Priyansha standing against a background of lush green plants. She has her hands behind her back and is smiling brightly.

Pacific profiles: Priyansha Chand

Priyansha Chand is extremely passionate about her role as Physiotherapist and working with children at Frank Hilton Organisation in Suva, Fiji. Priyansha trained at Fiji National University, completed her Bachelors in Physiotherapy in 2014. A hard-working young woman, she started…

Terrific teamwork for Training of Trainers course in Fiji

Daniel and Lauren were in Suva, Fiji for part one of the Training of Trainers (ToT) course from the 25th to 29th of November. The ToT course assembles participants from Fiji (4 participants), the Solomon Islands (2) and Vanuatu (3)…
Two trainees in PNG learn their training material!

Training the trainers: Pacific leaders project

Building a skilled and knowledgable workforce is essential to increasing access to appropriate, local wheelchair services in the Pacific Region. Over the past 10 years, much of that training has been completed by international organisations, such as Motivation Australia, through a…
Conference delegates listening to a presenter off screen. In the fore ground are two women in colourful dresses.

Rehabilitation and Mobility Conference

Celebrating the Conference Theme: ‘Pacific Leaders creating Sustainable Services’, delegates from nine countries in the Pacific region, inclusive of those who use, provide and manage services worked together to share ideas, discuss and learn about how to build inclusive rehabilitation…

Wheelchair training: Fiji, PNG and the Solomon Islands

Motivation Australia, together with the Latter day Saint Charities (LDSC) have recently delivered wheelchair refresher training in three countries throughout the Pacific from September to November. Motivation Australia’s Katrina McGrath joined Chris Christensen a technical trainer from LDSC to co-deliver…
Two men lean over a table, reading an assembly manual. Both of them are pointing to the page. Next to them on the table are parts of a wheelchair and some tools.

Fiji: Wheelchair service training

Motivation Australia and the Cerebral Palsy Alliance recently collaborated to deliver an intermediate level, wheelchair training course for 20 Fijian, Ni-Vanuatu and I-Kiribati personnel in Suva, Fiji. Intermediate level wheelchair services provide wheelchairs with extra support for children and adults…
A male participant of the training adjusts a wheelchair, while a female participant checks off a list of changes that need to be made.

Mentoring local personnel to provide appropriate wheelchairs

Intermediate level wheelchair service training builds the capacity of personnel to provide wheelchairs and supportive seating for children and adults who need additional postural support. A recent children’s wheelchair clinic in Vanuatu aimed to extend the skills, knowledge and confidence…

Fiji: Children’s wheelchair services

MA was pleased to once again work with our partners at the Frank Hilton Organisation to develop their children’s wheelchair services, as part of our Pacific MDS project. The team at FHO provide physiotherapy, hearing and mobility device services for children who attend…