- MENTORING PROGRAM TO ASSIST STUDENTS EXCEL IN SCHOOLS – The Department of Social Welfare has organised mentoring workshops to empower those families who are provided welfare assistance through the Care and Protection (C&P) program.
- FIJI POLICE TO BENEFIT FROM INDONESIA DEFENCE TRAINING PROGRAM – The first participation ever for Fiji at a leadership course for defence officials in Indonesia demonstrates the growing relations between the two countries.
- MINISTRY WELCOMES PROPOSED ASSISTANCE TO BOOST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES – The Health Ministry has welcomed a delegation organised by the Trade Mission of Taiwan, to assist improve Fiji’s mental health sector.
- INDUCTION COURSE TO MOULD ASPIRING FIJIAN DIPLOMATS – The Public Service Commission has trained more than 193 officials in the Diplomatic Services Induction Course to ensure Fiji has qualified and competent workforce for overseas postings.
1 MENTORING PROGRAM TO ASSIST STUDENTS EXCEL IN SCHOOLS
The Department of Social Welfare has organised mentoring workshops to empower those families who are provided welfare assistance through the Care and Protection (C&P) program.
As the monthly allowance provided to these families is aimed at supporting the education and wellbeing of children, the Department has organised workshops to mentor children in these families to enable them to excel at their studies. The underlying objective of the mentoring exercise is to reinforce to the participants that education is a vital tool towards development and is a significant contributor towards reducing poverty.
A mentoring workshop organised at the Valelevu Hart Office in Nasinu this week saw the participation of 63 students and 38 parents in the central division. Majority of these participants reside in the informal settlements like the hart homes.
The Minister for Social Welfare, Women and Poverty Alleviation Dr Jiko Luveni says that mentoring will assist the children with their career planning and development.
“The mentoring provides opportunities for parents to acquire good communication skills to assist their children with their education. It also empowers young people to build self-esteem and confidence to set academic goals and take steps to achieve them. The Department will continue to provide similar opportunities for the beneficiaries of the social welfare programs,” Dr Luveni said.
During the workshop, the students developed individual work plans including the selection of careers in the fields of teaching, medical, business and accounting.
The Department will continue to coach the students in ensuring that they achieve the plans they have identified for themselves through the mentoring exercise. The workshops also provided them with information about the various programs provided by government ministries and departments.
The key aims of the mentoring workshops are as follows:
- It strengthens the communication skills between the children and parents/guardians
- Coach the children to formulate their study timetable and a career pathway and identify the required qualification to achieve those goals.
- Parents are encouraged to become self-sufficient through maximizing their potentials and pursue income generating programs provided under the Department of Social Welfare’s Graduation Program.
The Care and Protection program which is administered by the Department of Social Welfare is assisting 1863 Fijians and families.
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2 FIJI POLICE TO BENEFIT FROM INDONESIA DEFENCE TRAINING PROGRAM
The first participation ever for Fiji at a leadership course for defence officials in Indonesia demonstrates the growing relations between the two countries.
Fiji will be represented by Superintendant Juki Fong of the Fiji Police Force at the 2014 Middle Level Leadership Course conducted at the Indonesia Police Staff Academy in Bandung, Indonesia.
Fiji’s Ambassador to Indonesia Ratu Seremaia Tui Cavuilati said that Fiji will join 200 participants from across Indonesia who have registered for the 7-month course.
He pointed out that this latest development was made possible through the signing of a Memorandum of Understandings on Police Cooperation signed between the two countries in 2011.
The training includes capacity building in areas such as trafficking of illicit drugs, terrorism, trafficking and smuggling of migrants, money laundering, trafficking of illicit arms and explosives, cyber crime and other important areas.
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3 MINISTRY WELCOMES PROPOSED ASSISTANCE TO BOOST MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Health Ministry has welcomed a delegation organised by the Trade Mission of Taiwan, to assist improve Fiji’s mental health sector.
Government through the Ministry of Health is working towards improving mental health services around the country with increased awareness and decentralised services at divisional hospitals.
The six-member team from Taiwan visited the Health Ministry this week to look at providing assistance at health facilities that provide mental health services. This includes improving rehabilitation services such as the development of a farm where patients can spend time in the farm and earn income.
Fiji’s National Advisor for Mental Health, Dr Jane Andrews said the ministry is trying to improve mental health services provided including community mental health services.
“We are looking at improving from the community level. St. Giles has been decentralised so that divisional hospitals can also treat patients with mental illness. We have trained 45 nurses in mental health care and a good percentage is working in centres around the country,” Dr Andrews said.
This year’s national budget allocation for mental health is $100,000. The ministry is planning to establish a regional mental health institute in the near future.
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4 INDUCTION COURSE TO MOULD ASPIRING FIJIAN DIPLOMATS
The Public Service Commission has trained more than 193 officials in the Diplomatic Services Induction Course to ensure Fiji has qualified and competent workforce for overseas postings.
The PSC Commissioner and Dean for Faculty of Arts, Law and Education, Dr Akanisi Kedrayate opened the 7th Induction Course for Diplomatic Services at the Parliamentary Complex.
She said diplomats must have a good understanding of countries foreign policies, rules of engagement and negotiating skills.
“As a diplomat, you will promote Fiji and protect its interests and citizens overseas and provide support and advice in the development of Fiji’s foreign policy. You need to be matured in your approach, well organised, communicate well both in writing and spoken and willing to take up posting anywhere in the world,” Kedrayate said.
A total of 46 participants from the civil service, private sector and Pacific Island Countries including the Pacific Island Development Forum members are participating in the week-long course.
Participant, Ms Benny Teuei first secretary for Kiribati High Commission said the course will broaden her knowledge and skills on foreign policy and diplomacy.
“It will equip us with the right knowledge and skills to prepare us in advance in the foreign policies in our governments and better understanding of diplomatic relations with other countries,” Teuei said.
His Excellency, Fiji’s Ambassador to Japan Isikeli Mataitoga, the resource person and facilitator of the course, said the course will run in a manner an overseas mission runs and participants will take an aptitude test.
“The course is designed to enhance skills that they can apply and use in their own work environment. I will be looking at the punctuality, dress-code and manner in which they handle situations under pressure,” Mataitoga said.
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