EVERY child deserves a safe, healthy place to learn. Under the Fiji–Australia Vuvale Partnership, Australia and Fiji are working together to improve water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH) facilities in schools – helping students stay healthy, attend regularly, and learn with dignity.
Delivered through the Fiji Social Infrastructure Program, 45 schools across the Suva-Nausori corridor have been selected to receive new and/or refurbished washroom facilities, ensuring each school meets minimum standards with regard to accessibility and toilet to student ratio. This program will directly benefit around 30,000 students and the surrounding communities.
Responding to real needs in Fiji’s schools
In 2024, a detailed infrastructure assessment of 86 schools identified major gaps in sanitation, accessibility and infrastructure resilience, with regard to the Fiji National Building Code and the Ministry of Education’s Minimum Standards for WASH in Schools Infrastructure.
Per the assessment, primary schools alone needed an additional 17 male and 97 female toilets, while secondary schools required two male and 67 female toilets. None of the assessed schools had accessible toilets for students with disabilities.
These findings guided the selection of the 45 –schools that will receive additional facilities, ensuring upgrades meet real needs and support safer, more inclusive learning environments.
What Australia’s support will deliver
In partnership with the Ministry of Education, upgrades will include:
• New and improved toilets and handwashing facilities;
• Accessible sanitation for students with disabilities;
• Improved menstrual hygiene facilities for girls; and
• Cyclone-resilient washroom facilities.
Consultation with school leaders, teachers, and communities is central to the design and construction process, ensuring facilities are practical, durable, and suited to each school’s unique context. The project prioritises Fiji-based consultants, contractors, and suppliers – strengthening local expertise and supporting jobs.
Supporting health, attendance, and inclusion
Improved WASH facilities reduce illness, supports consistent school attendance, and promote student wellbeing. For girls, appropriate washrooms that support menstrual hygiene help remove barriers to participation. Accessible facilities ensure students with disabilities can attend school safely, confidently, and with dignity.
Schools as community shelters
Many schools also serve as community meeting spaces and evacuation centres during cyclones. Reliable, resilient water and sanitation facilities therefore benefit both education and community safety – reinforcing schools as trusted hubs during emergencies.
Looking ahead
Construction is expected to commence in 2026, following the completion of design work, community consultation, and transparent procurement and tender processes that meet both Fiji and Australian Government standards.
Through the Vuvale Partnership, Australia and Fiji are investing in practical, climate-resilient infrastructure that strengthens education and supports the wellbeing of the next generation.
