IN 2025, Australia, in partnership with Fiji’s Ministry of Education, supported 450 students with vision, hearing, learning, and physical disabilities to access the support they need to fully participate in their education. Through a systematic identification and verification process, students were connected with assistive devices, classroom adjustments, and inclusive learning environments.
One of those students is a Year 11 student in Tailevu whose life–changing support began during a routine school visit. Her vision and hearing difficulties were identified by Jone Vuetiverata – known to many as Master Jone – while he was verifying and updating student learning profiles.
Despite struggling to see the board and hear her teachers, the student continued attending classes, working harder than her peers to keep up. When she learned she would soon receive a new pair of glasses and a hearing aid, she was overcome with emotion, calling her mother in Ra to share the news that support she had never previously been assessed for, or known about, was available.
Master Jone, a Teaching and Learning Officer for Special and Inclusive Education under the Australia–Fiji Education Program (AFEP), said many students remain unidentified and struggle in silence.
“When students are not verified, they often fall behind without realising that help is available,” he said.
Following her assessment, the student was approved to receive assistive devices, enabling her to participate more fully in classroom learning. Through the verification process, students can access tailored support such as assistive technology, classroom adjustments, and inclusive infrastructure – helping them learn alongside their peers.
Beyond student verification, Master Jone supports teacher training, school leadership, and broader advocacy for inclusive education. He emphasised that inclusion is about dignity, opportunity, and fairness.
“Inclusive education is about equity,” he said. “It ensures every child has a fair chance to learn and contribute.”
Raised in Vugalei, Tailevu, Master Jone’s commitment to inclusive education is shaped by his own journey. After working overseas in sales, telecommunications, business, and rugby, he found his purpose in 2006 when he joined the Fiji Vocational Technical Training Centre for Persons with Disabilities. He later strengthened his skills through training at the Australia Pacific Technical College and the Fiji National University, including learning basic sign language to better support students who are deaf or have speech impairments.
Master Jone remains focused on ensuring barriers to learning are removed – not just for individual students, but across Fiji’s education system. “When we break down barriers,” he said, “we build a more equitable and inclusive Fiji.”
By investing in inclusive education together, Fiji and Australia, through the Vuvale Partnership, are opening doors for children to learn, grow, and thrive – no matter their circumstances.
