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Australian High Commission, Kiribati

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25.01.2022 Comfortable Learning for South Tarawa JSS It may not sound very exciting but having new chairs and desks for the classroom is something junior secondary students and their teachers in Tarawa, Kiribati are excited about. For the last few years, the students having been sitting on the cement floor for their lessons. While this may be comfortable for little children, it was not comfortable for teenagers and made classroom management difficult for the teachers. ... The Kiribati Education Improvement Program (KEIP) funded by the Australian Government purchased 2,700 chairs for the classrooms strong chairs that are guaranteed for 25 years so they can withstand the conditions of the school. The chairs have an MoE logo on the back and there are three different colours for the three junior secondary schools in South Tarawa. KEIP also provided 1,350 trapezoid-shaped student desks. With this shape, teachers can arrange the class according to their lesson; group work, pair work, individual work. The desks are light weight and easy to assemble into different configurations. Upon delivery, the teachers and students were very grateful to the Australian government for their new furniture. #AustraliaInKiribati #AustralianHighCommissionKiribati

25.01.2022 Meet Sonia Schutz-Russell, an Australia Award Pacific Scholarship (AAPS) Alumni who completed her Masters of Diplomacy and International Affairs in 2018 at the University of the South Pacific (USP) in Fiji. Studying abroad comes with a lot of opportunities. Sonia was lucky to have had participated in a number of presentations by visiting Head of States, witnessed the Duke and Duchess of Sussex visit the USP in 2018 and also attended the 25th Conference of the Parties to the U...N Framework Convention on Climate Change in Madrid, Spain. Sonias advice for students at all levels is to Keep at it. It will be tough and stressful at times, but before you know it, you will reach the finish line. Take charge of your future and study at an Australian or Pacific university under an Australia Awards Scholarship. For more information, go to https://www.dfat.gov.au//P/kiribati-information-for-intake To apply, go to https://oasis.dfat.gov.au/. Note that applications for Australia Awards Scholarships for study starting in 2021 will close on 30 June 2020. ACT NOW!!

24.01.2022 Australian Fire Service Medal Honours for Country Fire Service Personnel Matt Davis The Australian High Commission congratulates Matt Davis for his award this week. As you will read below, Matt has a very strong connection with Kiribati. The CFS congratulates Matt Davis on his Queens Birthday honour. The AFSM is awarded for distinguished service by a member of an Australian fire service.... Mr Matt Davis Matt has served with the South Australian Country Fire Service (SACFS) for over 30 years. He has served as a volunteer with the Woodside and Nairne Country Fire Service Brigades, and as a staff member working with the SACFS training department. He currently works in the State Operations area, both in Hazardous Materials and Aviation, and has also assisted with the development of training in fire investigation. In 2017 he was appointed to the role of Pacific Islands Liaison Officer Republic of Kiribati and has since built an inaugural fire service within that country consisting of 50 trained firefighters, four firefighting trucks, procedures, training pathways and equipment. This has increased the safety and emergency response capability within the island of Tarawa. The success of this project has seen him undertake a second scoping mission to another of Kiribatis atolls Kiritimati Island. His continued work in Kiribati will result in those trained under his direction receive national accredited training and hold a certificate based qualification. Matt has provided dedicated and committed service to the SACFS, to the community of South Australia, and to the international community.

22.01.2022 Numeracy for Lower Primary Schools Lower primary teachers in Kiribati are learning new techniques to teach Maths to young children. The new guide gives teachers a structure for their daily lessons and dozens of easy activities to do with the children. ... The activities are aligned to the Kiribati Maths curriculum and are based on the Do, Talk, Record approach that is student-centered, active and fun for children. The approach requires children to use resources such as colored counters, scales, play money, dice, counting-sticks, number charts and other resources. The Kiribati Education Improvement Program, funded by Australia, has delivered the 20-hour workshop to 269 lower primary teachers (19 male 250 female) across 13 islands. A team of trainers from the Kiribati Teachers College delivered the training directly to teachers at each school across the islands. Each classroom has been provided with a numeracy kit containing enough math resources for all children to use and learn by doing.

21.01.2022 The Kiribati Family Health Association (KFHA) conducted a Training Workshop for marginalised groups as part of the Niu Vaka or Pacific Strategy Project funded by Australia. The workshop was to support Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Ambassadors. Australian High Commissioner, Bruce Cowled, and KFHA’s Executive Director, Mrs Norma Yeeting, participated in the closing ceremony for the workshop.

20.01.2022 Te Toa Matoa (TTM) is the umbrella group for persons with a disability in Kiribati. TTM works with other national disability groups and regional groups, such as the Pacific Disability Forum. It was the Australian High Commission’s privilege to assist the TTM team to access key disability development discussions and training delivered by the Pacific Disability Forum through a virtual workshop. The workshop focussed on assessing priorities for disability support, including through the national budget and within different sectors and assessing options to address changes to future budget allocations. Australia’s assistance has ensured TTM’s participation in this important virtual regional capacity building exercise at a time when COVID-19 continues to disrupt travel.

20.01.2022 AUSTRALIA AND SPC CONTINUING PARTNERSHIP Australia and the Pacific Community (SPC) have renewed their longstanding partnership, reaffirming their commitment to supporting the sustainable development of the Pacific. Australia will provide A$42.5 million in core funding to the SPC over the next 3 years to support the renewed 10-year strategic partnership (2014-2023) between Australia and SPC. SPC is the region’s leading scientific and technical development organisation. Aust...ralia has been a member since the SPC’s establishment in Canberra in 1947. SPC’s work ranges across public health, fisheries management, education, geosciences, human rights and social development, gender equality, land resources, climate change, and statistics. The organisation has been on the frontline of the Pacific response to COVID-19. Australia’s Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women, Senator the Hon Marise Payne, welcomed the renewed partnership and said Australia is proud to support the organisation, whose work has never been more important than in the COVID-19 era, including for women and girls. The COVID-19 pandemic has had a significant impact on women and girls across the world, including in the Pacific. I look forward to working with SPC to ensure Pacific women and girls contribute to our region’s recovery and help our people and economies to emerge stronger. Dr Stuart Minchin, SPC Director-General, acknowledged the longstanding cooperation between SPC and Australia and said the renewed partnership with Australia is evidence of the long-term support Australia has provided to SPC. Together with Australia’s new funding commitment, it will allow SPC to continue to help the Pacific recover and rebuild from the impacts of COVID-19 by tackling overarching economic, environmental, and health development challenges, he said. Minister Payne signed the renewed partnership agreement in a virtual meeting with Dr Minchin from SPC Headquarters in Noumea, accompanied by Alison Carrington, Australia’s Consul-General to New Caledonia. See more

20.01.2022 Australia is pleased to contribute to the delivery of medical supplies and equipment to Kiribati to support the efforts of Kiribati to detect and prevent the spread of COVID-19. Over six tonnes of urgently needed humanitarian and medical supplies has been delivered to Kiribati on this Australian supported WFP flight that arrived in Tarawa yesterday. New supplies include personal protective equipment such as face shields, masks and surgical gowns; COVID-19 testing supplies; ...and essential medicines, transported on behalf of the Government of Kiribati, Australia, the World Health Organization (WHO), United Nations Childrens Fund (UNICEF), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), International Federation of the Red Cross (IFRC) and the US Agency for International Development (USAID). Australia is providing AUD3 million to the WFP Pacific Humanitarian Air Service for flights like this, when there are no commercial flights to address gaps in the Pacific Humanitarian Pathway. Commercial flights to the Pacific have been severely disrupted due to the pandemic making it increasingly challenging for humanitarian and health partners to deliver critical supplies. (Photo Credit WFP - Henry Bwebweata)

20.01.2022 Simple measures, like washing your hands and cough etiquette can help prevent the spread of many diseases, including COVID. However, not everyone in Kiribati has access to hand wash facilities or face masks. Recently graduated Kiribati Institute of Technology (KIT) students are working with local youth groups to construct hand wash facilities in the Santa Teretia Maneaba and Santo Betero Maneaba, Betio. The new stations ensure residents and pre-schoolers, who are taught in... the Maneaba, have better access to handwashing facilities at central locations. ChildFund Kiribati, the project manager, consulted Te Toa Matoa (disabilities organisation), to ensure the handwashing stations are accessible for disabled people. In addition to these projects, ChildFund Kiribati will also engage local women to sew locally made personal protective equipment like face masks. Plan International Australia and ChildFund New Zealand are supporting ChildFund Kiribati with training and technical advice to deliver these projects Australias Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) sponsors these activities, which aim to strengthen community-based inclusive disaster preparedness and response, Including through youth-led activities. See more

19.01.2022 The Australian High Commission is pleased to support the Ministry of Women, Youth, Sports and Social Affairs, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education, in developing a Respectful Relationships Program (RRP) package. The package will teach students the skills to build respectful relationships, create a safe and equal environment and to demonstrate appropriate and respectful behaviour among students. The RRP package is a Whole of School Approach in prevention of violence against women and girls and will be incorporated as part of the Moral Education syllabus for Junior Secondary Schools in Kiribati.

19.01.2022 Australia congratulates Kiribati Institute of Technology for delivering for the people of Kiribati for 50 years. Kiribati Institute of Technology (KIT) @KIT.Tarawa is preparing to mark its 50th Anniversary (1970 2020) this August. The Australian Government supports KIT, and joins in celebrating the past, present and future ambitions of KIT. ... KIT has built its reputation for being a high quality, leading vocational education and training institute, delivering courses and programs that are focused on creating employment opportunities for the youth of Kiribati. KIT is a Government of Kiribati TVET Institute; a division of the Government of Kiribati Ministry of Employment and Human Resource, working in close partnership with the Marine Training Centre. The Australian High Commission, together with all stakeholders involved, acknowledges the 50 years of experience that KIT brings to the skills sector both locally and overseas.

19.01.2022 KIT is supported by the Australian Government to offer inclusive skills training which creates mainstream education pathways and employment opportunities for people with disabilities. KIT recently delivered a carpentry short course, Construction: Joinery making a small chest box, for participants with disabilities from a range of community organisations. A presentation was held last Wednesday at Te Toa Matoas (TTM) maneaba to acknowledge the completion of the carpentry... short course. The activity was organised by the Ministry for Women, Youth, Sport and Social Affairs (MWYSSA). KIT works with local disability partners and continues its ongoing collaboration with MWYSSA to align with the Government of Kiribatis National Action Plan on Disability. Participants included those from the TTM community, as well as Kiribati Deaf Association, Kiribati School and Centre for Children with Special Needs and Te Meeria. With the support of MWYSSA, the disability community stakeholders are keen to explore opportunities to develop a small business to sell wooden chests and other items that will be made by these course graduates.

19.01.2022 The Kiribati Police Maritime Unit undertook basic firefighting training over recent days, at the Kiribati Marine Training Centre damage control facility. The training included fire safety, the use of protective equipment, the use of different types of firefighting equipment and extinguishing different types of fires. The training was well received by the PMU team. Members said they had a greater appreciation for the dangers of fire and were better prepared for fire situation...s. The South Australian Rural Fire Service has previously provided firefighting training to Kiribati Police Force members. Chief Petty Officer Clint Metcalfe, the Technical Adviser to Kiribati under the Australian Pacific Maritime Security Program, conducted the training. CPO Metcalfe said he was impressed at the preparation, focus and skills of the PMU team, who would receive certificates to confirm their new skills. CPO Metcalfe also thanked the Marine Training Centre for the use of their damage control facility. The Pacific Maritime Security Program is a 30-year, $2 billion commitment to Pacific Island Countries, and comprises three components: Pacific Patrol Boat replacement, integrated regional aerial surveillance, and efforts to strengthen regional coordination.

17.01.2022 From the beginning Nei Tiitee Takineti did not consider her gender a barrier. Nei Tiitee Takineti has been passionate about being an electrician since she was a little girl. As she grew up, her focus strengthened on the role of electricity in everyday life and how useful the skills would be for employment opportunities and for using at home. Today, she is an Electrotechnology Workshop Technician at Kiribati Institute of Technology and enjoys the work in this field. Takineti ...also studied her Certificate II in Electrotechnology at Kiribati Institute of Technology. The Australian Government supports gender equality at Kiribati Institute of Technology through the Kiribati Facility, which encompasses the Skills for Employment Program, strengthening skills training and employment opportunities for young I-Kiribati men and women. I would like to encourage young ladies to choose their profession that they are passionate aboutfor there is no such thing as a man or woman’s job only, said Takineti. Nei Tiitee Takineti is supported by her colleagues at Kiribati Institute of Technology and the Kiribati Facility in her professional development and gets to demonstrate electrotechnology skills for student classes and practicals to inspire the next generation of women in trade. #ChooseToChallenge #IWD2021 @KIT.Tarawa #GenderEquality #WomenInTrade Photo caption: (from left) Tiitee Takineti, Electrotechnology Workshop Technician pictured with fellow trade trainers; Iaotite Monite, Construction Trainer, Head of School Trade; Tetarae Inatio, Plumbing Trainer Head of Department

15.01.2022 Australia has assisted Kiribati strengthen Infection Prevention and Control (IPC) measures to better prepare the nation for the threat of the COVID-19 virus. Louise Carrington was supported by DFATs Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security to work with the Kiribati Health Ministry as an IPC specialist based at Tungaru Central Hospital, between October 2019 and March 2020. Lou mentored two nursing officers, Principal Nursing Officer Toata and Senior Nursing Officer Ataata, as ...an important part of developing a comprehensive IPC program. Once COVID-19 emerged as a new threat, Lou assisted staff training in proper use of personal protective equipment in the hospital and later provided remote support from Australia. Read more on the Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security website https://indopacifichealthsecurity.dfat.gov.au/kiribati-puts Photo Credit: Lou Carrington.

15.01.2022 Work for the Australian High Commission We are looking for a motivated and high-performing person to join our team as the Assistant Program Manager (Education and Scholarships). Visit www.kiribati.embassy.gov.au to download the information pack. ... Applications close at 4 pm on Friday 4 September 2020.

15.01.2022 World Toilet Day - 19 November World Toilet Day acknowledges the role of safe, accessible toilets as a building block of healthy and resilient communities. Toilets, combined with clean water and good hygiene will help defend us against COVID-19 Australia is proud to have supported communities in Kiribati with toilet and sanitation projects funded through our Direct Aid Program. ... The Australian High Commission is pleased to support the outreach efforts of the Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy for World Toilet Day 2020 with the sponsorship of the schools outreach program.

14.01.2022 KSCCSN Cultural Festival The Kiribati School and Centre for Children with Special Needs (KSCCSN) held its annual Cultural Festival on 25 - 26 May. Day 1 featured a cultural sport competition among the Schools four teams: Meang (North), Maiaki (South), Mainiku (East) and Nuuka (Central). ... Day 2 featured three dancing competitions, with the categories being te bino (sitting dance), te kabuti (hip dance), and te kai-ni-meang (Northern Kiribati dance). The event ended with the final competition on local food stall presentation. The major highlight, and the final competition of the Festival, was the local food stall presentation. The stalls presented a variety of colorful and attractive local foods. Most importantly, all the food on display were health foods for I-Kiribati.

14.01.2022 New facilities for Kiribati Teachers College His Excellency President Taneti Maamau attended celebrations to open KTCs new lecture rooms and classrooms on 12 August. The event was also attended by Hon Minister for Education Alexander Teabo, Cabinet Ministers and Secretaries of Ministries. The new building includes 6 classrooms and 2 air conditioned lecture halls. High quality furniture and internet connectivity has been provided in all rooms.... Australian High Commissioner, Bruce Cowled delivered remarks on behalf of the Australian Government, which funded the construction project. The High Commissioner said that Australia supports the Government of Kiribatis KV20 vision, to create a highly educated and skilled population. Mr Cowled said that Australia has supported and will continue to support the Ministry of Educations efforts to improve the quality of education in Kiribati. The new building is another step toward KTCs accreditation.

14.01.2022 PacificAus TV initiative launched in Kiribati on 3rd August Viewers in the Pacific, including Kiribati through Wave TV (Kiri 1), will have access to more Australian commercial television content through the Australian Government initiative - PacificAus TV. The launch of the inclusion of PacificAus programming into the Kiri 1 free-to-air television broadcasting was held on 3 August when the Hon. Tekeeua Tarati, Minister for Information, Communication, Transport and Tourism Dev...elopment and Australian High Commissioner, Bruce Cowled jointly completed the switch to the commencement of PacificAus programming Programming will include Australian TV shows such as The Voice, Masterchef Australia and childrens programs. Content availability is based on consultation with Pacific broadcasters, and the Australian content is provided for programming by partner broadcasters as best meets their audience needs and other country-specific requirements.

14.01.2022 The Australian government was pleased to assist with the funding of the freight costs from Brisbane to Tarawa of 1, 730 UNICEF-procured GeneXpert testing cartridges, some swabs and a ventilator. The medical supplies and equipment arrived on Saturday, 13th March. The photos show the goods in Brisbane and then being unloaded in Tarawa.

12.01.2022 Building Alumni Networks for Kiribati upcoming Survey of Alumni Mauri Australia Awards Alumni! We want to network with you and help you with your networks! ... In September all alumni who spent time studying in Australia will be invited to complete a survey about your social networks with other alumni. We will use the data from the survey to conduct social network analysis, which is a technique that maps social relationships and then investigates how these relationships relate to and influence the individuals in a network. We hope that by understanding how our alumni are linked with each other and with Australia, we can help build professional development and events that will benefit you in your career. Update your details here https://elsa.acer.org/index.php/779142?lang=en and look out for an email invitation in September.

11.01.2022 Australia/Kiribati COVID-19 support agreement signed On 28 May, the Australian High Commissioner, Mr Bruce Cowled, and Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Benjamin Tokataake, signed an agreement covering Australias support to the Government of Kiribatis response to the emerging health, economic and social impacts of COVID-19. The total funding package is $4.75 million. The Government of Kiribati will receive $3.6 million in direct budget suppo...rt to implement the National COVID-19 Response Measures, which includes activities by the Ministry of Health and Medical Services. Australia will fund non-government organisations, including the Kiribati Red Cross, the Kiribati Family Health Association and church groups, that are delivering public awareness campaigns across the country. Representatives of these groups attended the event. Australia will also support the work in Kiribati by the World Health Organization and UN Women. In his remarks, High Commissioner Cowled noted Kiribati faced something of a conundrum. It was one of the few countries in the world which did not have COVID cases, yet it had not been able to escape the serious economic and social impact of the COVID pandemic. High Commissioner Cowled also noted the importance of Kiribati government and non-government organisations in the on-ground delivery of Australias support package.

11.01.2022 Further COVID-19 testing supplies arrive. Further batches of GeneXpert testing supplies and equipment arrived in Tarawa on a flight on 14 May. The GeneXpert testing system allows samples to be tested in-country. Australia and New Zealand have each contributed AUD 1 million and the Pacific Community and the Pacific Islands Health Officers Association have each contributed USD 500,000 to WHO to procure the testing equipment.

10.01.2022 Australia congratulates the Ministry of Education on their hosting of this 13th Education Partners in Kiribati (EPiK) forum. This years EPiK theme is "Education is an investment, possible through strong partnership", which recognises the importance of working together towards our goals for the future. For those partners and stakeholders located overseas, the Ministry of Education has facilitated their involvement via video conference. ... The forum runs over two days, 8 to 9 September and is important for providing opportunities to discuss implementation of new policy setting plans, including the Education Sector Strategic Plan, the Government manifesto in education, the ICT in Education Master Plan, the Early Childhood Education and Early Literacy Roadmap and the Education Sector Contingency Plan for COVID19. The discussion will enhance collaboration, coordination and alignment of support to the education sector in Kiribati to improve the quality of education for all boys and girls. EPiK is being held in the Australian Government supported new Learning Hub building, constructed at the Kiribati Teacher College.

09.01.2022 Take charge of your future and study at an Australian or Pacific university under an Australia Awards Scholarship. For more information, go to https://www.dfat.gov.au//P/kiribati-information-for-intake To apply, go to https://oasis.dfat.gov.au/.... Note that applications for Australia Awards Scholarships for study starting in 2021 will close on 30 June 2020. ACT NOW!!

08.01.2022 KITs 50th anniversary The Australian High Commission was honoured to be part of the Kiribati Institute of Technologys 50th anniversary on 7 August 2020. KIT provides quality technical and vocation education and training to I-Kiribati, and qualifications that give graduates career opportunities in Kiribati, in the region and around the world.... KIT is also inclusive it supports everyone, including people with disabilities, early school leavers and single parents, as they undertake their technical education and training. The Australian High Commission is proud to support KIT, and wishes the KIT team te rabakau, te wanawana ao te kabwaia wisdom, knowledge and success!

07.01.2022 Australian support for the construction of a polymerase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory at Tungaru Central Hospital The early detection and identification of infectious diseases is critical to stopping their spread. In the past, Kiribati has had to send many medical samples abroad for testing this costs time and money, when rapid responses are required. Australia is pleased to have signed an agreement with the Government of Kiribati to support to construction of a polymer...ase chain reaction (PCR) laboratory at the Tungaru Central Hospital. PCR technology allows the rapid and accurate identification of infectious diseases. The funding agreement was signed this week between the Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Benjamin Tokataake and the Australian High Commissioner, Bruce Cowled. It is envisaged that the facility will strengthen Kiribati’s diagnostic testing capacities for the surveillance and monitoring of viral diseases, such as COVID 19. More importantly, the facility will allow Kiribati to immediately diagnose infectious diseases, treat the patient and avoid further spread of infectious diseases. It will eliminate Kiribati’s dependency on sending samples overseas for testing and reduce health expenditures. The Ministry of Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE) led the design of the facility with technical assistance from the Ministry of Health and Medical Services (MHMS), the Pacific Pathology Training Centre (PPTC) and the Pacific Community (SPC). MISE will also oversee the construction of the facility with ongoing support from PPTC and SPC.

07.01.2022 Australia and New Zealand will host the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup! The awarding of joint hosting rights for the FIFA Womens World Cup 2023 is a landmark decision for womens sport in our region Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern said. For the first time in history, Australians and New Zealanders will be able to experience a tier one football tournament on home soil.... The 2023 event will be the largest, and no doubt the best, Womens World Cup that has ever been staged. This is a huge positive for the footballing and sporting industries on both sides of the Tasman as we recover and rebuild from COVID-19. As sporting nations we have had a long history of producing some of the best female footballers in the world and this tournament will further inspire our next generation and provide the platform for them to compete on the world stage. It will also help drive Australias goal of achieving a 50/50 split of male and female participation in the game by 2027, and builds on New Zealands 35 percent increase in female participation over the past five years. The event, which will be held between 10 July and 20 August 2023, will provide a near $500 million boost to economic activity for host countries, a significant jobs boost for host cities, and an opportunity for tourist regions in both countries to capitalise on new visitations. Australia and New Zealand are world leaders when it comes to co-hosting major events with a track record that includes the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and the 2015 ICC Mens Cricket World Cup. We also lead the world in equality and fairness, and we are committed to promoting these values through the tournament and beyond. Thank you to Football Federation Australia, New Zealand Football, the Matildas and Football Ferns, as well as the broader football family who have supported our bid from the outset.

06.01.2022 Bannau Tiiata is Officer in Charge at Kiribati Institute of Technology (KIT). This is her story: I was born in Tamana, my dad’s home island, which is the second southernmost island in the Gilbert Group. I actually grew up in a few places, including Beru Island where my family moved to sometime after my birth. In 1976, my dad (a Church Minister) was assigned to the Republic of Nauru, where I started my education. In 1981, I went back to Beru to join Hiram Bingham High Schoo...l. This sort of nomadic childhood and upbringing has influenced my life in some significant ways. Growing up in the Southern Gilberts during the early 1970s was tough. Livelihood was largely subsistent and families had to earn their living through hard labour working the babai (taro) pits, fishing, cutting toddy, and more. I have fond memories of growing up in such diverse and interesting places, where we were taught to be resilient at all times. Being an I-Kiribati means the world to me. I believe that I am extremely lucky to have been born into this environment and culture. One of the great things about Kiribati culture for me is the respect for older people, regardless of whether they are a family member, a friend, or a complete stranger. My career in educational administration requires full commitment and can be taxing. On days where work is lighter than usual, I go straight home to be with my family. I am a grandmother already so I always look forward to seeing my grandkids. This ensures an intimate connection with family. KIT is thankful for the continued support and generous assistance of the Australian Government through the Kiribati Facility. Just like a good family, the KIT community both locally and internationally has continued to work collaboratively. We hold discussions regularly to learn from each other how to cope with the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. We are especially grateful to our international colleagues for advice on healthy lifestyles and maintaining a clean and hygienic institution for our students.

06.01.2022 Due to the unprecedented impact of COVID-19, the Australian Volunteers Program temporarily suspended the deployment of Australian Volunteers to Kiribati. The Australian High Commission wishes to assure our partner organisations here in Kiribati that we remain committed to the Australian Volunteer Program. We wish to advise those partner organisations who would benefit from a Volunteer placement that, during this COVID-19 affected period, you can now find out more about the s...upport through either the Remote Volunteering or the Impact Fund initiatives. The Remote Volunteering initiative allows repatriated volunteers to complete a short-term remote assignment, helping them to stay connected and continue to support their partner organisation from Australia. The Impact Fund provides eligible partner organisations access to a small grant that will help them and their communities respond to, and recover from, the impacts of COVID-19. To read more, simply click https://www.australianvolunteers.com/remote-volunteering or https://www.australianvolunteers.com/impactfund The Australian Volunteers program continues to invite Australians to get involved in Kiribati projects, and has established a talent pool to register interest from potential future volunteers. For more details on the Australian Volunteer Program and any of these initiatives we encourage you to visit https://www.australianvolunteers.com/how-were-responding-t/

06.01.2022 STANDING WITH PACIFIC WOMEN DURING COVID-19 (Media Release from Senator the Hon Marise Payne Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Women) Together with Samoan Deputy Prime Minister, the Hon Fiame Naomi Mataafa, we convened a region-wide meeting of Pacific Women Leaders to discuss the impact of COVID-19 on womens health, economic security and personal safety.... The Pacific Women Leaders agreed to continue to work together to explore new ways to enhance the well-being of women and girls, including through social and development measures. The inaugural virtual gathering considered the needs of women and girls in government and community responses to the pandemic. The meeting of 30 Pacific women ministers, parliamentarians and senior civil servants from 18 countries affirmed our commitment to: Address critical needs for women health care workers to access necessary resources, such as childcare, in order to carry out vital work safely Encourage measures and policies to promote gender equality, which have become more critical as the pandemic heightens the risk of violence against women and children Ensure recognition of the vital role women must play in the economic recovery of the region Pacific women must lead in the regions response to COVID-19 to ensure the interests of women and girls are at the forefront of government responses. Australias COVID-19 Response and Recovery package includes a focus on the most vulnerable, particularly women and girls, with an additional $16 million to address the differential impact of COVID-19 in the community. This builds on the Australian Governments existing programs to support gender equality and empower women and girls in the Indo-Pacific region. A Joint Statement from the meeting is available at the link below: https://www.dfat.gov.au//standing-pacific-women-during-cov

06.01.2022 Peter Langbien, KIT Director and Team Leader, Kiribati Facility, reflects on the support of the Kiribati Facility leading up to KITs 50th Anniversary The Kiribati Facility, which is funded by the Australian Government and encompasses the Skills for Employment Program, has supported Kiribati Institute of Technology to grow both in terms of size and quality by providing additional access to expertise and resources. The Program enables KIT to produce more graduates and incre...ase employability for its graduates. The Kiribati Facility also focuses on access and equity for all students unlocking the potential for women, people with disabilities and young early school leavers to participate in the workforce. The Australian High Commission congratulates KIT on its 50th anniversary and continues to support KIT to maintain and provide quality technical and vocational training opportunities in Kiribati.

05.01.2022 World Environment Day 5 June 2020 This #WorldEnvironmentDay were celebrating Australias unique biodiversity! Australia is one of the most biologically diverse countries on the planet, hosting landscapes ranging from alpine, to temperate, to desert, to tropical zones. We are one of the 17 countries described as #megadiverse.... The emergence of COVID-19 has underscored the importance of biodiversity and the delicate ecosystem that protects and supports human life in Australia and the world.

05.01.2022 UN International Day of Peace 21 September This #PeaceDay, Australia recognises the important work that the @United Nations has done for 75 years to support global peace and security. Australia was a founding member of the UN, deploying the first peacekeepers in 1947; and was an early supporters of the Women, Peace and Security agenda.... COVID-19 has shown that international cooperation is as important as ever. We stand together with the UN against attempts to use the virus to promote discrimination or hatred. https://www.dfat.gov.au//intern/un/Pages/united-nations-un #PeaceDay #shapingpeacetogether #UN75 #UNSCR1325 #WPS

05.01.2022 Australia is proud to support fair access to #COVID19 vaccines for our neighbours in the Pacific, including Kiribati, by supporting a crucial new #COVAX initiative by @GAVI, the vaccine alliance. We believe COVID-19 vaccines developed should be safe, effective and available to all, not just those that can afford to purchase or manufacture it themselves. Together with our Pacific neighbours, we will strengthen our regions health security. https://www.foreignminister.gov.au//covid-19-vaccine-acces

04.01.2022 International Women’s Day 8 March 2021 Kiribati celebrated International Women’s Day on 8 March 2021. The theme for this year is Gender equality in everything empowers the choice to challenge. His Excellency. President Maamau gave the keynote address.... A presentation was made to the Australian High Commissioner, Bruce Cowled, for Australia’s ongoing support to promote gender equality in Kiribati.

03.01.2022 New facilities for people with disabilities supported by Australia Australia has long supported efforts to improve the lives of I-Kiribati living with disabilities. The Australian High Commissioner, Bruce Cowled, and the Secretary of the Ministry of Finance and Economic Development, Mr Benjamin Tokataake, signed an agreement on two new projects to assist people with disabilities in Kiribati. ... Australia will provide additional support to Te Toa Matoa Development Centre project to ensure it is fully operational when completed. In addition to supporting the construction of the Centre, Australias support will allow the construction of a clinic for Te Toa Matoa members. The entire site will be fenced and the Development Centre will be fully equipped and connected to water supplies as part of the project. The funding agreement will also support an upgrade of Te Meeria Mental Health Facility at Bikenibeu. Australia will support the construction of a rehabilitation facility for recovered patients. The facility will include sleeping quarters, ablution blocks, a nurse station and a recreation area. At the signing ceremony, Mr Cowled said Australia aims to ensure the most vulnerable people in society benefit from our development programs. People living with disabilities are among the most vulnerable of all social groups, and I am proud to support Te Toa Matoa and the Ministry of Health and Medical Services as they seek to improve their lives, he said.

03.01.2022 Australia is proud to support the Kiribati Women and Childrens Support Centre. The Kiribati Women and Childrens Support Centre (KWCSC) is the first and only formal advocacy and crisis counselling service in Kiribati. They provide legal information, a victim support fund and training and community consultation. In June of this year, KWCSC received an Impact Fund grant through the @AusVols for $10,000(AUD). This grant will fund visits to Kiribatis two big islands for the te...am to consult with women and children about preparedness for COVID-19, and domestic violence and gender-based violence issues. Teretia Tokam, Executive Director for KWCSC, shares how COVID-19 has impacted KWCSC and women affected by violence: Due to concerns about COVID-19, the crisis centre shut down immediately, so it was difficult to find out where we should place women in need. We managed to get support from Australia for a temporary shelter called Orange Door in mid-April. So far we have supported 50 women. For women who live outside of Tarawa and those living on remote islands, we provide telephone counselling on our 24 hour free hotline. Because of limited funding and time, we can only visit remote islands three times per year. 'Just two weeks ago we visited one of these islands, we talked to almost 300 women and students. I am happy they were so open and were sharing the issues they are experiencing. We came back with many cases. Prior to COVID-19, KWCSC was being supported by Taya Ketelaar-Jones through the @AusVols. Taya volunteered as a legal officer. Taya provided support on all legal matters including training counsellors on offences enforced by law and she also helped counsellors to develop victim impact statement which is now required by the High Court as a result of our advocacy work. Its making our jobs a lot easier as the training is very intensive said Teretia. Taya is now supporting us remotely from Australia with KWCSC strategy plan. We miss her and hope we will see her again soon.

03.01.2022 The Broadcasting and Publication Authority (BPA) recently celebrated and acknowledged the contribution of the Australian Volunteer, Paul Semple. Due to the pandemic, Paul returned to Australia, ending his volunteer placement with BPA in March 2020. The BPA started its public radio transmission in 1952. After Independence in 1979, BPA was established as a statutory body under the Kiribati Government and its main role is to provide local sound broadcasting as a public service... to inform, educate and entertain the Kiribati Communities throughout the scattered island atolls. The radio station faced a few major challenges, the most common being the limited or lack of budget to provide training opportunities to staff. But the BPA Management and staff have long preserved and continued their valued service for the nation, the region and the globe. With the assistance of the Australian Volunteer Radio Journalist Trainer - Paul Semple, the BPA was able to benefit from Pauls skilled and experienced radio and TV broadcasting experience. Paul Semple was the first volunteer to undertake a volunteer placement with the BPA. As a skilled broadcasting professional, he became a part of the BPAs team, and was able to work with different divisions. At one point he even offered to pay for the much needed portable sound recorders for the BPAs journalists. Expressing his gratitude, Paul Semple said he appreciated the opportunity to get to know and work with such a dedicated and professional team. At the Tekeraoi party held in Pauls honour the CEO of BPA, Tony Ueanteiti said that Paul was both professional and diligent in all the tasks he and the staff set out to do, Paul has raised the standard of the newsroom. BPA will be blessed to have Mr Semple back after Covid 19. The whole Board, Management and staff of BPA expressed their thanks to Paul Semple, the Australian Volunteer Program and the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade for this contribution.

02.01.2022 From the Victorian countryside to Tarawa island life Jenny and Tony Waldron from Swan Hill, Victoria recently undertook teaching placements through the Australian Volunteer Program, having just commenced their retirement. Both Tony and Jenny undertook their placements with the Kiribati School and Centre for Children with Special Needs, which is Kiribatis only school for children with disabilities. Tonys role was to work with the Principal in a mentoring capacity, while Jenn...y taught English, which included assisting three teachers while they undertook formal teacher training. Jenny said that the emphasis at the school was most definitely on ability, rather than disability, and I found I fit in. It was a beautiful school to be part of. When speaking about working with the staff, Jenny said my favourite times were when I was with the staff, they turned everything into fun when they were teaching English. Tony reflected on the enjoyment of getting involved, and creating activities for the children. There was an increased emphasis on transitioning more students into the mainstream schools, and Tony assisted the KSCCSN Principal with this important work. The KSCCSN appreciated the support and friendship that Tony and Jenny brought to their community. The Australian High Commission is looking forward to welcoming back more Australian volunteers when the borders open again. See more

02.01.2022 Australia and New Zealand will host the 2023 FIFA Womens World Cup! The awarding of joint hosting rights for the FIFA Womens World Cup 2023 is a landmark decision for womens sport in our region Prime Ministers Scott Morrison and Jacinda Ardern said. For the first time in history, Australians and New Zealanders will be able to experience a tier one football tournament on home soil.... The 2023 event will be the largest, and no doubt the best, Womens World Cup that has ever been staged. This is a huge positive for the footballing and sporting industries on both sides of the Tasman as we recover and rebuild from COVID-19. As sporting nations we have had a long history of producing some of the best female footballers in the world and this tournament will further inspire our next generation and provide the platform for them to compete on the world stage. It will also help drive Australias goal of achieving a 50/50 split of male and female participation in the game by 2027, and builds on New Zealands 35 percent increase in female participation over the past five years. The event, which will be held between 10 July and 20 August 2023, will provide a near $500 million boost to economic activity for host countries, a significant jobs boost for host cities, and an opportunity for tourist regions in both countries to capitalise on new visitations. Australia and New Zealand are world leaders when it comes to co-hosting major events with a track record that includes the 2017 Rugby League World Cup and the 2015 ICC Mens Cricket World Cup. We also lead the world in equality and fairness, and we are committed to promoting these values through the tournament and beyond. Thank you to Football Federation Australia, New Zealand Football, the Matildas and Football Ferns, as well as the broader football family who have supported our bid from the outset.

02.01.2022 Opening of the Te Toa Matoa (TTM) Development Centre The Australian High Commission is proud to have contributed to the establishment of the facility which was officially opened by the Honourable Vice President Dr Toatu and the Australian High Commissioner Bruce Cowled on 4 July. The Centre has been long awaited by all stakeholders involved, especially TTM. Supporting disability inclusive development and improving the lives of people with disabilities is a key priority for ...Australias development program in Kiribati and globally. The Centre has the key accessibility features that people with disabilities in Kiribati require in a public facility and is a great model for the accessibility needs for people with disabilities. The Centre includes womens workspace, mens workspace, training/meeting room, main office, storage room and toilets. The importance of the Centre was demonstrated by the large community gathering to witness and participate in the opening ceremony.

02.01.2022 KIT Bridging Programme Graduation - Abemama The Australian High Commission congratulates the 17 students who graduated from Kiribati Institute of Technologys Bridging program in Abemama, receiving a Certificate I in Bridging Course. Supported by the Australian Government, the Bridging program is delivered by KIT staff in Abemama and coordinated in partnership with ChildFund Kiribati.... This was the very first intake and graduation for female Bridging students in Abemama. The Bridging program provides the opportunity for early school leavers to return to skills education and supports education pathways into further study at KIT. The program also supports inclusion for outer island youth. The event was attended by the Minister for Employment and Human Resource (MEHR) Hon. Taabeta Teakai, Minister for Infrastructure and Sustainable Energy (MISE) and MP for Abemama, Hon. Willie Tokataake, MP for Abemama Tessie Lambourne, the Mayor, Island Councillors and Clerks, Church representatives and KIT staff.

02.01.2022 Upper primary teachers in Kiribati are learning new techniques to teach children literacy skills. In Kiribati, young children learn to read and write in their mother tongue, te-Kiribati. When they are in Year 4, 5 and 6, more time is spent reading and writing in English. The new Literacy Guide for Upper Primary gives teachers a structure for their daily lessons of te-Kiribati and English with activities that support the curriculum. Included in the Guide are oral language g...ames and fun student-centred activities to support learning of phonics, vocabulary, grammar and fluency. Teachers also learn about the developmental stages of how children learn to read and write and how best to support and assess childrens progress. The Kiribati Education Improvement Program (KEIP), funded by Australian Aid, has delivered the 30-hour workshop to all upper primary teachers in South Tarawa. A team of trainers from Kiribati Teachers College delivered the training directly to teachers at each school. The trainers have just been in Maiana, Abaiang and North Tarawa for two weeks to deliver the training package to all upper primary teachers on the islands. A total of 157 teachers have completed the module so far (20 male, 137 female). Trainers will continue delivery across all islands over the next few weeks. Teachers are extremely happy to be learning how to teach literacy effectively and to have the materials provided by KEIP. Each classroom is provided with a literacy kit containing English resource books for teachers, over 100 phonics-based reading books for children, a reading box of story cards for self-paced reading, pictures and word cards for the games and activities presented in the Guides.