Opportunities at leading Australian learning institutions look promising for members of the Fiji Police Force.

This follows a visit by the Australian High Commissioner to Fiji, John Feakes, to the Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho and members of the senior command group on Friday, February 22.

The visit was also an opportunity to hear from the Australia’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade programme team on the Australian Awards Programme and how Fijian Police officers can apply for similar programmes.

The Australian Awards have been offered in Fiji for the past 40 years and to date the programme boasts more than 200 alumni members who have undergone studies with a number of Australia’s higher learning institutions.

The development programme is aligned at investing in current and emerging leaders to build on and return the skills and knowledge that will support positive change as well as contribute to the country’s economic and social development programmes.

Awards are given to those, who are able to develop meaningful connections while in Australia, which is the key thrust of the programme with the overall aim of contributing to Fiji and Australia’s mutual areas of interests.

While speaking about the programme, Mr Feakes took time to acknowledge the work of the Fiji Police Force for providing a safe environment to the hundreds and thousands of Australians who visit Fiji annually.

“Commissioner, may I acknowledge the hard work put in by your officers in keeping our Australian citizens safe when visiting Fiji as they are in a safe and welcoming environment and your support towards the Australian Federal Police,” he said.

“The Australian Government has announced the setting up of a Pacific Faculty at the Australian Institute of Police Management in Manly which will be dedicated to providing long term leadership training to police officers in the Pacific and obviously Fiji”.

This follows the Australian Prime Minister’s visit to Fiji and the subsequent Chiefs of Defence visit whereby the Australian Federal Police Commissioner Andrew Colvin held bilateral talks with Fiji’s Police Commissioner.

Mr Feakes said through the Australian Awards programme opportunities could also be made available at the Macquarie University, Deakin University and the University of New South Wales as they offer specific law enforcement courses.

Six Fijians are currently studying in areas related to security, criminal justice, criminology and cyber security.

The DFAT programme coordinator said it was pleasing to see an increase in Police officers applying for scholarships and they were keen to support the Fiji Police Force in its endeavour to upskill its staff.

The Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho welcomed the comments made by the Australian High Commissioner as well as the team from DFAT.

“Majority of the senior officers have pursued training on their own and at their own expense and this opportunity will be great for our young officers who are coming up the ranks.” Mr Qiliho said.