Adi Vika Baleilevuka is on a mission to raise the standard of living for her family.

Today, she departs Fiji with 109 other Fijians to work under the Pacific Labour Mobility Scheme in Australia.

The former housekeeping supervisor at the Sheraton Marriott Resort will be working in the hospitality industry for the next four years.

“This scheme will allow me to help my family. My main aim is to clear our debts,” Ms Baleilevuka said.

The 44-year-old who hails from Sawaieke Village in Gau said life has never been a bed of roses.

She applied for the scheme in 2019 but was unsuccessful. She received a call from the National Employment Centre earlier this year.

Eldest among the seven siblings, Ms Baleilevuka said that with the right support system from home anything was possible.

“My family had been there since day one, they supported me spiritually and financially,” she said.

The support from her husband has been tremendous. They have been married for 21 years

He also works in the hotel industry. While the four- year contract calls for celebration, Mrs Baleilevuka will miss her children.

“I’m grateful that my husband and I have this mutual understanding and trust, he was the one who encouraged me to go, while he will look after the kids,” she said.

Ms Baleilevuka is among 17 females that received their certificate of participation last Friday at Kshatriya Hall.

Since 2015 more than 3,000 Fijians have left the country through the scheme.