Students with Disabilities Enter the Workforce

Ten students studying at the Fiji Technical Vocational Training Centre for Persons with Disability have each secured a stable job.

This is all made possible through the launching of the Job Discovery Programme, held at the FTVTC at Brown Street, Suva yesterday.

The centre’s Programme Initiative Lead, Nina Tokavou said the programme was one that allowed students transition well into the employment sector giving them a chance to be independent.

She said concerns about proper communications, and orientation were part of the list of things they needed to address with employers for their students to progress well.

She said the programme was introduced to the system after attending an exchange programme at Opportunity Village, a non-government organisation for People living with Disability in Nevada, United States of America (USA) in 2023.

“This programme couldn’t have come at a better time considering Fiji is facing labor shortages with young people going overseas to find employment,” Ms Tokavou said.

“Preliminary, we have expression of interests from MacDonalds Fiji, Ronald MacDonald House of Charity; they are very inclusive about employing people with disability,” she said.

“We’ve also had conversations with Tanoa Plaza and the Grand Pacific Hotel and we even had a representative today (yesterday).”

The programme will go through three phases where students will be assessed accordingly.

The first phase includes understanding simple fundamentals like punctuality, dress code and rules and regulations. The second phase will allow the students a three month probation.

Phase three will find these students on their way to securing full time employment.

Understanding the challenges that come with this programme, Ms Tokavou said constant follow ups and engagements with employers will be done to see the progress of the students’ work.

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