Congratulations to the 28 students who were awarded Australian qualifications today after successfully completing their studies at the Australia-Pacific Technical College (APTC).

APTC, the Australian Government’s flagship education program in the Pacific, provides skills and qualifications for a wide range of vocational careers for skilled workers, and has trained over 12,000 Pacific graduates since it began operation in 2007.

The graduation ceremony, held in Labasa, saw the first batch of 20 students attaining Certificate III in Individual Support as part of the ongoing collaboration between APTC and the TISI Sangam College of Nursing and Health Care Education.

Both institutions are working together to provide quality training for personnel caring for elderly clients in their home, community settings or aged care facilities.

Speaking at the ceremony, Academic Board Chairman of TISI Sangam College of Nursing and Health Care Education, Amraiya Naidu, said the program was a valuable pathway for students to pursue a career in nursing, adding that the College is helping address areas of skills shortage and contributing to improved training standards in Fiji.

In his closing remarks, Australian High Commissioner, HE John Feakes, commended the graduates on their achievements.

“Higher education opens the door to a raft of opportunities and I am very pleased that Australia, through the APTC, has helped to increase the number of skilled Fijians like you, to seize those opportunities,” said Mr Feakes.

Earlier in the month, a further 152 Fijians graduated from APTC in a ceremony held in Suva. To date, over 3,700 Fijian nationals have graduated from APTC.

The students were awarded qualifications in carpentry, disability, diesel fitting, hospitality, individual support, leadership and management and light vehicle mechanical technology.