SOLOMON ISLANDS DELEGATION HEADS TO SIGN LANGUAGE CONFERENCE IN FIJI WITH AUSTRALIAN SUPPORT

3 SEPTEMBER  2025

Nine Solomon Islanders, including seven interpreters from the Solomon Islands Sign Language Interpreters Association (SISLIA), and two from the Solomon Islands Deaf Association (SIDA), will attend the largest Oceania Sign Language Interpreters Conference and Graduation Ceremony, facilitated by Australia.

Counsellor of SIDA’s Sign Language project, Lovelyn Kwaoga, thanked the Australian Government for its support and said that attending the conference, held in August in Suva, Fiji, “provides an unparalleled opportunity for Solomon Island interpreters to engage with global leaders in the field, share best practice and enhance their professional development”.

The Australian High Commissioner, Rod Hilton, said Australia’s support for this delegation reflects Australia’s commitment to promoting and protecting the rights of people living with disability, helping to create a society where everyone is enabled to contribute and thrive.

“Through the Solomon Islands-Australia Partnership, disability inclusion in Solomon Islands is improving. Australia’s new International Disability Equity and Rights Strategy aligns with the Solomon Island’s own ratification of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (CPRD). Australia will continue to support people with disabilities in Solomon Islands, to amplify their voices, and remove barriers, so that they can fully participate in and contribute to society.”

SISLIA believes the support will contribute to the advancement of sign language skills and services in Solomon Islands, supporting deaf persons’ access to information through mainstream media, national TV news, education, health services, justice services such as police, court hearings, parliament sessions and more.

[ENDS]

– AHC Press Release