Australian Funds Assist Hilton Special School

2 July 2010

Students attending the Hilton Special School in Suva will have access to improved education delivery with the recruitment of four new support staff. They will also have a new school bus to ensure safe and reliable travel to and from school

This follows Australian Government funding of F$247,000 (A$146,000) for the new vehicle and for the recruitment of two new teachers’ aides and two sign interpreters.

Handing over the keys for the new bus at the school in Suva today, the Australian High Commission’s Counsellor - Development Cooperation, Ms Sarah Goulding, paid tribute to the school’s founder and Fiji Crippled Children’s Society President, Mr Frank Hilton.

“It is a great honour to present the keys of this bus to a man who has worked tirelessly to improve the quality of life and education for children living with disability,” Ms Goulding said.

“There are many barriers for children with disabilities accessing education and, through this contribution, we hope to have significantly reduced one of those barriers,” she said.

Ms Goulding said the Australian Government, through AusAID, was a very strong believer of inclusive education.

“Australia’s disability policy Development for All provides a framework for the Australian aid program to include and address the needs and priorities of people with disability,” she said.

Mr Hilton thanked the Australian aid program for the contribution.

“There have been many times that children have not been able to attend school due to a bus breakdown or unsafe transportation,” he said.

“Through this generous gift from the Australian aid program, the children at our school will be able to continue to receive a quality education and continue to strive for a better, brighter future,” Mr Hilton said.

**ENDS**

[Background: The Australian aid program has a very strong focus on inclusive education which is one of the main components of Australia’s Development for All policy. Education is a great enabler, opening doors to social inclusion and economic success.

The Hilton Special School, the first school for children living with disabilities in Fiji, was established in 1963 and currently has a roll of 84 students. It is managed by the Fiji Crippled Children’s Society which is a charitable organization focusing on the provision of treatment and education for children with physical disabilities and hearing impairments. The society also manages a hostel for children from areas in the country where no special education resources are available.]