Four Corrections officers to boost counselling services
Acounselling programme at the Australia Pacific Training Coalition will boost the Fiji Corrections Service’s Yellow Ribbon initiative.
Four more Corrections officers will attain a Diploma in Counselling Programme each after the 12-month course.
The personnel are Corrections Officer Class A Esava Ravula, Corrections Officer Class B Ilivema Marama, Corrections Officer Class B Iowane Waqalevu and Corrections Officer Class B Sakiusa Bulivakarua. This is the second batch from the Fiji Corrections Services who would attain an internationally-recognised Australian qualification issued through TAFE Queensland. Corrections Officer Class A Ravula said: “The course will greatly help me in conducting my work as a Corrections Officer and as a counsellor to effectively rehabilitate inmates.
“When they are discharged, some are stigmatised, stereotyped and discriminated against for what they’re been through and at the end of this programme, I will be able to use the skills and knowledge to help rehabilitation programmes in FCS.”
APTC Country Director, Jovesa Saladola said: “Mental health is an under prioritised issue within the health sector and often health experts struggle to mobilise resources in support of mental health.” Fiji Corrections Service Commissioner Commander Francis Kean said: “Currently we have psychologists and counsellors, qualified professional counsellors in FCS, but the intent is to get many of our uniformed staff trained in the similar skill set so that they can assist in the delivery of our rehabilitation training programmes.”