WELCOME TO AUSTRALIA ASSISTS

Australia Assists would like to Acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the lands, skies and waterways across the continent now known as Australia. We pay deep respect to Elders past and present and recognise the ongoing connection that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples maintain with Country which encompasses land, water, language, kinship, and spirit. 

We also want to acknowledge the Indigenous, traditional, and local communities across the Pacific region who share their own ancient and enduring relationships with land and sea.

In the spirit of shared humanity and responsibility, we walk alongside communities to uplift and support in times of need, standing in solidarity through disaster and crisis; and draw upon the strength from the wisdom of those who have cared for Country and people for generations.
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18 May 2026
Pacific

Fiji NDRMO: Director Boseiwaqa’s Keynote Speech to Australia Assists

On 18-20 May 2026, Australia Assists brought together its Pacific-based deployees for a series of talanoa events, workshops, and presentations.

18 May 2026
Director Napolioni Boseiwaqa, Director of Fiji’s National Disaster Risk Management: Keynote Speech to Australia Assists Nadi Talanoa series of events

Bula vinaka and a very warm welcome to Nadi.

It is a pleasure to welcome you all here, and I am especially pleased that Fiji has the opportunity to host deployees from across the Pacific in the spirit of vuvale. Your presence here reflects a shared commitment to a joined-up vision for a Pacific family, working together to ensure the safety of communities across our region.

It is not often that so many people working with the NDMOs get to gather in one place — especially outside of an emergency, when the pressure is on. But it is vital that we also sit together in the quiet, to reflect on how we work together when the sun is out. These moments matter just as much as the moments of response.

As many of you know, talanoa is a Fijian word that speaks to an inclusive and participatory way of engaging — one that seeks to untie and weave together our experiences. I hope you can enter this week in that spirit, so that we can all reflect, learn, and grow from one another wherever we are working across the Pacific.

To the deployees, I want to say that you are more than just CVs or the reports you produce. You have left your homes and families to sit in our offices, eat at our tables, and work our hours. That is not something we take lightly. We value your expertise, but we value your humility even more. You have come not to tell us how to run perfect systems, but to stand beside us and lend your strength to our vision. That spirit of respect is what makes this partnership so meaningful.

I am also genuinely pleased to see the diversity of deployees here today — from across the Pacific and from around the world. That mix of experience, culture, and perspective strengthens the support you bring to our region. I am especially encouraged by the strong representation of Pacific Islanders, and by the strong representation of women among the deployees. Together, that makes this partnership richer, stronger, and more connected to the communities we serve.

I want to sincerely thank the Australian Government, through DFAT, not just for the resources, but for the spirit in which they are given. Australia Assists is not a “one size fits all” program. It listens to what Fiji needs and works to find the right fit for our systems. It also brings people who are not only technical experts, but who come with humility, respect, and a genuine willingness to learn as well as to share.

I also recognise that Australia Assists is only one part of a broader package of Australian support to Pacific communities to build resilience, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. I know that other DFAT-funded programmes will be sharing their priorities for the next 12 to 18 months, and I encourage you to look for opportunities to connect with them through your work.

When we talk about a Pacific-led response, this is what it looks like. It looks like practitioners coming together to share lessons learned, practical experience, and practical ideas that can help our NDMOs ensure communities across the Pacific are safer and better prepared. It looks like Pacific and international experts working under the direction of NDMOs. And it looks like workshops like this — where we strengthen professional relationships, build trusted peer networks, and learn from one another across our geographically dispersed region.

I also know that my fellow NDMO Directors are very interested in what comes out of this workshop, and in the opportunities, it may create to further strengthen the preparedness and response capability of our organisations. The value of bringing experienced practitioners together in one place to reflect, challenge ideas, and identify practical improvements should never be underestimated. This is the model for the future — open, collaborative, and locally led, grounded in partnership, shared learning, and mutual support.

I hope these values centre you for the rest of this week. Enjoy this talanoa, and enjoy the Fijian hospitality and sunshine. Speak honestly, share openly, and let this be a space where Australia Assists can continue to learn, and continue to support you in your work with the NDMOs and in strengthening the connections across the Pacific.

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