From the High Commissioner’s Desk &#8211; Rod Hilton

Side by side – the role of Australian volunteers in supporting locally led development in Solomon Islands

Front (Left to right): SIRA Finance Officer Christina Raenaitoro, Australian Volunteers Program Manager for Solomon Islands, Eve Aihunu, Australian Volunteers Program Indigenous Programs Coordinator Keran Kramme, SIRA Technical Consultant Albert Kwatelae, SIRA Program Manager Eddie Huitarau and SIRA Vice President (board) Felix Naitoro. Back: TSRA CEO, Charlie Kaddy at Waiben in the Torres Strait.

Principal Officer James Poghula and Australian Volunteer Dr Rodney Starr assessing a sick chicken at a local poultry farm.

As Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands, I’m continually inspired by the resilience of individuals, communities, and organizations across this diverse and beautiful country.

I know other Australians living here share the same feeling including those here under the long standing Australian Volunteers Program, which connects skilled Australians with partner organizations in Solomon Islands.

The Australian Volunteers Program is one of the ways Australia implements its commitment to support locally-led development through genuine and respectful partnerships.

Since the mid-1960s, hundreds of volunteers have worked side by side with Solomon Islanders, sharing expertise and building strong people-to-people connections. In the past eight years alone, 170 volunteers have supported 53 organizations through 215 assignments — contributing to progress in health, education, environment, justice, economic development, gender equality, disability
inclusiveness and more.

At any one time, there are approximately 20-25 Australian volunteers in Solomon Islands working across diverse roles with partner organizations such as the National Referral Hospital, Solomon Islands National University, the Christian Care Centre, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, and the National Institute of Sport. I’ve been speaking to Australian volunteers and their Solomon Islands colleagues and I’m proud to share some of their stories with you in today’s column.

Australian and Solomon Islander medical professionals working side by side

*Dr Lois, Dr Angeline, Dr Lenita, Dr Siobhan and Dr Rhoda, O&G Registrars at NRH*

Australian volunteers have contributed to the Solomon Islands health sector for decades. Today, 15 Australian doctors and nurses are working alongside their Solomon Islands counterparts at the National Referral Hospital to strengthen health service delivery .

Dr Siobhan Longford recently completed an assignment as an Obstetrics and Gynaecology Intern Supervisor. She supported local registrars and interns in antenatal, labour, and gynaecology wards, and helped develop new clinical guidelines.

Dr Longford told me that teaching bedside ultrasound and caesarean section skills had been incredibly rewarding and had allowed her to observe the resilience and strength of Solomon Islands women – both her patients and her colleagues.

*Guideline development meeting with Dr Benjamin Koete (O&G Consultant), Dr Leeanne Panisi (Head of department, O&G Consultant) and Dr Siobhan Langford. Photo credit: Dr Chris Dereveke (O&G Consultant)*

Solomon Islander lawyers building skills with support from Australian volunteers

Through the Australian Volunteers Program, the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) is partnering with volunteers to strengthen prosecution and advocacy skills among local lawyers.

Director of Public Prosecutions, Andrew Kelesi, told me that volunteer support has led to key improvements — especially in provincial offices in Gizo and Auki, where local prosecutors now have direct access to legal advice and case preparation support. This has reduced travel costs and eased pressure on the central office.

“The continued upskilling has made a big difference, particularly for our junior lawyers,” said Mr Kelesi. “Volunteers have integrated well into the team and have adapted to the local context, contributing meaningfully both professionally and personally.”

Supporting farmers to build small businesses through veterinary mentorship

One of our current volunteers is Dr Rodney Starr, an Australian veterinarian who is assisting the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAL) to strengthen animal health and help farmers build successful livestock businesses.

James Poghula, the Principal Livestock Officer for Guadalcanal Province, told me that while MAL para-vets are well trained, the absence of a fully qualified veterinarian has been a gap.

As Rodney reflected, “Together, we’re guiding, mentoring, and helping [the farmers] gain the confidence to overcome their challenges.”

Sharing Indigenous Knowledge between First Nations Australians and Solomon Islanders

Building deeper connections between First Nations Australians and Solomon Islanders is a key focus of the Australian Volunteers Program.

Through the program’s Indigenous Pathways initiative, environmental rangers from the Torres Strait Islands Regional Authority (TSRA) and the Solomon Islands Rangers Association (SIRA) are sharing traditional ecological knowledge to protect environment and culture.

*Australian volunteer Ethel Anau listens as Charles Afu shares local knowledge, part of Indigenous Pathways—an Indigenous-led initiative with the Australian Volunteers Program, TSRA, and SIRA.*

The exchange began in February this year, when TSRA rangers visited Solomon Islands and engaged with SIRA and four remote communities in South Malaita. In a historic first, four SIRA rangers reciprocated with a visit in August, travelling to Australia’s Torres Strait Islands to continue the traditional knowledge-sharing journey.

Conclusion

Speaking with Australian volunteers, I’m reminded that volunteering is a powerful two-way exchange. Volunteers come to Solomon Islands to share their skills, but they also gain new perspectives learning from local colleagues, communities, and the rich cultural context they’re immersed in. Whether it’s discovering new ways of working or reflecting on their own growth, the experience is deeply rewarding.

A bigfala tagio tumas lo all the Solomon Islanders and Australian volunteers who are working together to build a stronger, inclusive, and more prosperous Solomon Islands.

Lukim iu next taem!