KEYNOTE ADDRESS by the Honourable Seuula Ioane Tuāau Minister for Education and Culture.
Acknowledgments
• Your Excellency William Robinson, Australia High Commissioner to Samoa;
• Vice Chancellor of the National University of Samoa;
• Commissioners and Chief Executive Officers of APTC partners;
• Chief Executive Officers of Government Agencies and Non-Government Organizations; and Principal of TVET institutions;
• Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) Samoa and Tonga Country Director, Lagaaia Lealiifano Easter Manila Silipa and staff;
• APTC Graduands 2025;
• Esteemed guests, ladies and gentlemen
Introduction
Tālofa lava and a pleasant good morning to you all.
On behalf of the Samoan Government, it gives me a great privilege to be here to deliver the keynote address at today’s graduation ceremony.
Congratulations and Acknowledgements
Firstly, I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to each of the 89 Samoan women and men on achieving a significant milestone by graduating today.
The Samoan Government acknowledges and appreciates your hard work and resilience in completing your Australian qualifications and we are proud of your accomplishments.
Today, you will be conferred with Australian qualifications in seven (7) different vocational programs: drainage, plumbing services, skills for work and vocational pathways, commercial cookery, light vehicle mechanical technology, tourism, and wall and floor tiling.
To our graduands, as your Minister for Education and Culture, I wish to convey the Government’s sincere congratulations on your achievements.
Malo le finau! Malo le fai o le faiva!
Gender Equality
I am proud to announce that forty (40) of today’s graduates are women who have successfully completed their TVET programs. Notably, ten (10) of these remarkable women have excelled in traditionally male-dominated fields such as drainage and plumbing. Your achievements serve as a powerful testament to your hard work, dedication, breaking barriers and paving the way for future women and girls of Samoa.
Government Support
The Government of Samoa is committed to ensuring equal opportunities for everyone. I take this opportunity to acknowledge the Australian Government’s support through APTC, which offers access bursaries for our Samoan people, providing opportunities for them to pursue Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). This supports the priorities of the Samoa Education Sector Plan 2019-2024, including inclusive education and TVET. It also supports the priorities of the Government of Samoa’s disability-inclusive development goals, as outlined in the National Policy for Persons with Disabilities 2021-2031.
Today we also recognise the 24 graduates from the various government agencies who have partnered with APTC Samoa. These dedicated individuals from the Samoa Fire and Emergency Services Authority, Samoa Water Authority, and the Land Transport Authority have successfully completed the Certificate II in Drainage qualification. This signifies the positive impact of APTC’s support in our community.
Partnerships
The Samoan Government acknowledges the Australian Government and APTC for their partnership and support to other various government agencies and NGOs including the Samoa Police, Prisons and Corrections Services, Electric Power Corporation, Lakapi Samoa, Nuanua ole Alofa, Samoa Faafine Association, National Youth Council of Samoa and more. Your commitment to enhancing productivity, reducing unemployment, and building stronger communities in Samoa is truly commendable.
It is great to see a growing number of our people leveraging these skills for improved livelihoods. The Government of Samoa stands committed to working alongside the Australian Government to ensure that our skills training aligns with industry needs, leading to robust employment outcomes for all Samoans. This collaboration has yielded impressive results, with over 3390 Samoans graduating with Australian qualifications since 2007.
I would like to also highlight APTC’s collaboration with the Samoa Qualifications Authority (SQA) in bolstering Samoan qualifications and expanding our workforce’s global competitiveness, especially in high-demand fields, ensuring that our graduates are well-prepared to meet the challenges and opportunities of the global market.
Additionally, APTC’s partnership with the National University of Samoa (NUS) which has been ongoing since 2007, ensures that our training programs are relevant and of high quality. Together, APTC and NUS have developed and accredited various programs and have provided numerous capability development opportunities for students as well as staff.
I acknowledge and sincerely thank the Australian Government for its unwavering support and collaboration with the Samoa Education sector and TVET organisations through APTC, which has been crucial in nurturing and shaping Samoa’s future.
Concluding Remarks
To all our graduates, congratulations once again!
I am confident that APTC has provided you with the skills and qualifications necessary to become invaluable contributors to Samoa’s expanding workforce. You now join a network of over 25,850 APTC Alumni across the region, and I eagerly look forward to your contributions to the national growth of Samoa.
For those of you who have trained away from home at other APTC campuses, your dedication to learning sets a powerful example for future generations.
As TVET role models, you now have the power to transform society’s perception of this valuable pathway to fulfilling careers. Remember, your learning journey does not end here. Continue to grow, both personally and professionally, to contribute to the betterment of Samoa.
Well done to all the graduates! May you achieve great success in all your future endeavours.
Faafetai tele lava. Soifua ma ia manuia.
BACKGROUND OF THE AUSTRALIA PACIFIC TRAINING COALITION
A centre of training excellence, the Australia Pacific Training Coalition (APTC) helps Pacific Island and Timorese citizens gain Australian skills and qualifications for a wide range of vocational careers.
Over 25,860 Pacific Island and Timorese citizens have graduated with Australian qualifications from APTC campuses in Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. These qualifications range from accredited short courses to diploma level training for various vocational areas, including automotive, manufacturing, construction, electrical, tourism, hospitality, education, management, health and community services.
These graduates have returned to industry and implemented a range of new skills, with over 90% of employers of APTC graduates reporting their significant contribution to improving workplace productivity.
APTC collaborates with regional governments, industry and training providers to develop a more skilled, inclusive and productive workforce aligned with domestic and international labour market requirements, to enhance Pacific prosperity.
APTC’s end-of-program outcomes are:
1. APTC and partner graduates have improved employment outcomes
2. Co-investment in skills training increases
3. Selected TVET partners demonstrate quality TVET provision
A.P.T.C. is an Australian Government initiative in partnership with the Pacific and Timor-Leste.
APTC is implemented by TAFE Queensland (RTO 0275).
Thank you.
Photo by the Government of Samoa (Leota Marc Membrere)
