Solomon Islands Wantok Association of South Australia

25/01/2026

Good afternoon, wantoks,
Happy Sunday! I hope you’re all doing well.

As the summer heat sets in, with heatwave conditions and bushfire warnings across the state, I’d like to remind everyone to stay alert and take extra care during this period.

A few quick safety reminders for you and your families:
Stay hydrated at all times—carry a bottle of water when leaving the house
Seek shade or stay under cover where possible
Wear protective clothing, hats, and sunscreen before heading out
Never leave children or pets unattended in vehicles
Very important: Please ensure cigarette butts are fully extinguished before disposing of them.
Stay safe, stay hydrated, and take care of one another.
Have a blessed evening. 🙏

10/11/2025

Charting a Path for Better Care in the Solomons: Peter Iroga’s Journey from Scholar to Clinical Governance Leader

When Peter Iroga left the Solomon Islands to pursue a Bachelor of Health and Medical Sciences under an Australia Awards Scholarship, he carried with him a clear purpose: to return home equipped with the knowledge and skills to strengthen his country’s health system. Now a graduate, Peter is doing exactly that—bringing fresh ideas, discipline, and leadership to the National Referral Hospital (NRH) as the Clinical Governance Project Officer, supporting lead clinician Dr. Howard Marau in the delivery of clinical governance across the hospital.

Today, Peter is applying those experiences to clinical governance focused on ensuring high standards of care, patient safety, and continuous improvement. In his role at NRH, he is working on practical, patient-centered initiatives that make quality visible. These include coordinating a patient satisfaction survey to better capture the voices of patients and families and strengthening incident management processes to ensure that when things go wrong, the hospital learns and improves.

Peter recently completed the Australian Institute of Clinical Governance (AICG) training supported by Solomon Islands Australia Health Partnership, which has further sharpened his understanding of systems, risk, and quality improvement. He believes that digital tools will be pivotal to the next phase of clinical governance at NRH. Mentorship and collaboration are central to Peter’s approach. He works closely with Dr. Marau, aligning governance activities with clinical priorities, and is supported by Associate Professor Arish Naresh as he builds both technical capabilities and health leadership skills. These partnerships are helping him translate best practice into local context—designing processes that are practical, sustainable, and responsive to the Solomon Islands’ unique needs.

Looking ahead, Peter focuses on embedding a culture of quality and safety at NRH and beyond. That means strengthening feedback loops between patients and providers, building staff capability in incident reporting and improvement methods, and advocating for the digital foundations that enable consistent, reliable care. It also means continuing his own professional development, including pursuing Honours in medical sciences to deepen his expertise.

In photo: Mr. Peter Iroga, Clinical Governance Quality and Research Officer at NRH

22/10/2025

Statement on the Passing of Mr. Apollos Kalialaha

The Pacific Islands Council of South Australia (PICSA) extends its deepest condolences to the family and community of the late Mr. Apollos Kalialaha, one of the founding members and first President of the Solomon Islands Wantok Association of South Australia.

Mr. Kalialaha was a respected elder, a man of faith, humility, and service who played a pivotal role in uniting the Solomon Islands community and laying the foundation for its growth in South Australia. His leadership, wisdom, and gentle spirit guided many during the formative years of the community, ensuring that Solomon Islanders had a strong voice and a sense of belonging far from home.

Beyond his leadership within the Pacific community, Apollos also dedicated more than 15 years of service under the United Aboriginal Mission in Copley, working tirelessly among Aboriginal communities in the region. His life was one of compassion and quiet strength — a bridge between peoples, cultures, and generations.

The legacy he leaves behind is one of unity, cultural pride, and faith in action. The Pacific Islands community across South Australia joins in mourning his passing and in celebrating a life lived with purpose and devotion.

On behalf of the Pacific Islands Council of South Australia, we honour his memory and offer our prayers and support to his family and to all who were touched by his life and ministry.

May his soul rest in peace and his example continue to inspire those who follow in his footsteps.

Tagio tumas, and rest well, wantok.




Solomon Islands Wantok Association of South Australia

30/09/2025

👏🙌

Papua New Guinean and Matildas star Mary Fowler has made history in her modelling debut at Paris Fashion Week. 🇵🇬⚡

Mary has become the first professional footballer to walk the runway in the Défilé L'Oreal show. 💥

27/09/2025

23/09/2025

Stories of our soccer boys sharing about their time in Adelaide.

28/07/2025

Update: PEV ballot is now open!

28/07/2025

Australia’s Pacific Engagement stream visa (PEV) ballot for 2025 opens today!

It is a new ballot and registrations from the 2024 ballot are not included in this draw.

To be able to apply for a PEV, you must first be selected in the random ballot. Eligible citizens from participating countries can enter – people of all skill levels, genders and occupations are welcome.

Participating countries for the PEV 2025 program are:

• Federated States of Micronesia
• Fiji
• Kiribati
• Nauru
• Palau
• Papua New Guinea
• Samoa
• Solomon Islands
• Timor-Leste
• Tonga
• Vanuatu

Learn more about how to register here: http://spr.ly/6184fPJXK

25/07/2025

Amazing work Simeon Pitukolo! Keep it up 👍

25/07/2025

For anyone feeling in the mood for 💃

⏳ 1 week left to join the Dance Party and lock in early bird tickets for the 50th Independence Day Gala! 🇵🇬💃🏽🕺🏽

🌟 FUNDRAISER DANCE PARTY
🗓 Friday, 1st August | 🕖 7PM till late
📍 Cosmo Club, 109/111 Waymouth St, Adelaide
🎟️ $25 entry (18+ only)

🎉 50th Independence Gala – Early bird tickets: $95 (members) | $100 (non-members)
🗓️ Early bird pricing ends in 1 week — tickets will increase to $120 after that!
❗ Strictly NO door sales
💳 PayID: 19219751053
📌 Use your full name(s) + phone number in the payment reference.

Join us for a night of culture, food, and celebration. Let’s mark 50 years of PNG Independence in style! 🌺

24/07/2025

One of my favourite artists 😢 RIP Fiji . Gone but will never not be forgotten and your songs will remain ageless. Thank you for the music 🎵

The Greatest of All Time. Rest in Love, Fiji.

It is with heavy hearts and deep sadness that we share the news that has passed away. A beautiful soul has been called home. 🕊️💔

A life so full, so meaningful. Fiji was more than an artist. He was a movement, a voice for the people, a light in the dark. There was, and always will be, only one Fiji. His music wasn’t just something we listened to. It was something we lived through. It was the soundtrack to our childhoods, our family parties, our car rides, our quiet nights, our celebrations, and our heartbreaks.

There is a Fiji song in every playlist. He was the artist the entire household listened to. The one who brought generations together. A waymaker, a storyteller, a pillar of island music. His voice carried the weight of our stories, our culture, and our emotions, and his impact stretched far beyond the islands.

Fiji inspired artists across the world. He opened doors and set a standard for what it meant to be timeless, soulful, and real. His presence was larger than life, but his spirit was always grounded in love, truth, and connection.

Thank you, Fiji, for your gift. For your music, your heart, and your legacy. You gave us so much, and we will carry it with us forever.

Rest in love to the GOAT. George “Fiji” Veikoso, your song will never end.