The Australian Government has appointed Johnstaff International Development to oversee the master plan for the Colonial War Memorial (CWM) Hospital, collaborating with GHD, Silver Thomas Hanley, and International SOS Australia.
During the announcement, Australia’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Senator Penny Wong, recognized the dedication and skill of healthcare professionals in Fiji, similar to those in Australia, and expressed gratitude for their contributions to local communities. She emphasized that healthcare is a fundamental right and noted that Australia responded to Fiji’s request for support in improving healthcare through the hospital’s master plan.
Senator Wong highlighted the historical significance of the site, stating, “Today, we are delivering on what we have heard,” and confirmed that Johnstaff International Development was selected after a competitive procurement process. She pointed out the urgent need for enhancements in health services and mentioned that an immediate engineering assessment of the existing hospital facilities would be conducted to ensure they remain operational during the implementation of the master plan.
Australia, she stated, takes pride in supporting this initiative and values its partnership with Fiji, aiming to enhance services and opportunities while promoting peace and prosperity in the region.
In response, Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka expressed Fiji’s deep appreciation to the Australian Government for its generous funding toward the CWM Hospital redevelopment. He remarked on the hospital’s name, which honors Fijian soldiers who fought for global peace during wartime, as seen by their engraved names displayed prominently at the hospital’s entrance.
Prime Minister Rabuka emphasized that this collaboration embodies the significant progress being made together and aims to spotlight the importance of their joint efforts on a global scale.