On September 28, 1984, the government of Fiji officially opened a house on Domain Rd in Suva designed to serve as a home for four girls with disabilities. Janet Braithwaite, an executive from the Australian Council for the Rehabilitation of the Disabled (ACROD), remarked that individuals with disabilities should not be confined to institutions but should instead have access to proper homes where they can manage their daily lives.
This initiative stemmed from Braithwaite’s visit to Fiji in 1983, which highlighted the importance of independent living for the girls. According to an article in The Fiji Times, the girls were now thriving in the government-provided home, earning salaries to cover their expenses and enjoying a more comfortable lifestyle. ACROD supplemented their wages with $50 each week.
The girls, two of whom were polio survivors, one a paraplegic, and the fourth deaf, benefited from modifications made to the residence to accommodate their needs. Braithwaite emphasized that the home was intended for small groups only, as larger populations often experience institutionalization. “The whole objective is to train these older girls to live in a proper home on their own,” she stated, adding that they would have the freedom to rent their own flats in the future.
Braithwaite recognized a significant gender bias in government-funded programs during her previous visit and saw an urgent need for housing for older girls with disabilities. With assistance from the National Council for Women and the Fiji government, a suitable home was established. During a follow-up visit, she expressed satisfaction at seeing the girls living independently and happily.
Accompanying Braithwaite, Edith Paul noted that ACROD, established in 1962, provides services for individuals with disabilities in Australia, East Asia, and the Pacific. The organization has around 300 affiliated associations and receives over $240,000 annually from the Australian Government, along with involvement in training educators and sponsoring disability services in Fiji.