Australia’s Partnership with Temotu Province

Congratulations Temotu on your Second Appointed Day! Australia’s partnership with Temotu Province is stronger than ever—spanning infrastructure, security, health, and education. Many Temotuans also benefit from Australia’s PALM scheme.

Australia is Solomon Islands’ largest and most enduring infrastructure partner, investing over SBD5 billion in the past five years. Since 2020, we’ve funded eight community infrastructure projects in Temotu, as part of our nationwide program to deliver accessible improvements.

Community Partnerships

Australia is committed to working with the people of Temotu to improve lives, strengthen infrastructure, and build resilient communities, especially in rural and remote areas.

Access to clean drinking water remains a priority. Over the past two years, Australia has funded four new water and sanitation projects in Temotu under the Solomon Islands – Australia Community Partnerships, including water tanks in Nanngu, Ngawa, Ravenga, and at Kati Community High School near Lata.

In Temotu Pele, Australia is funding solar-powered streetlights in Vaiakau Community, improving safety for everyone.

In the Duff Islands (Temotu Vatud), this week marks the official opening of the new ‘halevaka’ canoe house—a space where elders can pass on centuries old kastom boat-building knowledge to youth. Australia understands the importance of preserving cultural heritage and my team will join your celebrations on the special occasion.

In Temotu Nende, Solomon Islanders are hard at work constructing a new classroom at Mona Community High School, providing a safe learning space for students. Australia prioritises using Solomon Islands businesses to supply materials because it creates local jobs which further benefit families.

As Prime Minister Manele said at the recent 2025 Awards Night, the Solomon Islands–Australia Community Partnerships are “small-scale infrastructure investments [that] are meaningful and life-changing for many… especially those in rural and remote areas.”

I’m pleased to announce there will be another funding round under this program in July and encourage people in Temotu to apply.

Security Partnership

The Solomon Islands–Australia partnership continues to deliver security and law and justice support in Temotu.

The new Eastern Border Outpost (EBO) in Lata is one of the major security projects under our Defence Cooperation Program. Construction of the first stage began in September 2024 and is set to conclude this month. It includes the refurbishment of the RSIPF Police Station and National Disaster Management Office in Lata.

Australian agencies—including the Australian Border Force and Australian Federal Police—are providing mentoring and training to build staff capacity at the EBO. In August 2024, the Australian Border Force visited Temotu for on-the-job training for Customs, Immigration, and Police officers.

Australia’s law and justice program supports security and stability across all nine provinces inlucding Temotu. In 2024, Australia supported three court circuits (March, May, and September) in Temotu, ensuring people can access justice without needing to travel to Honiara. The program also provided RSIPF training on charging offenders.

Economic Partnership

Australia remains committed to creating jobs and economic opportunities for Solomon Islanders, including through the Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme. It’s great to see that over 9,000 Solomon Islanders so far have had the opportunity to work in Australia under the PALM scheme.

I’m pleased that Temotu Province is participating in this scheme, with 250 Temotuans who have mobilised to Australia and another 250 in the Work Ready Pool. These workers are employed in sectors including agriculture, hospitality, tourism, horticulture, aged care, and meat processing.

Through the PALM scheme, our partnership with the Solomon Islands Government is helping more Solomon Islanders, including those from Temotu, access quality employment, develop skills, and contribute to the nation’s economic development.

It’s incredibly moving to see Solomon Islanders investing their PALM earnings in school fees, building homes, and setting up small businesses—real economic benefits making a difference.

Health Partnership

During my first visit to Temotu in 2024, I was honoured to hand over the new international standard biomolecular laboratory to the people of the province.

The Lata Biomolecular Laboratory has been a game changer for delivering quality diagnostics and treatment in Temotu, one of the most remote provinces in Solomon Islands. It reduces reliance on sending samples to Honiara, enabling faster, more accurate diagnoses to improve outcomes for patients at Lata Hospital.

Costing SBD1.4 million, the lab is part of Australia’s long-term commitment to improving health outcomes for all Solomon Islanders.

Education

Australia has supported the construction of safe and comfortable school facilities to encourage more girls to attend school, including a new girls’ dormitory and ablution block at Luesalemba Provincial Secondary School. We are also installing computer laboratories at Lata, Monene, Balipa’a, Gauwa, and Bishop Patterson Community High Schools. Each lab will be equipped with 15 laptop computers, helping to enhance learning outcomes for high school students across Temotu.

Hapi Second Appointed Day lo pipol blo Temotu an lukim yu next taem!

Caption: Work progressing at the Mona Community High School classroom project, in Temotu Nende, funded through the Solomon Islands – Australia Community Partnerships.

Caption: More than 9000 Solomon Islanders including those from Temotu are sending money home to their family and communities under the PALM scheme.