Solomon Islands and Australia understand that a free, independent and vibrant media sector is a key pillar of democracy. In the spirit of these shared values, another cohort of Solomon Islands media professionals have visited Australia as guests of the Australian Government.
Ms Loretta Manele and Ms Indy Maealasia from The Island Sun, Mr Bradford Noda from Tavuli News, Mr Ronald Toito’ona and Ms Georgina Maka’a from In-depth Solomons, Mr Lachlan Hoe Eddie from the Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation, Mr Christoper Adifaka from Barava FM and Ms Ruthina Koroa from ZFM 99.5 visited Canberra and Sydney from 1-8 June 2025.
This follows another media cohort which visited Australia in March.
The group met Australian Government officials and media outlets like the Special Broadcasting Service, Australian Associated Press and The Canberra Times newspaper, and visited national institutions like the Australian War Memorial, Museum of Australian Democracy and the Sydney Opera House. The participants were in Canberra for ‘Reconciliation Day’, a day which focuses on strengthening relationships between Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and non-Indigenous peoples for the benefit of all Australians.
Australian High Commissioner, His Excellency Rod Hilton said “this visit forged meaningful and enduring links with Australian media counterparts, building on our longstanding support for the Solomon Islands media sector.”
Ms Georgina Maka’a, co-owner of In-depth Solomons, said the visit “was a worthwhile journey that enhanced my understanding of Australia as a multicultural country, especially in acknowledging the First Nations people as the traditional owners of the land.”
Ms Indy Maealasia, from The Island Sun newspaper, described it as “an eye-opening experience that has deepened my understanding of journalistic standards and newsroom innovation among some of Australia’s major media outlets. It offered practical insights I hope to bring back to strengthen ethical reporting and collaboration in the newsroom. I believe that this exchange will help the long-term growth of my career.”
Mr Ronald Toito’ona, investigative Financial Reporter at In-depth Solomons, said “visiting Australian Media outlets, especially The Canberra Times, inspired fresh ideas for how we can engage audiences through digital platforms in Solomon Islands. The exposure to newsroom innovation has given me practical tools to elevate content and storytelling in our own media landscape.”
The participants also served as ambassadors for Solomon Islands while in Australia, deepening the partnership between Solomon Islands and Australia by giving Australian media outlets a better understanding of Solomon Islands’ history, culture, and ambitions for the future.
People-to-people links are key to the closeness of the Solomon Islands – Australia Partnership.
