The Fijian Path to Recovery
The Salvation Army has officially opened a new Alcohol and Other Drugs (AOD) Recovery Centre in Suva, marking an important step in addressing the growing challenges of alcohol and drug dependency across the country. The centre will provide a community-based recovery programme designed to help people rebuild their lives while remaining connected to their families, communities and culture.
Rather than offering a residential programme, the centre will operate as a day service, allowing participants to receive professional support while maintaining vital connections with their everyday support networks. Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka, who attended the opening alongside Salvation Army Chief Secretary Colonel Jennifer Groves, welcomed the initiative and highlighted the importance of compassionate, evidence-based approaches to recovery.
‘Recovery does not happen in isolation,’ he said, noting that sustainable healing is strengthened when people remain connected to those around them.
What makes the new centre distinctive is its commitment to being unapologetically Fijian. Salvation Army Mission Projects Officer Lt-Colonel Lynette Hutson said the programme has been intentionally designed around local culture and values, rather than replicating models used elsewhere in the Pacific.
‘We must design what we do with Fijian culture absolutely integrated, right into the heart of it,’ Lynette said.
The initiative has been developed in partnership with the Fijian Government and is supported by funding from New Zealand’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Fiji Divisional Commander Major Phillippa Serevi said participants will engage in both a Twelve Step recovery programme and a Positive Lifestyle Programme, alongside practical activities that encourage healthy living and community connection.
‘It’s a holistic programme that is not just delivered in the classroom but also involves interacting outside with other members of the community and families,’ Phillippa explained.
The centre will initially enrol up to 15 participants at a time, with each person undertaking a recovery programme lasting between 12 and 15 weeks. Alongside education about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol, participants will receive support aimed at building resilience, restoring relationships and developing positive life habits.
A strong emphasis will also be placed on celebrating milestones in recovery. Phillippa said that recognising achievements such as six months, one year or five years of sobriety helps encourage participants on what can often be a difficult journey.
The centre also plans to deliver workshops for families and communities, equipping them with practical tools to support loved ones in recovery. Recovery groups will also be established to provide ongoing encouragement after participants complete the programme, recognising that healing continues long after formal treatment ends.
Looking to the future, The Salvation Army hopes the project will help strengthen Fiji’s addiction treatment workforce through partnerships with universities and training institutions.
