Psychosocial Support Services
Introduction
The Fiji Truth and Reconciliation Commission (FTRC) is an independent entity established to facilitate truth-telling, reconciliation, and healing.
The Commission is mandated to examine past political upheavals and their impact on people’s lives, including physical and emotional harm, loss of life and property, and systemic injustices experienced by individuals and communities in Fiji and across the wider Fijian diaspora.
The FTRC’s key functions include providing safe spaces for survivors to share their experiences and trauma, examining root causes and accountability for human rights violations during the coup periods since 1987, providing appropriate support services to survivors and witnesses, and contributing to the processes of national healing and reconciliation.
Purpose of Psychosocial Support Referral Services
In accordance with the FTRC Act, the Commission must provide support to survivors and witnesses at three critical stages: before, during, and after the sharing of their stories and experiences.
To fulfil this obligation, the Commission provides access to qualified and trauma-informed mental health professionals, including counsellors. These professionals provide counselling and trauma-informed support to survivors and witnesses referred through FTRC processes.
The psychosocial support referral services are designed to ensure that individuals engaging with the Commission do so in a manner that prioritises safety, dignity, wellbeing, and informed choice.
Psychosocial Support Referral Network
To strengthen service delivery, the FTRC has entered into Memoranda of Agreement with Birth Fiji, The Soulful Connection, Aruka Fiji, and Inner Harmony. These organisations work with the Commission to provide trauma-informed psychosocial and counselling services to survivors and witnesses who wishes to participate in our processes.
Services delivered by psychosocial support partners are provided in a culturally responsive and trauma-informed manner that respects survivor autonomy, dignity, and confidentiality.
Practitioners are based in Fiji and may deliver services in person, by telephone, or via secure online platforms, depending on referral requirements and availability. Both practitioners and survivors and/or witnesses are required to ensure privacy by conducting sessions in confidential and safe environments.
Professional Standards and Safeguards
All psychosocial services adhere to nationally and internationally recognised standards of trauma-informed care and ethical practice.
Partner organisations commit to ensuring that practitioners:
- Maintain valid professional registration and police clearance
- Comply with ethical guidelines and minimum eligibility criteria established by the FTRC
- Maintain accurate and confidential case documentation to support continuity of care and protect client privacy
Appropriate safeguarding procedures are in place, including the timely identification and reporting of high-risk cases in accordance with FTRC protocols.
Partner organisations support practitioner participation in FTRC training and orientation sessions relating to the Commission’s mandate, referral pathways, safeguarding policies, and survivor-centred approaches. They also engage in quality assurance processes and collaborate closely with the FTRC and other referral partners to ensure coordinated and comprehensive psychosocial support.
Accessibility, Inclusion, and Cultural Sensitivity
ways that are sensitive to Fiji’s cultural, linguistic, and social diversity.
The Commission recognises the varied needs of ethnic, religious, gender, faith, LGBTQIA+, youth, persons with disabilities, and other social groups, and ensures services are inclusive, respectful, and responsive to these differences.
Partner organisations commit to the secure handling Where possible, psychosocial support services are provided in vernacular languages and delivered in and protection of all client data, in compliance with relevant privacy laws and FTRC policies.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is fundamental to the psychosocial support referral services.
All information relating to survivors, witnesses, and clients is treated as strictly confidential and protected under applicable laws, professional codes of ethics, and FTRC policies. Confidentiality safeguards apply across all stages of referral, counselling, documentation, and data management.
Conclusion
The FTRC’s Psychosocial Support Referral Services form an essential pillar of the Commission’s survivor-centred and trauma-informed mandate. By ensuring access to qualified, ethical, and culturally responsive psychosocial care, the Commission upholds its responsibility to protect the wellbeing of those who come forward, while contributing to meaningful healing, reconciliation, and social cohesion across Fiji and its diaspora.
