Lavame’a Ta’e’iloa Disabled People Association
REQUEST FOR EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST
Location: Nuku’alofa / Tonga
Role: Project Officer (Disability Inclusion)
Employer: LATA (Lavame’a Ta’e’iloa Disabled People Association)
Deadline for EOI: 6 November 2025, 04:30 PM (Tongan Time)
About LATA
Lavame’a Ta’e’iloa Disabled People Association Incorporated (LATA) is a self-advocacy a non-profitable organisation situated in Nuku’alofa with branches in the outer-islands. The organisation was established in 2018 and registered under the Charitable Act in 2019. LATA advocates for the rights of people with disabilities in Tonga. LATA was established to empower people with disabilities to live independently upon themselves and to shift from depending on charity to the human rights approach. The self-advocacy is promoted and championed by people with disabilities for people with disabilities.
LATA's mission is to:
- facilitate, realise, support, and promote the equalisation of opportunities for people with disabilities by strengthening LATA.
- strive towards an effective, cross-disability, gender-sensitive and inclusive organisation.
- continue efficient communication with Government Stakeholders, regional partners and international agencies.
- uphold the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (CRPD).
For more information, please see LATA’s Facebook page
The Project
In September 2023, LATA was awarded 2 years funding from the Australian Government through the Tonga Australia Support Platform (TASP). This core funding supports LATA to raise awareness on human rights and the rights of Persons with Disability to access quality and appropriate services. The first phase of the project is due to end in October 2025. The second phase of the project is anticipated to commence in November 2025.
LATA has identified the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) sector as an entry point for disability inclusion. LATA has collaborated with TASP Skills team and the TVET Association to identify opportunities for people with disabilities to participate in skills development and upskilling.
LATA has gained the support of seven (7) TVET providers who have agreed to establish a Community of Practice (COP). Each have nominated two (2) representatives to act as Disability Support Facilitators (DSF)– Tupou Tertiary Institute, ‘Ahopanilolo Technical Institute, St Joseph Business College, Montfort Institute of Technology and the Tonga National University’s Tu’uloa Program, School of Nursing and Midwifery and School of Science and Technology. LATA will support TVET providers to promote enrolment of people with disabilities and also support these students to participate in and complete courses that they choose to enroll in.
Project Deliverables
Ensure Disability Inclusive Training Delivery:
- Identify and support students with disabilities to participate in TVET.
- Oversee the development and delivery of a professional development program for the COP.
Support Professional Development
- Provide support to COP in professional development activities and networks to build capacity at all levels within the TVET sector.
Strengthen Partnerships and Collaborations:
- Establish and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with TASP Skills and GEDSI teams, COP, TVET Providers and work placement partners.
- Work with other CSOs and community groups in raising awareness of the project and connecting potential students with disabilities to TVETs.
Grants Management
- Manage a small grants program that provides financial support to remove barriers to students with disabilities enrolling and participating in vocational training.
Monitoring and Reporting:
- Participate in regular project updates and provide project monitoring reports.
Expected Outcomes
- Acceptance and support shown by the Community of Practice/Disability Support Facilitators and TVET providers on the disability inclusion program facilitated and coordinated by LATA.
- DSF gain confidence and experience in the provision of training to students with disabilities.
- Students with disabilities successfully enroll in, participate in and complete skills training delivered by TVET providers.
- TVET providers are supported with grants where appropriate to remove barriers to TVET education
The Role
LATA is seeking an experienced Project Officer to support the implementation of the Disability Inclusion Project – (the Project). LATA is implementing this project in partnership with selected TVET providers and the Tonga Australia Support Platform (TASP) to promote inclusive skills development for people with disabilities.
The main objective of this role is to support students with disabilities to overcome barriers to enrolling in and completing vocational training. This will include working together with potential students with disabilities and their preferred TVET Provider and work placement partners to identify barriers to inclusion and management of grants to support strategies to overcome identified barriers. The grant is part of support provided to TVET providers by TASP through COP. The COP supports DSFs from each TVET provider to develop their knowledge, skills and confidence in promoting disability inclusion to increase the participation of people with disabilities in TVET education. DSFs will be supported through a series of professional development workshops including training to develop Individual Education Plans for potential students with disabilities. The grant program will provide financial support to implement the Individual Education Plans. The role will –
- support LATA and the COP/DSF to identify potential students with disabilities to enroll in TVET institutions.
- support DSFs to complete Individual Education Plans (IEP) for students with disabilities, including identification of barriers to TVET enrolment and participation and to put support in place to overcome identified barriers.
- work closely with the students with disabilities, and their parents/guardians where applicable, on how to best minimise barriers or challenges faced.
- Act as an intermediary between potential students and TVET institutions by supporting potential students to find the course that meets their learning objectives.
- Liaise with TVET Providers and students with disabilities to implement the Individual Education Plans. This includes regular monitoring visits to TVET providers and work placement partners to ensure students are fully participating in training and having a positive training experience.
- regularly check in with students to monitor progress and identify and address issues in a timely manner.
- promote and encourage TVET providers to adopt a more inclusive approach for students with disabilities.
- support TVET providers to submit small grant applications (via the project) seeking financial support to remove barriers to a student with a disability enrolling in vocational training, as outlined in Individual Education Plans.
- support LATA to manage a small grant application, disbursement and acquittal process to assist TVET institutions meet the individual needs of potential students.
- Develop, implement and evaluate project workplan and activities in coordination with the LATA Director and TASP teams including submission of regular monitoring and evaluation reports.
- Support LATA and TASP in the coordination of the COP/DSF and delivery of professional development training workshops and learning sessions including the development of resources, content and activities
- Where required undertake community engagement activities at expos, community networks and events.
- Support the participation of people with disabilities in LATA's work.
- Identify opportunities for strategic communications regarding achievements of the project
- Comply with LATA policies and procedures including Child Protection
This is anticipated to be a part-time role with the potential for full-time.
About You
Selection Criteria
Essential Experience and Knowledge
- Qualification in education, skills development, social work, human resources or a related field.
- Demonstrated knowledge and experience in skills development, community/social or support work or similar.
- Demonstrated commitment to the human rights of people with disabilities and the principles of participation and inclusion.
- Flexibility to work both one-on-one and in large group settings for professional development training and working with people with disabilities.
- Well-developed analytical, communication, and report-writing skills.
- Demonstrated experience in productive working relationships with colleagues to achieve required outcomes.
- Proficient computer literacy.
- Experience using person-centered and individual support planning will also be highly regarded.
- Fluency in Tongan and English required
Desirable
- Experience supporting disability inclusion efforts in education or skills development sector in the Pacific region Lived experience of disability.
HOW TO APPLY
We welcome your interest in becoming a Project Officer for Disability Inclusion.
Please submit
1) Response against each of the essential and desirable selection criteria (maximum two pages).
2) A recent Curriculum vitae/resume including the details of two referees.
3) Supporting Documents: Certificates, supporting letter from referees, and any other document that may support your application.
Applications can be submitted via email or in hard-copy to the address below in person
E-mail for electronic submission: lavamea [dot] taeiloa1984 [at] gmail [dot] com
Please enter the subject line: “EOI – Project Officer, Disability Inclusion [Your Name]”.
Address for hard-copy submissions:
Attention to: Mr Rhema Misser
Role: Director
Address: Fasi moe Afi Building, Salote Road,
Nuku'alofa,
Tonga
Contact: (676) 7755878 or (676) 8825810
All applications will be handled in strict confidence. Only those shortlisted for further consideration will be contacted.
APPLICATIONS CLOSE 19th September 2025 / 23h59 / UTC +13 (Tonga Standard Time)