Frank Hilton Organization Chief Executive Officer Sureni Jayaweera Perera, has been honoured with the Advocacy Achievement Award at the 12th Biennial Conference of the Australasian Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine held in Cairns, Australia.
The Frank Hilton Organization, a non-government organization, formally known as the ‘Fiji Crippled Children’s Society - Suva Branch’ initiated its operations in the 1960’s with the aim of helping children living with disabilities.
Since it’s inception, it has consistently uplifted its services to cater to the holistic needs of all the children and families that seek its services.
The charitable organization provides early detection and intervention support for children living with disabilities and is multi-disciplinary meaning that it offers a varied range of support services for the welfare of children such as physiotherapy, speech therapy, audiology screening and a Positive Behaviour support unit.
The organization says the prestigious award recognizes Sureni’s exceptional contributions to the field of early childhood intervention.
It says for over a decade, Sureni has been the visionary behind the Early Detection and Intervention service delivery program, a cornerstone of the Frank Hilton Organization.
The organization says her innovative framework has profoundly impacted the lives of thousands of Fijian children, delivering essential support and services to those in need.
In her acceptance speech, Sureni emphasized the importance of perseverance and commitment in advocacy.
She says even amidst the complexities and limitations that surround us, it is imperative that we maintain unwavering resolve and steadfast commitment.
She adds that as service providers, practitioners, academics, and policymakers, we have a duty to uphold the rights of children with disabilities and their families, regardless of the constraints we face.
Sureni says every child deserves to thrive, and it is our collective responsibility to raise our voices and enact tangible, meaningful, and transformative change in their lives.
