Afu Lia Billy’s journey—from a young mother escaping violence to a national leader—is a story of courage, resilience, and transformation.
At the heart of it is the Australia Awards scholarship she received in 1989.
For Ms Billy, studying at Charles Sturt University in Wagga Wagga wasn’t just an academic opportunity—it was a lifeline.
“I was fleeing a violent relationship, so I was grateful to leave the country and be safe in another country,” she recalls.
Safety was only the beginning. Six months into her studies, the father of her two daughters—then aged four and six—refused to let them join her. Against the odds, she regained custody, and her children joined her in Australia.
Ms. Billy graduated in 1992 with a Bachelor of Business (Business Management) and she benefitted enormously from the opportunity to study in Australia.
“It wasn’t so much my study but my experience as a single mother juggling studies and caring for my children,” she explains.
When she returned home, Ms Billy turned personal struggle into national advocacy.
In 1995, she co-founded the Family Support Centre (FSC) – an organisation offering free, confidential counselling and legal services to survivors of domestic and sexual abuse and driving campaigns to end gender-based violence (GBV).
Today, FSC remains a cornerstone of the Solomon Islands’ response to GBV. And Ms Billy’s leadership continues to break barriers.
As President of the National Council of Women, she has revitalised all nine Provincial Councils and spearheaded advocacy across the country. Her influence extends through roles with the Women’s Rights Action Movement, proving that true leadership demands conviction and sacrifice
Her message to young women and Australia Awards scholars is clear: engage in the fight for equality.
She urges them to take gender and development studies as an elective, join women’s organisation, or form new groups—whether in leadership, law, or IT—to close gender gaps.
“If you think joining the women’s movement is not worth your time, think again,” she challenges.
“Without advocates who fought for you, you would not have the same access to opportunities, including scholarships.
Her call to action is powerful:
“Join the women’s movement and use knowledge to better the lives of Solomon Islands women. Because you never know – your daughter may be the one benefiting from the opportunities that you have created.”
– AHC
