PhD (Philosophy), Victoria University
Malia (Soana) is an education specialist and leader with more than 20 years’ experience working with government, academia, and NGOs to develop early childhood education in Tonga. She is a former teacher, Board Member, and Lecturer on early childhood programs. Prior to taking up her Australia Award, Malia was Head of the Early Childhood Education Unit within Tonga’s Ministry of Education. In this role, which Malia held since 2016, she oversaw the Unit’s suite of education programs and led Tonga to establish its first government-supported early childhood education centres – of which there are now more than 40.
As a consultant, Malia has worked with international agencies including UNICEF, The World Bank, and Save the Children to develop and contribute to educational frameworks and resources. She has also contributed to research on educational responses to resilience challenges, ergative language, and barriers to participation in Tongan early childhood education. As a Regional Member, Malia represented Tonga on the Pacific Regional Council for Early Childhood Care and Education, and was an Executive Committee Member of the the Asia-Pacific Regional Network for Early Childhood representing the Pacific region.
Currently pursuing her Doctor in Philosophy at Victoria University, Malia is researching ‘Tongan teacher-student engagement: The Faa'i Kavei Koula in Tongan preschools’. She holds a Master of Education and a Master of Arts in Education from The University of the South Pacific, and a Bachelor in Education (Early Childhood) from The University of Auckland.
