Three Directors of the Samoa Audit Office graduated with, and are now holders of, Master Degrees from Australian Universities.
Petelo Leota, Director of the ICT Division, graduated with a Masters of Networking and Systems Administration in December, 2019 from Charles Sturt University. Roseanne Faaui, Director of the SPCS Division, also graduated from Charles Sturt University with a Masters of Business Administration in August, 2020. Morina Faasisila, Director of the ITA Division, graduated with a Masters of Commerce specializing in Project Management and Accounting in December, 2020 from Deakin University.
Mr. Leota was able to attend his graduation ceremony in Bathurst, Australia, and shared his proud moment with attending friends and family. Ms. Faaui and Ms. Faasisila both completed their studies in 2020 however, and due to border restrictions with COVID-19 graduated in absentia.
Mr. Leota, Ms. Faaui, and Ms. Faasisila completed their degrees via online/flexible/distance learning, and studied while employed full-time with the Samoa Audit Office. Their studies were made possible through government scholarships, and with the full support of the Controller and Auditor General, Fuimaono Mata'afa Papalii C. G. Afele.
The CAG's support is part of a long-term goal foreseen and envisioned in the Strategic Plan of the Samoa Audit Office from before July 2014 as an attempt to raise the qualifications and professionalization of the Leadership and Staff of the Samoa Audit Office as the Samoa SAI, to be at the academic level first achieved by the CAG.
Under this professionalization plan, several members of the Samoa Audit Office have since also graduated with their Master Degrees, or begun studies. These include five graduates with the Nanjing Audit University, and one other also from the Charles Sturt University; and three currently studying with the Nanjing Audit University, the University of New England, and the University of the South Pacific, respectively - all are current staff members with the Samoa Audit Office.