Australia has set up a partnership with Smart Technology, a technology and mobile phone repair business in Honiara, to train 10 hearing-impaired Solomon Islanders in mobile phone repair.
The Australian High Commission said the partnership is aimed at making sure people with disabilities are not left behind in skills development and employment.
Smart Technology worked with the National Disability Forum Solomon Islands to identify participants and develop a training model suited to deaf and hearing-impaired people.
Smart Technology founder Roylex Sitana said the initiative came out of his experience studying in the Philippines, where he saw people with disabilities working in technical trades.
"Mobile phone repair requires patience, concentration and attention to detail, and these are strengths that hearing-impaired people can bring to this kind of work," Sitana said.
He said the aim was to give people the skills and experience they need to find work or build something of their own.
At the end of the training, participants may partner with Smart Technology, while others will receive tools, mentoring and support to set up their own mobile phone repair services.
Australian High Commissioner to Solomon Islands Jeff Roach said the training would help create more inclusive pathways into skills development and employment for people with disabilities.
"People with disabilities continue to face significant barriers to training and employment even though they have the skills and abilities to make an important contribution to the workforce," Roach said.
He said the partnership creates a pathway in a growing industry and shows how local businesses can become more inclusive employers.
According to the release, the partnership aims to set up a training model that goes beyond the first group of participants, creating longer-term opportunities for people with disabilities to develop marketable skills and take part in the workforce.
The High Commission said Australia is committed to supporting economic opportunities that help more Solomon Islanders develop skills, earn an income and take part in the economy.
The release does not say when the training will finish or where it is being held, beyond the launch in Honiara.