From the 𝐅𝐢𝐣𝐢 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥 𝐨𝐟 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠 to the 𝐅𝐢𝐣𝐢 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐔𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲, Mr Brian Ravouvou’s journey is a powerful story of sacrifice, faith, and purpose. A proud former 𝑺𝒊𝒍𝒂 𝑪𝒆𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝑯𝒊𝒈𝒉 𝑺𝒄𝒉𝒐𝒐𝒍 student and a devoted father of four, Brian has overcome challenges that many would find impossible.

After graduating as part of FNU’s inaugural cohort in 2011, he spent 11 years serving in the Lau Group where limited resources and distance tested the true heart of a nurse. In those remote islands, he became more than a healthcare worker; he was an advocate, counsellor, first responder, and a lifeline to families who relied on him.

Despite the isolation, his dream of advancing his education never dimmed. During COVID-19, he pursued his Bachelor of Nursing, using borrowed school Wi-Fi and even climbing hills in Lau to catch a faint signal. In 2021, he completed the degree, a milestone achieved through sheer determination. He went on to complete a Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery and later joined Aspen Medical, strengthening his leadership in maternal and neonatal care. In 2024, he joined FNU’s first cohort of the Master of Nursing -Nurse Practitioner programme, balancing work, studies, family, and financial pressures, yet he persevered.

Today, as he graduates as a Nurse Practitioner, Brian 𝐝𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐬𝐮𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐌𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐍𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐅𝐢𝐣𝐢, those who work in remote places with limited access, yet serve with courage, compassion, and unwavering commitment. He also honours his family, his vanua (𝐓𝐚𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐨𝐧𝐨-𝐢-𝐖𝐚𝐢, 𝐕𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐯𝐢, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐚𝐯𝐢𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐨𝐮), and his late classmate Uraia Ratu, whose memory continues to inspire their cohort.

“𝑻𝒐 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝑴𝒂𝒓𝒊𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒆 𝑵𝒖𝒓𝒔𝒆: 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕𝒃𝒆𝒂𝒕 𝒐𝒇 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒊𝒔𝒍𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒔. 𝒀𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝒄𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒂𝒈𝒆 𝒊𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒖𝒏𝒔𝒆𝒆𝒏 𝒑𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒔 𝒊𝒏𝒔𝒑𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒔 𝒎𝒚 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒚 𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒑. 𝑴𝒚 𝒋𝒐𝒖𝒓𝒏𝒆𝒚 𝒊𝒔 𝒑𝒓𝒐𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒏𝒐 𝒅𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒂𝒏𝒄𝒆, 𝒏𝒐 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒖𝒈𝒈𝒍𝒆, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒏𝒐 𝒍𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒕𝒂𝒕𝒊𝒐𝒏 𝒊𝒔 𝒔𝒕𝒓𝒐𝒏𝒈𝒆𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏 𝒂 𝒘𝒊𝒍𝒍𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒕.”

Brian’s story is a testament to what can be achieved when determination, faith, and a heart for service guide every step. May his journey inspire nurses, students, and all Fijians to pursue their dreams relentlessly, no matter the distance, no matter the challenges.