Netball Australia’s Performance Umpiring Coach Stacey Campton mentored and assessed the top-tier of talented Fijian umpires during matches throughout the Rising Stars: Fiji 21/U Tour from 19-23rd August.
Litia Rabitu, after years of dedication to umpire development in Fiji, has been rewarded by achieving her Australian National B Badge Accreditation – a first for umpires in Fiji and a hallmark step for umpire development in the country.
For Rabitu, this accreditation is a recognition of the hard work, dedication and commitment she has shown to her umpiring, a role she took up when she was 15 years old. Hailing from Naila, Bau (Tailevu), with maternal links to Nabudrau, Noco (Rewa), Nasinu Netball Association was her local netball courts in the early days.
In addition to her netball involvement, Rabitu is also a Fiji Corrections Officer, and has combined all these commitments with her role as a mother to two boys.
Obtaining the Australian National B Badge will continue to open opportunities for Rabitu to umpire internationally. She is already a two-time Pacific Games umpire in 2019 and 2023.
The accreditation will also allow her to contribute to umpire accreditations locally in the future , being able to be on assessment panels under the Netball Australia National Umpire Development Framework (NUDF).
Rabitu expressed her excitement at being awarded the accreditation.
“Programs like this give umpires a new kind of perspective for where they can head to,” she said.
“Since I’ve been given the B Badge, I have had umpires across the country telling me this has inspired them to reach another level of accreditation.”
Rabitu has also been nominated by Netball Fiji for the Technical Officials Award at the Fiji National Sports Awards.
The Fiji Netball umpiring community is a strong and supportive group. Fiji’s National Umpires Manager, Losalini Bainivalu, a former talented umpire herself, highlighted the importance of Rabitu receiving her B Badge to their community.
“Litia getting her B badge will inspire every young umpire in Fiji,” Bainivalu said.
“Having our umpires listen to people such as Stacey helps them develop and grow in Fiji, and we are thankful for programs like this.”
CEO of Netball Fiji Vivian Koster said that Litia is contributing towards the end goal for Netball Fiji of having an international umpire as part of their organisation.
‘Litia has put in a lot of hard work to achieve this accreditation and we’re looking forward to the next stage of her umpiring career.’
In addition to the practical elements on umpire development, former top international, and All-Australian (AA) umpire Stacey Campton also facilitated a Q&A workshop with over 20 local umpires in Suva.
