Australian High Commission (AHC ) on Air!

Following three weeks of intensive training and high-end warfighting scenarios across Australia, and complex training exercises in Papua New Guinea, Exercise Talisman Sabre has come to a close..Talisman Sabre, which featured over 40,000 military personnel in this year's iteration, is the largest bilateral combined training activity conducted between the Australian Defence Force and the United States Armed Forces.This month's AHC on Air program features the exercise, with interviews from Australian Defence Force Chief of Joint Operations, Vice Admiral Justin Jones, Deputy Chief of PNGDF, Brigadier General Opa Lari Opa and Minister for Defence, Hon. Dr Billy Joseph

On the show this month, we feature the Papua New Guinea and Australia Police Partnership and Australia’s Pacific Policing Initiative (PPI). We had the pleasure of speaking to Papua New Guinea -Australia Policing Partnership Commander, AFP Assistant Commissioner, Jamie Strauss.  We also had a chat with Inspector David Terry from the Royal PNG Constabulary on this great Pacific Policing Initiative.      

Australia is an integral member of the Pacific community; we share cultural bonds and affinities. For this episode of AHC On air we explore those ties between our two nations.   This week Minister for Pacific Island Affairs, Hon Pat Conroy MP visited PNG, alongside representatives from the Australian Rugby League Commission and National Rugby League (NRL).  The Minister met with key stakeholders to reaffirm Australia’s commitment to developing rugby league pathways and establishing a competitive and sustainable PNG NRL franchise for entry into the NRL competition by 2028. We also feature the Yumi Stap Wantaim Film Festival, a showcase which provided incredible opportunity for talented local storytellers to create PNG-made films in the 72 hours Film challenge. All these and more on this month's AHC on Air.

Australia and Papua New Guinea have a longstanding history of working side by side in various areas, a partnership that continues to thrive as PNG prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary as a sovereign nation. On the eve of PNG’s 50 independence anniversary, Australia has launched its Yumi Stap Wantaim – Side by Side, Step By Step campaign, a celebration of PNG's independence and a tribute to the close relationship between Australia and PNG.   The campaign will include a series of high-profile events throughout this year, showcasing the partnership through education, sports, film, music, dance, art, and food.   

Australia and Papua New Guinea’s security partnership is grounded in the strategic trust both our countries share as near neighbours, close partners and friends. Australia and Papua New Guinea share an interest in a safe, stable, peaceful, and prosperous Pacific and have a proud history of working together to progress this vision. Since signing the Australia – Papua New Guinea Bilateral Security Agreement in December 2023, Australia has responded quickly to support Papua New Guinea’s defence and internal security priorities as its security partner of choice. 

Australia and Papua New Guinea have a longstanding history of working side by side in various areas, a partnership that continues to thrive as PNG prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary as a sovereign nation.Achieving Gender Equality, Women’s empowerment and Social Inclusion has always been  a shared vision for both Australian and Papua New Guinea.As part of the effort to achieve this goal, Australia continues to support the Government of PNG as it works alongside NGOs, women's groups and churches to promote the rights of women and girls in PNG. This month, both our countries celebrated International Women's Day and National Women’s Day, with positive new developments in the Gender space that will pave way for greater Gender Equality in PNG.

Australia and PNG share a long history of cooperation in education pre and post independence.High quality education is a long-term commitment, and Australia has been working in partnership with the National Department of Education and the Department of High Education, Research, Science and Technology and many universities, institutions and schools around the country to support PNG’s priorities in this sector.On this program, we find out more about Bilum Books – teaching and learning resources for PNG Schools and hear from Ms Sara White who is one of three Directors of Bilum Books.Also, on the program we speak to Dr Joseph Lingawa, Dean of Faculty of Education at the Divine Word University about his involvement in the Teacher upgrading program.And we find out more about the Early Childhood Education and Care or (ECEC) pilot program.

Australia and Papua New Guinea (PNG) share a warm, broad-ranging relationship of deep historical and contemporary importance to both countries. Our modern partnership is underpinned by joint commitments to the PNG–Australia Comprehensive Strategic and Economic Partnership (2020), and most recently the Bilateral Security Agreement (2023), which provide a framework for closer security relations. PNG is Australia's largest development partner, with an estimated 637.4 million-dollar in Official Development Assistance (ODA) funding between 2024-25 financial year. This support by the Australian Government is not only provided at the national and sub-national levels but right down to the community and grassroot settings. On this month’s program, we will learn more about the various community-based grant programs currently being delivered through the PNG-Australia Partnership.

Welcome to the final edition of AHC on Air for the year, on deepening PNG and Australia’s connection through Rugby League. On this program we feature the recent announcement by the Australian Prime Minister, the Hon Anthony Albanese, and Prime Minister James Marape on the news that PNG will field an NRL team in 2028. Also, on the program we speak to Ms Cathy Neap, NRL in PNG Manager on the PNG NRL Bid Academy’s Life skills program that was held recently in Port Moresby.

Australia is committed to supporting PNG improve health service delivery to Papua New Guineans. The new Australia-funded Metoreia Urban Health Centre, realised in partnership with the Motu Koita Assembly, NCD Provincial Health Authority, National Department of Health, National Capital District Commission and United Church, will improve health services for around 40, 000 people living in Poreporena, surrounding Motu Koita villages and Port Moresby communities. Also, on the program we feature the launch of the Community Justice Fund, and we speak to the Head of Santos Foundation and Chair of Bel is PNG Ms Jean Martin, who gives us an insight of the Bel Isi Program and services they provide.

On this month’s program, we will hear about the recently held Bougainville Chocolate Festival, the Cocoa Support Facility and other related Australian Government supported activities in the agriculture sector in the autonomous region of Bougainville.  Also on the program, we will hear about the PNG MSME and Informal Sector Study which gathered insight from over 2600 PNG MSME owners on how best to support a better business enabling environment and increase economic diversity and opportunities for all PNG citizens.  We also spoke to the PNG Labour Mobility Unit Director Hakaua Harry about PNG’s participation in the Pacific-Australia Labour Mobility scheme.

What a month September has been! On Monday 16 September, PNG celebrated its 49th year of Independence. Just three days later, Australia’s Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP officially launched the Australia and Papua New Guinea Development Partnership plan 2024 – 2029. The first ever Teacher Expo was also held in Port Moresby which saw the launch of the Diploma in Teaching Primary Minister for International Development and the Pacific, the Hon Pat Conroy MP.

The Kokoda Track is significant for the people of Papua New Guinea and Australia. During World War II, it was the site of fierce battles between Japanese and Australian Forces. Today, it is a symbol of the enduring relationship between Papua New Guinea and Australia. Through the Kokoda Initiative Program, the Australian and Papua New Guinean government have partnered to sustainably develop the track region. This month on AHC-on-Air we speak to the Kokoda Track Authority about the Ranger Capacity Development Program (RCDP) and how it is contributing to the quality of life of communities along the track and protecting the environmental and cultural values of the track.

In the first week of July each year, National Aboriginal and Islander Day Observance Committee or NAIDOC Week celebrations are held across Australia, to celebrate and recognise the history, culture and achievements of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.    NAIDOC Week is an opportunity for all Australians to learn about First Nations cultures and histories and participate in celebrations of the oldest, continuous living cultures on earth.   In this episode, we feature the activities the High Commission organised as part of this year's NAIDOC Week observance. 

The Papua New Guinea–Australia partnership is dynamic, multi-faceted and comprehensive.   Both nations are physically connected through shared maritime borders and joined through the rich cultures and history. The deepest commitment and longest lasting bond is through our people. On this month’s program, we feature the 30th Papua New Guinea-Australia Ministerial Forum and the launch of Australia’s Pacific Engagement VISA, a new permanent resident visa for participating countries across the Pacific and Timor-Leste. 

Australia is working with PNG to support its efforts to achieve sustainable growth and to lift the standard of living. In this edition, we look at some of the initiatives, aimed to foster growth and develop the economies of both PNG and Australia. Once such initiative is the Revolving Fund, a grants fund Australia is supporting in partnership with Mama Bank, that aims at boosting agricultural exports in PNG.

Australia and Papua New Guinea have a strong security partnership – in traditional areas of defence, policing, border and maritime security, and also non-traditional areas of cyber security, climate change, gender-based violence and critical infrastructure. Featured in this episode are Chief of Royal Australian Air Force, Air Marshal Robert Chipman, Chief of Royal New Zealand Air Force, Air Vice Marshal Darryn Webb, Australian Federal Police Assistant Commissioner, Jamie Strauss, and Australia’s Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology, Brendon Dowling.

March is a time to champion the power of women’s voices and drive positive changes.  This year’s UN IWD (International Women s Day) theme is ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’ or simply ‘Count her In’.   Gender inequality is a key global challenge and compounds the most pressing societal and economic challenges. No country can meet its potential without ensuring all its people have every opportunity to reach their full potential. Women and girls in all their diversity must be ‘counted in’.  In this episode we speak to Gender Adviser Kate Butcher and leading women in PNG’s Information and Communications Technology space about their roles and the promotion of gender equality.

Australia invests over $100 million per year in Papua New Guinea’s health sector, through bilateral, regional and global programs.  Australia does so to support the Government of PNG’s efforts to improve the health of its citizens, in line with the PNG National Health Plan, by focusing on three health outcomes:  improved prevention, detection, and response to emerging and existing high burden communicable disease and health security threats  improved rural primary health care through stronger health systems, including through better use of PNG’s own financial and human resources.  integrated family planning, HIV, and sexual and reproductive health services.  On this episode, we will hear from Australia’s Ambassador for Global Health, Dr Lucas de Toca and Professor William Pomat, Professor Moses Laman, and Dr Pamela Toliman from PNG IMR who discuss how PNG IMR is looking at health challenges across PNG, to develop practical solutions for improvements.

An educated population contributes to the economic and social development of a country. In this episode, we hear from the AHC Education team about how Australia is working with PNG through the Partnerships for Improving Education (PIE) Program to improve access, equity and student learning outcomes in the country. Partnerships for Improving Education works with the National Department of Education to address limitations and challenges faced in early grade education and ensure more children attend school, including girls and children with disabilities.