As close friends and neighbours with a rich shared history, it is in our mutual interest to expand and deepen ties at all levels of our societies. We will work with the PNG Government to create more opportunities for our people to travel in both directions – including to work and do business – and we will foster links between our peoples through a range of institutional partnerships, education and cultural exchanges, and sport. Our support for expanded ties with PNG will focus on:
- Individual Linkages: building and maintaining positive people-to-people and community relationships, networks and linkages between Papua New Guineans and Australians living in PNG and Australia.
- Institutional Linkages: maintaining partnerships of mutual strategic benefit between PNG and Australian institutions.
We will foster stronger links between First Nations Australians and PNG, building on a shared history that continues today through the Torres Strait Treaty. By leveraging these shared cultural ties, we will design programs that are more inclusive and responsive to the needs of both PNG and First Nations Australian communities. In recognition of the enduring people-to-people links to Kokoda, the Australian and PNG Governments are committed to protecting the Kokoda Track for future generations.
We will increase PNG's participation in the PALM scheme to address gaps in Australia's labour force and deliver jobs for PNG workers. The Pacific Engagement Visa (PEV) will encourage greater cultural, business, and educational exchange, while also growing PNG's diaspora in Australia. We are committed to maintaining partnerships of mutual strategic benefit between PNG and Australian institutions. Through the PNG Institutional Partnerships Program (PIPP) we will strengthen our government-to-government institutional relationships. We also remain committed to supporting volunteers through the Australian Volunteers Program, and our Australia Awards in PNG Program will support Papua New Guineans to advance their professional and academic skills through tertiary study in Australia and PNG.
Our sports for development program, Team Up, supports Papua New Guinean women and girls, and people with a disability, to benefit from participation in safe, inclusive and accessible sport programs. Through PacificAus Sports, we have created opportunities for Papua New Guinean athletes, coaches, officials and administrators to access high performance training and elite competition across rugby league, rugby union, netball, football, AFL, cricket, tennis, basketball and Olympic & Paralympic sports. We are also partnering with the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) to deepen our connections through rugby league. The investment will support the PNG Chiefs to enter Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) competition in 2028 and develop pathways for girls and boys, and women and men to play rugby league from grassroots to the elite level.
Recognising PNG's importance as a leading Pacific voice at multilateral fora, we will continue to support PNG to strengthen its engagement at PIF, APEC, UN and other regional and international forums.
Related link
Australia-PNG Development Partnership Plan 2024-2029
PNG Institutional Partnerships Program (PIPP)
The PNG Institutional Partnerships Program (PIPP) builds on the successes of the Institutional Partnerships Program (2017-2022) to support the development of long-term institutional relationships between Australian and PNG government entities.
The program (an investment of $52 million over 2022-26) funds a broad range of capacity development support and activities which contribute to the objective of a strong and durable economic and strategic partnership between Australia and Papua New Guinea.
Related documents
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Evaluation of the Papua New Guinea Institutional Partnerships Program – Phase 1 | 2020 | Evaluation |
| DFAT Management Response to the Evaluation of the Papua New Guinea Institutional Partnerships Program – Phase 1 | 2020 | Management Response |
| Papua New Guinea Institutional Partnership Program (PIPP) - Independent Mid-Term Review - evaluation report and management response | 2025 | Evaluation and Management Response |
Australia Awards Papua New Guinea
Australia Awards PNG (AAPNG, (2023-33) is a 10 year, $298 million investment in supporting Papua New Guinea's future leaders and higher education institutions.
Australia Awards scholarships are prestigious international awards offered by the Australian Government to the next generation of global leaders for development. Through study and research, awardees develop the skills and knowledge to drive change by building a pipeline of skilled professionals and leaders to contribute to PNG's economic and social development. This will also help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia.
AAPNG offers scholarships for study in Australia and PNG, as well as several short courses, with the aim of building a qualified workforce, filling human resource gaps and supporting good leadership. Since 2011, Australia has awarded over 6,000 Australia Awards Scholarships to Papua New Guineans. AAPNG supports Australia Awards alumni to continue their professional development and maintain connections with each other and Australian institutions and people.
Through a Higher Education Partnership, AAPNG also works to strengthen the capacity of the higher education sector in PNG to produce quality in-demand graduates and supports PNG and Australia institution-to-institution partnerships and collaborations.
Related documents
| Name of document | Year published | Type |
|---|---|---|
| Australia Awards PNG Review Report | 2021 | Review and management response |
| Australia Awards In-Country Scholarships: review and management response | 2017 | Review and management response |
More information, including applicant eligibility criteria
Kokoda Initiative Partnership (KIP)
The Australian Government's support to the Kokoda Track and surrounding areas is delivered through the DFAT-funded ($5 million annually from 2022-26) Kokoda Initiative Partnership (KIP). The KIP is managed by DFAT and has a three pillared approach: Track, People, Environment. The KIP aims to improve communities through governance, development and livelihoods initiatives, including harnessing the benefits from trekking groups and tourism. The KIP reflects the strong commitment of both governments to:
- enhance the quality of life of communities living along the track
- protect the environmental and cultural values of the track
- keep the track open and well managed.
Related link
Kokoda Initiative Program website
Western Province Partnership
Through the Western Province Partnership ($52.5 million 2023–26) we work with the PNG Government and the Western Provincial Administration to improve human and economic development, infrastructure, trade, and security. The program supports the PNG-Australia Western Province Strategy that was launched on 7 December 2022.
The Western Province Partnership has the following objectives:
- Women and men participating in program investments have diversified livelihoods from agriculture and fisheries.
- Improved community governance strengthens welfare, production, and resilience in targeted communities.
- Women contribute to decision-making and take on leadership roles in targeted provincial, district, and community structures.
- Policy and practice at provincial and district levels support delivery of minimum priority services.
Related link
Western Province Strategy [PDF]
PNG NRL Partnership
Through partnership with the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC), the establishment of a PNG team, the Chiefs, in the NRL is a significant symbol of Australia’s contemporary partnership with PNG. This partnership reflects our shared history and future and strengthens people-to-people links.
This partnership builds on existing Australian Government investments in sports across the Pacific and will deliver significant economic benefits to both Australia and PNG, through investment in new infrastructure and tourism sectors.
Team Up
Team Up is an Australian Government sport for development program supporting partnerships across the Pacific that uses sport to bring people together, champion inclusion and create opportunity. The program is particularly focused on attracting women, girls and people with disability to sports, and ensuring that sports organisations are safe, inclusive and accessible.
Related link
PacificAus Sports
PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions and access high performance coaching in Australia and internationally. The program creates new opportunities for athletes, coaches and administrators to train, play and grow together. Through collaborative and ambitious partnerships with Australian national sporting organisations, PacificAus Sports drives success for high performance sport in the Pacific, unlocking the potential of a new generation of sporting champions.
Related Link
Defence Cooperation Program
Australia and PNG recognise the shared security challenges we face as close neighbours and Pacific family. Our defence relationship is based on longstanding historical ties, intertwined security interests, deep interpersonal links and shared democratic values. On 6 October 2025 Prime Minister Albanese and PNG Prime Minister Marape signed the PNG-Australia Mutual Defence Treaty, known as the Pukpuk Treaty, elevating our defence relationship to an Alliance. The Alliance demonstrates Australia’s commitment to ensuring the Pacific remains peaceful, stable and prosperous. Defence's engagement in PNG focuses on strengthening and advancing our 50-year strong Defence Cooperation Program (DCP). The DCP with PNG is our largest and is emblematic of the positive relationship that exists between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF). The DCP works with PNG to build capability, interoperability and capacity in the PNGDF Air, Maritime and Land Elements and enhance PNGDF infrastructure. Other engagement activities include working with PNG to build capacity within the PNG Department of Defence and working together on Humanitarian and Disaster Relief (HADR) responses.
Related links
Australian Volunteers Program
The Australian Volunteers Program matches skilled Australians with partner organisations in Papua New Guinea, to support them to achieve their development goals. It allows volunteers to build meaningful relationships and share cultural knowledge with everyday Papua New Guineans.
For more information, including current opportunities, see the Australian Volunteers website.