Development assistance in Papua New Guinea
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 programs in PNG, under Team Up, support women and girls, and people with a disability, to benefit from participation in safe, inclusive and accessible sport programs. Through PacificAus Sports, we partner with Australian sports organisations to support a range of Pacific sports, including rugby league, rugby union, netball, football, AFL, cricket and Olympic/Paralympic sports, with funding split evenly between women and men.
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 |
Australia Awards Papua New Guinea
Australia Awards scholarships provide greater access to Papua New Guineans to advance their professional and academic skills through tertiary study both in Australia and PNG. PNG sees the tangible benefits of the Australia Awards, with alumni holding leadership positions in PNG's public service and working as senior managers, business owners, health workers and teachers.
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
- Australia Awards in Papua New Guinea
- Australia Awards PNG
- Information for PNG Applicants
- Global Australia Awards Program
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
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 maritime nations. Defence's engagement in PNG focuses on strengthening and advancing our longstanding and broad Defence Cooperation Program (DCP). Through the DCP, Australia continues to build the breadth and depth of our enduring Defence partnership.
The DCP with PNG is also our largest globally and is emblematic of the long-standing and positive relationship that exists between the Australian Defence Force (ADF) and the PNG Defence Force (PNGDF). The DCP supports the PNGDF across operations, infrastructure and equipment and assisted with PNG's response to COVID-19.
Other engagement activities include building sustainable capability, expanding our maritime security partnership and continuing our joint work on the Lombrum Naval Base.
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.