Australia has expanded support to women and girls, including improved monitoring of the increased impacts on women and families during the crisis and better response mechanisms. This includes the Australian Humanitarian Partnerships Program to help Tonga build resilience to future disasters, with a focus on the protection, empowerment and inclusion of women and girls, and other at-risk groups. We are providing expanded support to communities to help them prepare for and manage the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19, including for families of workers under the Seasonal Workers Programme and the Pacific Labour Scheme whose deployments to Australia were extended due to COVID-19. Our partnerships support community compliance with physical distancing measures and supplement Tonga’s management of quarantine and repatriation arrangements. This complements our longstanding support to enhance the capability of His Majesty’s Armed Forces in Tonga, deliver the Pacific Maritime Security Program and mitigate the impact of malicious cyber activity.

Related initiatives

Australia Awards

$3 million annually through Australia Awards and Australia Awards for the Pacific

The Australia Awards in Tonga helps to promote prosperity, reduce poverty, and enhance political stability through scholarships for Tongan tertiary students. Women, people with disability and other marginalised groups are strongly encouraged to apply and undertake study, research and professional development in Australia and in the Pacific. The skills and knowledge they derive will drive change and help build enduring people-to-people links with Australia. Additional information can be found on the Australia Awards website.

Related documents

Disaster Preparedness

$3 million for Humanitarian Disaster Response, 2021-2022

Emergency relief and medical supplies in response to the Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami. Support including shelter materials, water and sanitation supplies, COVID-19 health supplies, equipment to restore communications and personal protective equipment.

$16 million package to support Tonga’s long-term reconstruction, 2021 -2025

In addition to the $3 million for relief efforts, a $16 million package to support Tonga’s long-term reconstruction and recovery from the Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami. This support is aligned to the Government of Tonga’s Hunga Tonga – Hunga Ha’apai Volcanic Eruption and Tsunami Disaster Recovery and Resilience Building Plan 2022-2025. The package will support sustainable economic recovery by supporting the rebuilding of critical infrastructure including telecommunications, livelihoods, and key government services. The package also supports Tonga’s health system to respond to the challenges of COVID-19.

Support for Non-Government Organisations through the Australian Humanitarian Partnerships Program (AHP) is also part of the package. This will focus on the protection, empowerment and inclusion of women and girls, and other at-risk groups and help to ensure women, girls and other at-risk people impacted by the Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and COVID-19 have better access to essential services.