A new partnership between the Australian Government and Newcrest Mining Limited has been launched to improve maternal healthcare with the availability of qualified and trained midwives in New Ireland and Morobe Provinces. Midwives will be supported through the Australia Awards Scholarship program in Papua New Guinea.
Under this partnership, four scholarships have been awarded to nurses from these two provinces to study midwifery at the St Mary’s School of Nursing in Kokopo, East New Britain and at the Pacific Adventist University in the National Capital District.
Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis, said these awards are a great example of the public and private sectors collaborating for enhancement of progress toward Papua New Guinea’s social development and economic objectives.
“Government-private sector partnerships, such as with Newcrest Mining Limited, and linkages between Australian and Papua New Guinea institutions, reflect how public-private sector cooperation can help advance development priorities including maternal and child health,” he said.
Peter Aitsi, Newcrest Mining Limited PNG Country Manager, said Newcrest is pleased to partner with the Australian Government to provide funding that supports added capability in the regional maternal health sector in Papua New Guinea.
“It is part of our strategy as a development partner in PNG that this investment will build on the local health services contributions we make where we operate, and help further lay the foundation for greater birthing support in provincial communities. In turn, this contributes to a stronger national health workforce that benefits all of PNG.”
The Australia Awards-Newcrest Mining Limited scholarships will cover the costs of tuition and boarding, travel, and medical insurance.
For more information about the Australia Awards Papua New Guinea program please visit: http://www.australiaawardspng.org/
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100
Australian High Commissioner Bruce Davis and Newcrest Mining Limited PNG Country Manager Peter Aitsi launching the partnership.