Australia’s support has been instrumental in establishing and strengthening decentralised clinical training sites, including the Mt Hagen Clinical School, enhancing its training capacity.
Recognising the critical importance of increased number of health care workers in improving service delivery, the PNG-Australia Partnership has played a key role in strengthening Papua New Guinea’s health workforce.
A key component of this support has been Australia's investment in advancing Information and Communication Technology (ICT) infrastructure to support remote learning and supervision at the clinical school.
These upgrades enable students to participate in lectures, grand rounds, and clinical supervision via online meetings, overcoming geographic barriers and strengthening connections with teaching faculty in Port Moresby.
Since July 2025, the Mt. Hagen Clinical School has trained its first cohort of six final-year Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) students.
Among them are students like Mr Johannes Panpan and Miss Darusilla Kanaiat, who recently completed maternal and child health rotations at the site.
Lecturer in Public Health and Rural Medicine and the Clinical Coordinator for MBBS Year 5, Dr. Gabriel Yohang, highlighted the importance of these placements.
“When students rotate through clinical schools like Hagen, they not only develop essential clinical skills but also become part of the local healthcare community. They support hospital staff by joining ward rounds, assisting with patient care, and administering medications, which benefits both the students and the community,” said Dr Yohang.
Australia’s ongoing support demonstrates a collaborative effort with PNG's government, health authorities and the new University of Medical Health Sciences (UMHS) to build sustainable health workforce capacity.
The initiative aims to produce well-equipped graduates who are more likely to serve in rural areas, contributing to improved health outcomes across PNG.
END
Trainee Medical Students with their supervisors, Dr Jameson Boas and Dr Francisca Kopune, Mt Hagen Clinical School.
For further information, including access to related materials, please contact the Australian High Commission media team: +675 7090 0100