Australia has reinforced its support for disaster preparedness and resilience in Papua New Guinea through the handover of specialist earthquake monitoring equipment under the LaeShakeAware project. The equipment was transported from Australia aboard Australian Defence Vessel (ADV) Reliant and formally handed over during an event at Lae Port on Saturday 7 August.
The equipment will strengthen Papua New Guinea’s capacity to understand, monitor and respond to earthquake hazards, supporting faster access to earthquake information and improved situational awareness for decision-makers in Morobe Province and beyond.
LaeShakeAware is funded by the Australian Government through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and led by Geoscience Australia in partnership with the Papua New Guinea University of Technology (PNGUoT), the Mineral Resources Authority, the Morobe Provincial Disaster Office and local communities. The project is designed to strengthen earthquake monitoring, disaster preparedness and community safety across Morobe Province.
Australia’s Consul-General in Lae, Mr Brenton Kanowski said the handover demonstrates Australia's commitment to working alongside Papua New Guinea to strengthen resilience against natural hazards and support locally led solutions.
“Papua New Guinea is one of the most seismically active countries in the world. Through LaeShakeAware, Australia is supporting PNG institutions and communities with the tools, knowledge and partnerships needed to better understand earthquake risk and respond effectively when disasters occur.”
The new equipment will contribute to a community-based seismic monitoring network, helping provide more timely local information following earthquake events and enabling disaster managers to better understand impacts and prioritise assistance.
Vice Chancellor of the Papua New Guinea University of Technology Professor Ora Rengai OL OBE welcomed the handover.
“This LaeShakeAware initiative demonstrates what can be achieved when universities, government agencies, communities and technical partners work together,” he said.
“We thank the Australian Government for this equipment, which will strengthen our research and monitoring capabilities, support the development of future PNG scientists, and help ensure that scientific information can be translated into practical action that benefits communities.”
The handover forms part of Australia's broader support to Papua New Guinea through Geoscience Australia, which works closely with PNG institutions to strengthen disaster risk management, build local technical capability and improve access to scientific information that supports community safety and resilience.
ADV Reliant's visit to Lae follows the recent arrival of HMAS Leeuwin, which is also in Lae supporting joint Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) activities. Together, these engagements highlight Australia's enduring commitment to practical cooperation with Papua New Guinea across disaster preparedness, capability development, security and resilience.
Australia and Papua New Guinea share a long-standing partnership focused on supporting stronger institutions, safer communities and a more resilient future. The LaeShakeAware project reflects that shared commitment by connecting science, data, decision-making and communities to help reduce disaster risk and strengthen preparedness.
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Australian Defence Personnel and Government Officials, Papua New Guniea Government officials and academics from Papua New Guines University of Technology infront of seismic requpment delivered by ADV Reliant in Lae, Papua New Guinea.
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