Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea

04/08/2026

Leaders from across the Pacific, including Papua New Guinea, have joined Australian First Nations people on country in the Northern Territory at the annual gathering of storytelling, sharing experiences and celebrating culture and tradition at the annual Garma Festival.

The Festival is Australia’s largest Indigenous cultural gathering. Hosted by Yolngu clans and families in remote Northeast Arnhem Land, it provided a meeting place for a unique and authentic experience for invited delegates from Republic of Marshall Islands, Palau, Tonga, Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Fiji, PNG, Vanuatu and Timor Leste. Hon. KEITH IDUHU, MP-Member for Hiri-Koiari, attended from PNG.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong - Senator for SA and Assistant Minister for Pacific Island Affairs Nita Green - Senator for Queensland met with delegates and discussed common challenges and opportunities across Northern Australia and the Pacific, including climate change impacts.

The unique connections between the First Peoples of our lands and waters and the peoples of the Blue Pacific stretch back through time.

We share histories, cultures and familial ties.

By incorporating First Nations knowledges, world views and shared stories, we contribute to building a peaceful, stable, prosperous and unified Pacific.

Garma Festival

04/08/2026

Progress is moving ahead at Bomana Correctional Institution. Key infrastructure upgrades are one step closer, with PNG Correctional Service (PNGCS) reviewing concepts for four priority projects that will strengthen operations and improve conditions at the facility.

Through the Australia–Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership, the improvements include:

✅ A new administration office
✅ A solar backup power system
✅ A new 40-bed women's dormitory
✅ Upgraded women's ablution facilities

These investments will enhance security, boost operational capacity, improve essential services, and provide safer, more appropriate facilities for women in custody.

The projects are part of Australia's ongoing partnership with PNGCS to strengthen correctional services nationwide through infrastructure upgrades, security improvements, leadership development, technical assistance, and capacity building.

Together, Australia and PNGCS are working to build safer, more effective correctional facilities that support rehabilitation outcomes and contribute to a stronger law and justice system for Papua New Guinea. 🇵🇬🤝🇦🇺

04/08/2026

03/08/2026

As Team PNG wraps up their Commonwealth Games campaign, we congratulate all the athletes and officials on their amazing achievements in Glasgow. Your dedication, professionalism, and positive spirit throughout the Games have made Papua New Guinea proud.

As we celebrate a successful Glasgow 2026, we also look forward to continuing our support for PNG’s athletes through PacificAus Sports as they prepare for future international competitions, including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic and Paralympic Games.

Well done team!

03/08/2026

Through the , Australia is partnering with the government of PNG and the Autonomous Bougainville Government to keep communities connected through better roads.

More than 300,000 people across Bougainville are benefiting from ongoing road maintenance and infrastructure works that support local economic activities.

Australia is proud to work alongside PNG and Bougainville partners to maintain and improve these vital transport links.

03/08/2026

Congratulations to the Government of Papua New Guinea on the launch of its new National Parliament website.

The website was developed with support from the UNDP in Papua New Guinea through the Australian Government funded Strengthening PNG’s Parliament Project.

Australia is proud to partner with Papua New Guinea and remains committed to supporting and strengthening democratic institutions that are transparent, effective, and responsive to the needs of the people.

03/08/2026

Australia and Papua New Guinea are working together to strengthen secondary education across Papua New Guinea.

The launch of the Papua New Guinea Secondary Education Program (PNG SEP) marks the beginning of a transformative three-year initiative supported by the Australian Government.

The program will help improve classroom teaching, strengthen school leadership, enhance student wellbeing, expand digital learning opportunities, support infrastructure improvements and foster lasting partnerships between Papua New Guinea and Australia.

Following extensive consultations with schools across the country, the program is already delivering support through textbook distribution and school-based professional learning, with more activities set to roll out in the coming months.

A shared commitment, a shared vision, and a stronger future for PNG's young people. 🇵🇬✨

02/08/2026

🇦🇺🤝🇵🇬 Australian High Commissioner to Papua New Guinea, His Excellency Ewen McDonald, joined Prime Minister James Marape on a visit to Hela Province last week.

The visit included stops in Komo and Tari, where they met local leaders, public servants, teachers, business representatives, workers, and community members, and visited schools, essential infrastructure and the PNG LNG Project facility at Nogoli.

At a meeting with the Hela Provincial Administration and Tari-Pori District Administration, High Commissioner McDonald commended ongoing efforts to strengthen professionalism and public service delivery, reaffirming Australia's commitment to working alongside PNG to support development outcomes that improve people's lives.

Reflecting on the visit, Mr McDonald said he felt fortunate to experience life in Hela firsthand and was deeply touched by the hospitality and warmth of local communities.

"From its natural beauty and rich biodiversity to its tourism opportunities and economic prospects. It was a privilege to hear directly from community leaders, teachers, business owners and local residents about their place and aspirations for the province."

02/08/2026

Better roads create prosperous communities.

Communities along the Kokoda Highway in Oro Province are a step closer to improved transport access.

Through the , the Department of Works and Highways (DoWH) with the Oro Provincial Government and the Australian Government marked the commencement of the Kokoda Highway Scoping Study Project along a 42-kilometre section from Embara Bridge to Fala Bridge.

The Kokoda Highway is a vital transport link connecting communities to markets, health care and education, and Oro’s tourism industry through the internationally recognised Kokoda Trail.

Australia continues to work with PNG to connect communities, strengthen local businesses and tourism, and create opportunities for people living along the Kokoda Highway corridor.

01/08/2026

Connections built through education last a lifetime.

Australia Awards PNG hosted an Alumni Networking Event with Australian Universities in Port Moresby, bringing together Australia Awards alumni, government representatives, Australian university partners and development stakeholders.

The event brought together alumni with representatives from Australian universities participating in the Study Australia Education Roadshow, fostering new connections, strengthening professional networks and highlighting the strong people-to-people connections and enduring partnerships built through Australian education.

Australia Awards alumni continue to make significant contributions across PNG in government, business, education, health and community development.

Their expertise, leadership and commitment to service are helping to drive positive change and deepen the enduring people-to-people links that underpin the partnership.

Australia is proud to support education, leadership and enduring partnerships through Awards.