Bringing care closer to survivors of violence in Southern Highlands

Rural health workers during specialist training at the Family Support Centre, Mendi Provincial Hospital. A total of 40 nurses from five districts across Southern Highlands Province completed the three training cohorts, strengthening access to timely care and referrals for survivors of sexual and gender-based violence.

MORE survivors of sexual and gender-based violence in Southern Highlands Province are coming forward for treatment, with stronger medical reporting to support police investigations, following specialist training for rural health workers.

Under the Australia–Papua New Guinea Law and Justice Partnership, 40 rural health workers from five districts have been trained to provide medical care, counselling and referrals for survivors of sexual, gender-based, and sorcery accusation-related violence. The training is helping bring life-saving care closer to remote communities, where fast access to treatment can make a critical difference.

Family Support Centre nurse unit manager Sr Mary Balupa, who initiated the training, said training rural nurses was helping close a critical gap in access to care for survivors of violence.

“Many women and girls in our rural communities cannot access services in town because of distance and other barriers. By training rural nurses, we are making sure survivors can receive treatment within the first 72 hours, when care can help prevent HIV, unwanted pregnancy and sexually transmitted infections,” she said.

Sr Mary said training frontline health workers was only one part of a broader effort to end violence. 

“We cannot end violence alone. It takes health workers, police, churches, community leaders, men and women working together to address the causes of violence, support survivors and encourage people to seek help early. More awareness is still needed so survivors know services are available and feel safe accessing them.”

Participants receive certificates after completing specialist training on the clinical management and referral of survivors of sexual and gender-based violence at the Family Support Centre, Mendi Provincial Hospital.

The training was delivered in three rounds between March and May at Mendi Provincial Hospital's Family Support Centre. Since completing the training, health workers have begun sharing monthly case reports through a peer support network to improve referrals, strengthen follow-up care and monitor the number of survivors accessing services.

Australia is proud to partner with PNG to strengthen frontline health and justice services, helping ensure survivors of violence can access timely care closer to home while supporting a stronger, more coordinated response to gender-based violence. The Australia–PNG Law and Justice Partnership is a PNG law and justice sector-led initiative, with programs identified through the National Coordinating Mechanism and delivered in partnership with sector agencies.