The Goroka Outpost connects survivors of family and sexual violence (FSV) and sorcery accusation related violence (SARV) in the Eastern Highlands to survivor-centred integrated case management services. In 2023-24 FemiliPNG Australia received AUD277,000 in funding from the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) for Femili PNG’s Goroka Outpost project.
Over the past year, 5,672 people attended 45 outreach sessions, conducted by the Goroka Outpost team (approximately 58 percent of attendees were women) to raise awareness of FSV and the support services available to the community. Due to the complex nature of providing appropriate FSV and SARV support, clients may require multiple types of services; this year 124 clients have received a total of 1,933 services. Services available to clients include (but not limited to) basic needs, safe accommodation services, counselling, legal advice and assistance, medical assistance, and transportation.
To ensure a ‘do no harm’ approach, the Goroka Outpost (and all other Femili PNG services) implement several key strategies. Firstly, case workers are trained in gender-sensitive case management, ensuring that they can recognise and respond to the specific needs of different genders without reinforcing harmful stereotypes. This year, 102 women (13 of these women live with a disability) accessed case management services from the Femili PNG Goroka Outpost. Secondly, our case management centres adopt strict confidentiality protocols and survivor-centred practices, prioritising the safety and autonomy of those seeking help. We seek client feedback to identify and mitigate and unintended negative consequences, ensuring that the interventions did not inadvertently put survivors or their families at greater risk. This year, 11 survivors were interviewed to seek their feedback on their satisfaction with Femili PNG service providers. The average satisfaction with Femili PNG Goroka Outpost was 5.0 (out of 5).
Learning in 2023-24
Building strong relationships for cases of sorcery accusation-related violence (SARV)
Accusations of sorcery often arise in response to events such as illness or death, and they can lead to severe violence, targeting those perceived as responsible. While sorcery beliefs are a part of the cultural landscape, the violence that sometimes results from these beliefs poses a major challenge to the safety and wellbeing of those involved. Supporting survivors of SARV is complex as SARV cases often involve multiple people, or entire communities targeting a single family. This complexity overwhelms the police as they do not have the resources to handle cases with numerous people, leading to significant delays and difficulties in case resolution.
One of the key lessons the Goroka team have learned is the importance of fostering strong relationships and collaboration with other non-government organisations (NGOs), government service providers and partners. Addressing the complexity of SARV cases and limited resources with a collaborative effort to build capacity, improve communication, and strengthen partnerships to ensure that survivors receive the comprehensive support they need.
In April 2024 a new Program Manager started with the Goroka Outpost who has supported the establishment of new relationships and maintaining effective partnerships with NGOs, government service providers and partners. These efforts to build strong relationships within the referral network have paid off tremendously. In 2023-24 Goroka Outpost staff facilitated case conferences involving multiple partners including police, the prosecutor’s office and village court representatives. Persistent advocacy and coordination by Goroka Outpost staff ensured that cases received attention from appropriate legal and judicial bodies, and perpetrators of the violence were held accountable, whilst keeping survivors supported during the process
Staff self-care and mental health
Working in the field of FSV and SARV can be emotionally and mentally distressing. Historically, there has been a culture of resilience where service providers are expected to “tough it out” without asking for help. However, as mental health conversations become more mainstream, it is essential to focus on the well-being of those doing this critical, emotionally taxing work. In the past, this need was often framed as “self-care”, placing the burden on individuals. Femili PNG’s approach shifts that responsibility to the employer, ensuring staff are equipped with the tools they need to succeed, thrive, and remain in the sector long-term.
In 2023-24 (through funding from other projects including Strongim Femili PNG), Goroka Outpost project staff attended mental health first aid courses. These courses equip project staff with the skills needed to manage the emotional and psychological toll of their work. Thus fostering a healthier and more resilient workforce, ensuring that staff are able to cope with the daily challenges of working in a high-stress environment.
FemiliPNG Australia acknowledges the valuable contribution of the Australian Government’s Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP) to the Goroka Outpost. FemiliPNG Australia has committed five years of ANCP funding to supporting the Outpost, 2023-2024 was the third year of the project.
We welcome your contribution to this important work. Please donate today! Every donation you make to this project will be combined with funding from the Australian Government to reach more people. We have committed to contribute $1 for every $5 we receive from the Australian government.
Mundango Abroad, a private ancillary fund, is a long-time supporter of Femili PNG and FemiliPNG Australia. In 2023-24, Mundango Abroad’s donation was used to support the Goroka Outpost.
We thank them for their continued support!
