The Strongim Femili PNG program seeks to address the gap in human resources in family and sexual violence (FSV) services in Papua New Guinea, by providing training and development opportunities to Femili PNG (FPNG) personnel.
FemiliPNG Australia received ≈ AUD500,000 (1.1 million Kina) in funding from Newmont PNG for the Strongim Femili PNG program to go towards specialist training in leadership and management, mental health awareness and building team resilience in security-related crises for FPNG. Over 2023-24 every FPNG staff member had participated in at least one training course. For many staff members, this was the first opportunity they had to access formal training. By improving staff competencies and confidence, these initiatives have strengthened and enhanced organisational capability, leading to improved services that benefit not only the survivors but also their families and communities, fostering a safer and more supportive environment for all.
The benefits derived from these training courses have highlighted the importance of continued support for professional development within the FPNG. While FPNG is well known in Papua New Guinea for its FSV services, sustained training efforts are essential to embed key messages over time, allowing the organisation to gradually shift its policies and practices to better reflect new lessons learned and information received. Ongoing professional development ensures that staff remain well-equipped to address evolving challenges, and it fosters a culture of continuous improvement and adaptability. This commitment to long-term growth and learning will ensure that FPNG consistently provides high-quality, informed, and compassionate support to survivors, their families, and the broader community.
Training and staff feedback
Participant and trainer feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. The Strongim Femili PNG Program continues to be well received, and highly valued by Femili PNG. Here are some examples of the trainings given through the Strongim Femili PNG program and feedback from Femili PNG staff:
Management and leadership training.
Leadership and management training was organised for senior staff members and delivered by Papua New Guinea based management specialist, Peter Baran. When participants of the manager development workshop were asked what they wanted to get out of attending the workshop, many wanted to learn about good leadership practices, as well as time-management and task delegation duties. In the feedback provided, all participants agreed that this workshop had addressed their needs and helped to create a more conducive work culture.
The feedback collected from this training indicated a high degree of satisfaction with the training content presented and the learning opportunities given. It was recommended that the participants of this training participate in a follow-up workshop to assess the implementation of learnings.
Senior management training and coaching.
Senior management training and coaching was provided to Femili PNG senior management team and delivered by management specialists Dawn Casey and Sue Upton. Participants engaged in practical, hands-on activities which built conflict resolution skills. Femili PNG senior management were shown examples of how to navigate difficult conversations in the workplace with role-playing exercises. In the feedback provided, participants indicated they enjoyed this interactive form of learning. All left feeling more connected and in touch with their leadership team. Strengthening the leadership of FPNG will increase the capacity of the team to be able to continue with a high-quality of service provision.
I felt that I came out of it stronger. At first, I was nervous and scared and did not know what to learn and how to take part in it. I highly appreciate the skills and knowledge learnt and am sure that the skills will go a long way. Thank you!
– Femili PNG staff member.
Read more about the management and leadership training, and senior management training and coaching here.
Child protection training.
With a continued increase in the number of child clients seeking support, Femili PNG identified the need for child protection training to better support caseworkers. This year, Femili PNG staff members participated in child protection training at the Centre for Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse (CPTCSA) in the Philippines. Collaborating with partners outside of Papua New Guinea allowed staff to learn different approaches to case management and apply new knowledge in a culturally relevant manner.
Caseworkers who attended the training felt significantly more confident in handling child abuse and exploitation cases. They reported feeling better equipped to work with child clients and identified areas for improvement, such as working with perpetrators of violence and adopting trauma-sensitive approaches. Specific changes in their approach included an increased understanding of clients who drop out and return for assistance, and of the challenges faced by those seeking services.
Mental health first aid training.
Femili PNG caseworkers had identified a gap in Papua New Guinea regarding mental health awareness and were interested in participating in further workshops. The Cairnmillar Institute provided mental health first aid training to caseworkers and went through basic definitions of common mental-health issues, including identifying symptoms of depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The program then focused on the support systems which can be offered to those suffering with mental health issues, highlighting that as with FSV and SARV response, it’s important to take a survivor centred approach.
The course was informative and helpful. We always talk about Mental Health however we never really understand what it really means, and this course really helped me to understand it and how best I can assist survivors of Mental illness.
– Femili PNG case worker.
Read more about the Mental Health First Aid training here.
STOP Domestic Violence Conference Attendance
Two senior case workers attended the 2023 STOP Domestic Violence Conference in Hobart. The STOP Domestic Violence Conference is the largest attended family, domestic and sexual violence sector conference in Australia and New Zealand with over 400 professionals attending each year. Learnings from this conference included, cultivating a mentally resilient workforce, domestic violence is a global issue affecting everyone regardless of their gender, improving access to services, and FPNG is publicly known of its services.
FemiliPNG Australia greatly appreciates the valuable contribution of Newmont PNG to the Strongim Femili PNG Program.
We would also like to thank all the training facilitators who supported the Strongim Femili PNG project, including:
Cairnmillar Institute
Andrew Cunningham
Dawn Casey Management
Center for the Prevention and Treatment of Child Sexual Abuse (CPTCSA)
