Australian Indigenous leaders link with local PNG groups
16 November 2009
Today, a team of eight Australian Indigenous women leaders
commenced their first community visit as part of a10-day tour to
Papua New Guinea through the Indigenous Women's Leadership
Tour.
Today, a team of eight Australian Indigenous women leaders
commenced their first community visit as part of a10-day tour to
Papua New Guinea through the Indigenous Women's Leadership
Tour.
An initiative of the Australian Government's Department of
Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
(FaHCSIA) and Australian Volunteers International, the tour aims to
develop the leadership skills of the eight participants through a
range of grassroots, community and education meetings and
activities with local PNG community groups.
The Indigenous Australians will meet local PNG women leaders
from groups including Anglicare StopAIDs in Port Moresby, Susu
Mamas - a women's focal group in Mt Hagen, Chimbu Resource Centre
in 9 Mile and the Western Highlands Women's Rural Empowerment
Group.
"Issues around law and justice, gender, domestic violence health
and community development models will be the topics of discussion
throughout the tour," said AVI Project Manager Carole Howlett.
"The Indigenous Women's Leadership Tour is a real opportunity
for these community leaders to learn from others and identify ways
to apply their experiences in their own communities back in
Australia."
Participants represent different community development
organisations and Indigenous communities from around Australia
including Mavis Daganbarr from Elcho Island in the Northern
Territory, Pat (Mamanyjun) from Cable Beach in Western Australia
and Maryanne Brown from Lismore in New South Wales.
The tour, which runs from 13 November to 23 November 2009 is an
activity of FaHCSIA's Women's Leadership program and indigenous
community engagement strategy. The eight women were selected from a
number of participants involved in FaHCSIA's Indigenous Women's
Leadership program.
For more information about FaHCSIA go to www.facsia.gov.au or
Australian Volunteers International visit www.australianvolunteers.com.
- Ends -
For more information or to organise interviews and
photos with tour participants, the AVI Project Manager, Carole
Howlett or FaHCSIA Project Manager Jacqui Pearce currently in PNG
contact:
Christine Crosby, Marketing and Communications
Australian Volunteers International,
Phone: +61 (0)3 9279 1763
Photo: Butterfly_PNG_ChristineHarris_160x110.jpg