An agreement between the governments of PNG and Australia will see around 2000 PNG students coming to Australia annually from next year to be trained in various fields. The aim is to develop human resources as skilled professionals in PNG, who will then take on the country’s development.
The agreement was reached during a recent PNG-Australian Ministerial Forum held in Brisbane. National Planning and District Development Minister Paul Tiensten said human resource development is a priority of the PNG Government in its 20 year development. He said since 2004, PNG’s economy had not grown consistently while its population increased.
Mr Tiensten said a gas commercialisation project and other industries like agriculture, manufacturing, mining, health, education, services textiles and hospitality had outstripped the country’s ability to supply skilled and trained professionals.
“The PNG Government is committed to send up to 2000 students annually to Australia after completing their grade 10 or 12 to be trained in various trades and professions,” he said.
UnitingWorld Associate Director (Pacific) Mr Bruce Mullan said it could be expected more than 200 of the students would be members of the Uniting Church’s PNG Partner Church the United Church in Papua New Guinea.
“We will have a pastoral responsibility to provide a church home and pastoral care for these young people during their time here in Australia,” Mr Mullan said.
