AUSTRALIA REAFFIRMS ITS COMMITMENT TO DISABILITY IN PNG

Cathy Smith is supported by First Lady Linda Babao patron of the Papua New Guinea Assembly of Disabled Persons (PNGADP)

Cathy Smith is now a distinguished florist from Chimbu who supplies most of Port Moresby’s flower vendors. Over a year ago, Cathy’s life was in tatters, her husband lost a leg to diabetes not long after her daughter became mentally and physically challenged following a severe attack of meningitis.

“I felt all my dreams were shattered and life became useless. My husband had been our family’s only breadwinner; how could I care for my husband, daughter and provide for my family? How could I carry my husband- an adult -to places and things he wanted to do and see? It wasn’t until Cheshire Disability Services came to my aid through their Community Rehabilitation Program that I was able to help my husband get a wheelchair and have access to the training, knowledge and support to care for my husband and daughter and slowly rebuild our lives.”

Cathy is a care givers of persons with disability that the Cheshire Disability Services is helping to achieve economic and social change. The organisation's efforts have been fortified more than ever before to reach others through a grant from the Australian government funded program  Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen program.

At the organisation's International Day of Persons with Disabilities celebration on December 3, Cathy and others spoke of how much their lives have changed through the support of donors like the Australian Government and others from the private sector.

The event was attended by First Lady Linda Babao, wife of Prime Minister for Papua New Guinea and patron of the Papua New Guinea Assembly of Disabled Persons (PNGADP), representatives from the Australian High Commission, the United Nations and the private sector. The day, showcasing the abilities of people living with disabilities were celebrated through songs, performances and the sharing of life stories.

Celebrations also included the graduation of 14 children from the Cheshire early learning centre which provides integrated early childhood education for children with and without disability.

The celebration was opened by James Hall, Minister Councillor at the Australian High Commission, who reaffirmed Australia’s commitment to supporting a strong network of Disabled Persons Organisations in the country.

He said that the Australian High Commission has been working with a number of organisations to end the cycle of poverty for people living with disability.

The Australian Government, working through the SPSN program, has partnered with a number of organisations, including:

          Cheshire Disability Ser­vices to facilitate awareness sessions 
          and training for community-based  rehabilita­tion volunteers, 
          community leaders and other partners;

          The Department for Community Development and Religion 
          for their important task in implementing the United Nations 
          Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities, and 
          reviewing the PNG National Disability Policy;

          PNGADP to build advocacy efforts for the rights of people 
          with disability in PNG; and

          National Board for Disabled Persons and the National Orthotic 
          and Prosthetic Service to provide 27,000 assistive devices to 
          more 20,000 persons with disability.  

Australia has provided over  AU$ 0.5 million for community grants to disabled persons organisations and community based groups assisting people with disability. These grants support income generation skills and activities to enable persons with disability to be self-reliant in their communities.

“An area that I am particularly passionate about is ensuring that children with disability have equal access to a full education. Children are our future citizens, educators, parents, business people and lawmakers. We know that people with disability worldwide are great thinkers and contribute much to society - PNG is no exception. We also know that children and young people with disability have their own ideas of what they would like to do with their lives and they are entitled to realise them.” Mr Hall said. 

          The Australian Government through SPSN is also 
          committed to ensuring all young people in PNG 
          receive a quality education by funding the National 
          Callan Services Unit to support improvements in the 
          education sector through: 

          in-service training for teachers in inclusive education, 
          as well as funding a volunteer to facilitate and re-write 
          course curriculum materials for a two year inclusive 
          education diploma;

          training of teachers in how to identify children with 
          hearing impairments and implement culturally 
          appropriate interventions;

          and the management of Special Education Resource 
          Centres that support children with disability.

In total the Australian Government funds disability programs to the tune of PGK6.4 million, which has breathed new life into the PNG disability movement and opened doors to new and stronger partnerships between government departments, international agencies and non-government organisations. This has reinvigorated advocacy and service delivery throughout the sector.



Mobility impaired student Kerry Kawowo joined her special education class to perform a pacific dance on the day.