Congratulations to Connor Watson - a key new signing for the PNG Chiefs - adding experience, versatility and leadership to the club’s inaugural roster.
A proud Indigenous Australian and Gamilaroi man, Watson has played more than 150 NRL matches for the Sydney Roosters and the Newcastle Knights and five caps for the NSW Blues, earning a reputation as one of the competition’s most reliable, adaptable, and versatile players.
Watson has already spent some time in PNG, walking the Kokoda Track in late 2025 with Sydney Roosters teammates and visiting Port Moresby in May this year with his partner Kiana, where they both caught a SP PNG Hunters game!
We can’t wait to watch you play for the PNG Chiefs!
Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea
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Welcome to the official page of The Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea. Follow this page to stay up to date with PNG-Aus Partnership news.
Papua New Guinea and Australia are close friends and partners. We share a border, close community and professional ties, a love of sport and community, an entrepreneurial spirit and the desire to see our cultures preserved and celebrated. As true partners and good friends, we work together to find solutions to the challenges we face. We lend a hand to each other in times of need. We have worked to
02/06/2026
Australia is supporting Papua New Guinea women researchers to elevate the overall research output of Papua New Guinea.
Twelve women researchers from Lae are travelling to Melbourne, Australia, to undertake advanced research training and mentorship at the RMIT University (RMIT) under an initiative aimed at strengthening women’s research leadership.
This is supported through the , “Strongim Risets Kapasiti Bilong Ol Meri” project.
The four-week placement will give participants the opportunity to work alongside Australian researchers and academic mentors while expanding their professional networks with leading Australian institutions.
This initiative reflects Australia’s commitment to supporting women researchers, strengthen higher education partnerships and advance research capacity in PNG across sectors including agriculture, education, economics and community development.
Australian Consulate-General, Lae
For more than 20 years, Papua New Guinea’s churches and Australia have worked side by side to help build a stronger, more resilient future.
On 21 May, church leaders from across PNG joined High Commissioner and Special Envoy for the Pacific, Mr Ewen McDonald, at the Australian High Commission to celebrate this enduring partnership, grounded in faith, unity, and a shared commitment to communities.
Through the Church Partnership Program, PNG’s churches are reaching people where it matters most, delivering vital services from education and healthcare to peacebuilding and inclusion in communities right across the country.
We are proud of this longstanding partnership and the difference it continues to make in the lives of Papua New Guineans.
01/06/2026
We are proud to announce that construction will soon commence on new softball facilities at the University of Papua New Guinea, with designs now finalised and preparations underway on site.
Supported by the Australian Government through the Economic and Social Infrastructure Program, the project is being delivered in partnership with the The University Of Papua New Guinea, the PNG Baseball and Softball Confederation and the Papua New Guinea Sports Foundation.
The facility will support the current and next generation of Papua New Guinea’s softball talent and provide safe, accessible spaces for community sport, including opportunities for women and girls.
PNG contractors, suppliers and tradespeople will be prioritised during construction, supporting local jobs and skills development.
01/06/2026
01/06/2026
The Australian Public Service Commission (APSC), in partnership with Secretary Sansan from the PNG Department of Personnel Management, is proud to deliver the PNG–Australia Senior Executive Leadership Program.
The six-month program brings together 18 senior executive PNG public servants and four Australian senior executive leaders to look at adaptive leadership and consider contemporary challenges facing the public service. The residential component in Brisbane focused on building connections, sharing experiences, and strengthening leadership capability across our region.
This important initiative would not have been possible without the leadership of the Chief Secretary Pomaleu, whose support and shared vision for strengthening the future leadership capability of the PNG public service continues to guide this partnership. Thank you to the Australian Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for its collaboration and support of the program.
Here are Pacific Response Group (PRG) members Papua New Guinea Defence Force (PNGDF) Lieutenant Commander Laijah Anthony (PNG Maritime Operations Planner) and Major Daniel Orim (PRG Deputy Commander), with Australian Defence Force Lieutenant Colonel Scott Hill talking about the work they do in the PRG to support the Pacific region in times of need.
Defence Australia
01/06/2026
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Yu yet i mas sekim sapos visa bilong yu i orait long yu ken wok long Australia o nog*t. Yu mas trastim ol ofisel sos tasol, olsem Australian Government Department of Home Affairs websait o Australian High Commission in Papua New Guinea websait.
Dispela em i nambawan rot bilong save long ol samting yu ken mekim na ol samting yu no ken mekim taim yu stap long Australia.
Painimaut moa png.embassy.gov.au/pmsb/1523.html
31/05/2026
A cohort of Papua New Guinean media representatives has departed for Australia on a unique International Media Visit (IMV) focused on the NRL.
The visit provides a valuable opportunity to deepen participants’ understanding of the NRL ahead of the planned entry of the PNG Chiefs into the competition in 2028.
Participating journalists and news editors will engage with experts from key organisations across the rugby league ecosystem, gaining insight into how the NRL operates and the critical role media plays in the weekly sporting cycle.
Through direct exposure to Australian media practices, the program will support skills development, enhancing the quality, depth, and accuracy of NRL-related reporting.
A key component of the PNG Chiefs initiative – and the broader Pacific Rugby League Partnership (PRLP) – is not only to support PNG’s entry into the NRL, but also to deliver broader social and economic benefits, which will be highlighted throughout the IMV program.
31/05/2026
Congratulations to the PNG Lewas on being named Team of the Year at the 2026 SP Sports Awards! It’s been a year of amazing achievement for the Lewas, including taking out the inaugural PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational. The Australian Government is proud to support cricket in PNG in partnership with Cricket Australia and Cricket PNG, and we can’t wait to see what the Lewas achieve next!
Congratulations, PNG Lewas for claiming Carbine Club Team of the Year.
PNG Lewas had a breakthrough 2025 season, establishing themselves as a rising force in international women’s cricket. They dominated the region by winning the 2025 ICC Women’s T20 World Cup EAP Championship and also claimed the inaugural PacificAus Sports Cricket Invitational title. Their consistency and growth were recognised globally when the ICC awarded them One Day International (ODI) status for the 2025–2029 cycle, confirming their place among the world’s top teams.
The Lewas also recorded historic victories over higher-ranked nations such as Thailand and the Netherlands, proving their competitiveness and steady rise on the international stage.
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