Australian officer describes experience as ‘wholesome’

AN education officer with Zoos Victoria, Australia, who spent two months as part of the sister-zoo partnership programme with the Port Moresby Nature Park says her experience was a wholesome one.
Hilary Hughes said her attachment at the Nature Park was part of the park’s project to review all the educational lessons and programmes delivered to offer new opportunities to students.
“I’ve been with the team for the past two months – observing lesson delivery and monitoring the consistency, helping to improve programmes and develop more activities for the kids,” Hughes said.
“I was truly blown away by the enthusiasm and interest amongst children who have come to the Nature Park through the schools excursion programme.”
Port Moresby Nature Park’s life sciences manager Ishimu Bebe, who oversees both the wildlife and education departments, said: “The sister-zoo partnership has been a significant part of our achievements and has even received international awards and recognition for its valuable benefits of staff exchanges and sharing of information, development of ideas and improved delivery mechanisms for the education programmes.”
The Nature Park receives more than 24,000 students every year on selected themes like “Wild for wildlife”, “Environment and me”, “Culture connects” along with school programmes focused on supporting enhancing classroom lessons.
Bebe said: “The Nature Park is always changing, always evolving and always ready to learn to deliver the best outcomes to the next generation of young Papua New Guineans.
“I am grateful for Hughes and Zoos Victoria for enabling helpful insights on how best we can deliver our educational programmes.”