Australian and PNG Torres Strait Treaty

As the 30th Anniversary of the Australian and PNG Torres Strait Treaty is celebrated this year, an Australian funded pilot project in Papua New Guinea’s South Fly District is producing real results, with compelling human stories emerging. The Treaty Village Resilience project operates on the border between Australia and PNG, where there are strong cultural ties between Torres Strait Islanders and the PNG Treaty Villages.
While only 4km from Saibai Island in Australia, the PNG Treaty Villages face major barriers to development including a lack of basic infrastructure such as roads, water and sanitation facilities, prevalence of communicable diseases, and limited livelihood opportunities resulting in high poverty rates.
The project has trained 52 Community Rangers – 40 men and 12 women from local villages selected by village elders – in a wide variety of skills including first aid, sanitation, construction, midwifery and leadership. The Community Rangers graduated in 2015, and are now undertaking important infrastructure projects in their Treaty Villages, including refurbishment of the Mabaduan Hospital and ongoing rainwater collection and storage facilities.
The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade provided A$1.7 million (K4.45mil) over 18 months under their Strongim Pipol Strongim Nesen for the pilot project with the RRRC contributing another A$400,000 (K1.05mil).
The pilot project has been reviewed with intensions to expand into other Treaty Villages and train more Community Rangers. – http://rrrc.org.au/programs/png/