Awardees to help with issues

SIX Australia Awards scholarship recipients from PNG attended an International Women’s Day breakfast in Melbourne to hear Justice Catherine Davani’s keynote address on ending violence against women.
The scholars had the opportunity to meet Justice Davani who was the first woman judge to be appointed to the PNG national and supreme courts.
The six Papua New Guineans are undertaking studies which they hope will directly benefit women and girls when they return home.
Prior to commencing her master of development studies (gender and development) at the University of Melbourne, Mercy Masta worked on an AusAID health and HIV programme in Port Moresby and also founded a youth-led organisation called Youth Alliance on HIV and AIDS.
“Since undertaking the various courses relating to development and gender at the University of Melbourne, I have gained skills and knowledge in analysing the issues of women in the context of development at the community level and what it means to meaningfully empower women to participate,” Masta said.
She plans to use her studies on her return home to promote positive development of women and young girls in rural and urban areas of the country.
“I intend to focus on the rural health and education aspect of Papua New Guinea’s Vision 2050 Strategic Plan which looks at achieving healthy, educated and skilled citizens,” Masta said.
“I would like to use the skills and knowledge gained from my studies to assist the government as well as the non-government sector to achieve the goals that target women and girls in these areas.”