Officers to attend training

Travelling out of the country to attend job training for the first time is an opportunity of a lifetime that Annette Pakaku will always be thankful for.
Pakaku, 48, is one of the 10 officers of the National Statistical Office (NSO) going to Australia for a week’s training as part of capacity-building programme.
“This training is the highlight of my 24-year career with NSO and it will help me do my job more effectively. I plan to use what I learn in my work and help my workmates as well,” Pakaku said.
The training programme was made possible through a partnership between NSO, the Australian Bureau of Statistics and the Australian government’s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
“We are thankful to our Australian counterpart. Without their support this programme would not have eventuated,” head of economics statistics division Tony Waisa said.
“And to the officers who are going, learn as much as you can because what you learn in Australia you will teach your friends here.
“The government needs better statistics for policy-making and development plans therefore we need our manpower to be equipped to go out and collect data. This training is a step in the right direction.”
Three other officers from the Bank of Papua New Guinea, Treasury Department and Department of Planning and Monitoring will join the NSO team to Australia. The team of 13 will leave today.