Women get gender, leadership training to apply at workplace

WOMEN from Hela and Southern Highlands are currently participating in a training programme to help them become better leaders in the workplace.
Challenged by their remote location, the provinces cope with the reality of gender imbalance in decision making, violence, security issues, and the need to develop good leaders.
Recognising that women play an important role to achieving positive change at the community level, the Oil Search Foundation (OSF) has supported the inclusion of two women from these provinces to participate in a leadership and management course organised by the Business Coalition for Women.
In partnership with WINGS Education PNG, the course focuses on better communication, effective leadership, managing relationships, building networks, identifying risks, analysing and presenting information.
Sr Pauline Rex Nathan, officer in charge of maternal child health clinic at the Pimaga Rural Hospital and the Hela Health Authority’s district health manager for Koroba-Lake-Kopiago Rebecca Puruma, were part of the training designed specifically for women in Papua New Guinea.
Oil Search Foundation’s Head of Gender and Leadership, Amanda Anderson highlighted the importance of supporting women to be effective leaders and managers: “Having more women in leadership can improve innovation and decision making.
“It was reported by Pacific Women that by mid-2014, 23 per cent of all senior management positions and 31 per cent of middle management positions in Papua New Guinea’s government agencies were occupied by women, but women were still poorly represented at provincial level.
Nathan and Puruma completed their first contact session this month.
OSF acknowledges the leadership of the Hela and Southern Highlands’ Provincial Health Authorities who supported the two women attending the training.
“I would like to thank OSF for sponsoring me to attend this training.”