Femili PNG continues to work in close partnership with government service providers and civil society organizations (CSO) to respond to family and sexual violence (FSV) across Papua New Guinea. As part of this collaboration, Femili PNG invests in the professional development of frontline partners who work directly with survivors.
In 2024, with support from FemiliPNG Australia and in partnership with Palladium and the Cairnmillar Institute, Femili PNG delivered an Introduction to Counselling course for staff in Lae, Port Moresby, and Goroka. This year, the training was extended to members of the Gender Based Violence (GBV) referral network to strengthen their understanding of basic counselling skills and enhance service delivery in often challenging and traumatic environments.
Frontline workers from Lae, Goroka, and Port Moresby — including representatives from the Family Support Centre, Family Sexual Violence Unit, Sexual Offence Squad, Safe Houses, Morobe Disability Agency, Community Development, Welfare, the Morobe Provincial Health Authority, the Public Prosecutor’s Office, and the courts — participated in the training. The course incorporated foundational counselling concepts from the Harvard Institution, equipping participants with essential knowledge to support survivors more effectively.
The training focused on helping participants to:
- Understand the counselling process and how it differs from coaching
- Explore core emotions and emotional suppression
- Learn how to work at an emotional level with clients
- Assess crisis situations and provide initial support
- Develop greater self-awareness in counselling practice
Participants expressed deep appreciation for the opportunity. One clinical staff member from the Family Support Centre shared: “If I was given a chance to change profession, it would be counselling. This training really taught me how to support people who need counselling, and I’m grateful for this opportunity. Thank you Femili PNG and Dr. Renzo.”
Many participants noted that the training not only strengthened their professional skills but also empowered them personally. They reported feeling more confident in applying counselling techniques in their daily work and committed to improving the quality of care provided to survivors.
Femili PNG gratefully acknowledges the support of the Kyeema Foundation, the Cairnmillar Institute, and FemiliPNG Australia in successfully delivering this training to government institutions and NGOs. This initiative reflects Femili PNG’s ongoing commitment to strengthening survivor-centered services through capacity building and collaboration.
