AFL PNG receives donated equipment from Australia for its sporting programs

Australian Football League Papua New Guinea (AFL PNG) has received additional sporting equipment to boost its sports outreach program in the country.

Eleven provincial centres will receive footballs, jerseys, and training equipment donated from Australia to help improve youth participation and inclusive training for people living with disability.

The Australia High Commission provided funding for the shipment of the equipment from Brisbane, Australia to Port Moresby through a Direct Aid Program grant. 

Australian High Commission Counsellor, Tim Bryson, attended an AFL clinic at Boroko Primary School, where he presented the donated equipment to AFL PNG.

“It’s great to be able to support such a worthwhile project for such a popular sport.  The AFL PNG youth program has 45,000 participants throughout Papua New Guinea.  We hope the equipment from Australia will help expand the program and encourage greater participation from Papua New Guinean boys and girls. 

“Like Aussies, we know that Papua New Guineans have a real passion for sports and this AFL equipment will be a valuable contribution to local communities,” Mr Bryson said. 

The Direct Aid Program is a small grants scheme providing funding to projects which seek to alleviate poverty and achieve sustainable development at the local community level in eligible countries.

Information on Australia’s Direct Aid Program can be found on the Australian High Commission Papua New Guinea website http://png.embassy.gov.au/pmsb/cooperation.html.