20 May 2011

For immediate release

YOUNG VOLUNTEERS HERE TO HELP

A solicitor, Special Olympics co-ordinator and a fundraising professional are among the latest Australian volunteers to take up placements in Papua New Guinea.

There are six new faces through the Australian Youth Ambassador for Development program who will share their skills to help boost local organisations.

Sydney lawyer, Lydia Alexander will spend 12 months as a Corrections Support Officer with Community Based Corrections, in Alotau, working with police, community and court officers in the juvenile justice field.

“I hope my work will help support those people who have the responsibility for juvenile offenders, in helping them understand how to better deal with youth and also understand how to best put in place alternatives to prison like community service orders,” said Ms Alexander.

The Law graduate previously worked with the New South Wales Ombudsman’s Office in Sydney in the Police Misconduct section.

“This can be an emotionally draining field of work but also an incredibly rewarding one. I have been influenced by the most amazing people in Australia and here in PNG who have helped turn a young person’s life around and I hope I, in turn can pass this on.”

Thomas Humphries, who previously helped integrate children with an intellectual disability into sporting events like the Special Olympics will work with Cricket PNG in Goroka while Laura Davidson will bring her marketing and professional fundraising skills to boost the profile of the Port Moresby Cancer Relief Society.

The other volunteers are: Lisa Smyth, Assistant Communications Officer with United Nations PNG, Port Moresby, Gary Gill, National Cricket Fitness Officer with Cricket PNG, Port Moresby and David Morey, Cricket Community Development Officer with Cricket PNG, Rabaul.