Australian support for training
Eighteen law and justice professionals graduated from a Diploma of Government (Management) course in Port Moresby on Monday.
The Diploma specialises in strengthening leadership and management skills for personnel in the law and justice sector. Ten women and eight men graduated from nine different agencies, after having successfully completed the course part-time over five months last year.
Minister Counsellor at the Australian High Commission, Mr Rod Hilton, said the Diploma is centred on people skills and interpersonal engagement, to support the extremely important human aspects of leadership and management.
“A fundamental aspect of strong leadership is supporting professional development, to strengthen knowledge, to encourage learning new skills, and to constantly challenge existing systems to identify how we can do things better,” Mr Hilton said.
Mr Hilton thanked the senior management of the Ombudsman Commission, Department of Justice and Attorney General, Office of the State Solicitor, Village Courts and Land Mediation Secretariat, Office of the Public Prosecutor, Correctional Services, Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary, Magisterial Services and National Judicial Staff Services, for supporting their staff to participate in the course.
After a successful pilot in 2013 and this second group of 18 graduates, the Australian Government has again funded the Diploma in 2015, investing a total of over PGK 800,000 for these courses as part of its support to the Papua New Guinean law and justice sector.
“Investment in education creates and perpetuates a robust, dynamic and industrious sector, proud to deliver the best outcomes for the nation,” Mr Hilton said.
Mr Hilton noted that this support would be complemented by the establishment of the Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct announced by the Australian Foreign Minister, Ms Julie Bishop, in her most recent visit to Papua New Guinea, in December 2014. The Precinct will involve the transformation of the University of Papua New Guinea’s School of Business into a School of Business and Public Policy and the revitalisation of the Institute of Public Policy. It will bring together a range of providers to offer a comprehensive program of education and training to build the leadership qualities and skills of all PNG government officials.