EMPLOYABILITY INITIATIVE LAUNCHES TO PROMOTE INCLUSIVE WORKPLACES IN PNG
The Australian Government, through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Partnership, has launched EmployAbility – a groundbreaking initiative aimed at creating more inclusive workplaces and supporting people living with disabilities to enter the job market in PNG.
The initiative will be delivered in collaboration with the PNG Assembly of Disabled Persons, the Business Council of PNG, and the Lae Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
EmployAbility will address the significant underrepresentation of people living with disabilities in PNG’s workforce.
The initiative will develop and rollout an EmployAbility Toolkit which draws on real-life PNG case studies to provide businesses with practical advice on accommodating and empowering people living with disabilities as employees and customers.
It will also deliver work-readiness training, placement opportunities, and networking events designed to connect people with disabilities directly with employers challenging bias and creating real employment pathways.
The initiative was officially launched on 11 July 2025 by representatives from the Australian High Commission, PNG Assembly of Disabled Persons, and the Business Council of PNG.
PNG Assembly of Disabled Persons vice president Ruth Javati said, “with the launch of this project, the Australian Government has taken a step forward to support people with disability. For most of us that come from the Australian Awards Scholarships, we have had an issue with finding inclusive workspaces, now this project, we see that it’s a dream come true for people with disability.”
Business Council of PNG Executive Director, Carmella Gabina said, “We believe in promoting inclusivity in the workplace is essential. For a strong and more vibrant community, we need to build workplaces where everyone can contribute their skills and ideas. This benefits not only businesses but also helps to create a fairer and more equal society.”
Australian High Commission representative, Sinead Mulders-Jones said, employability aims to support PNG businesses create inclusive and more accessible workplaces for people living with disabilities in PNG.
Inclusive development is a shared priority for both the Australian and Papua New Guinean governments.
EmployAbility represents a step forward in ensuring that people living with disabilities have equal access to employment opportunities and can contribute meaningfully to PNG’s economic growth.
