Australian Doctor’s International: Enhancing Rural Health Through Local Empowerment
Overview
Australian Doctors International (ADI) is an Australian NGO registered with the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission. It is a member of the Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) and is supported by the Australian Government through the Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP). ADI is governed by a Board and a suite of governance committees (Risk and Compliance, Finance and Audit, Revenue, Program), with these roles filled on a volunteer basis.
Key Outputs
ADI Family Planning Program (Papua New Guinea)
Overview
With support from Women’s Plans Foundation, ADI is improving access to family planning services for women and girls in rural and remote Papua New Guinea, where access to healthcare is limited.
ADI expanded its approach beyond training to include outreach delivery, hospital support and program redesign—reaching more communities than ever before.
What this Means
Women in some of the most isolated regions of Papua New Guinea now have access to:
Contraceptive services
Trained local health workers
Accurate health information
For many, this is the first time they have been able to make informed choices about their reproductive health
Program Impact
Building local capacity
ADI trained rural health workers across three provinces, equipping them with the skills to deliver family planning services, including long-acting contraceptive implants.Reaching remote communities
Through 58 outreach patrols, ADI delivered family planning services and education directly to communities that would otherwise go without care.Reaching remote communities
Through 58 outreach patrols, ADI delivered family planning services and education directly to communities that would otherwise go without care.Responding to critical gaps
ADI provided emergency support to under-resourced hospitals, ensuring women could still access contraception when local services were unavailable.Driving behaviour change
Community education is increasing awareness and demand, with more women choosing long-term contraception after receiving accurate information.
Challenges
Women and girls in rural Papua New Guinea continue to face significant barriers, including:
Limited access to supplies and equipment
Workforce shortages
Cultural and gender barriers
Geographic isolation
Despite this, demand for family planning services continues to grow.
Looking Ahead
ADI will:
Expand training into new provinces
Introduce structured mentoring for health workers
Strengthen integration with gender-based violence programs
Improve monitoring and long-term impact measurement
Understanding birth spacing and its impact on maternal health
Knowing what contraceptive options are available for rural women in PNG, and dispelling rumours and misunderstandings they may have in regards to contraception (e.g. implants can cause cancer, side effects often misunderstood as sickness caused by contraception, etc.)
Community-wide understanding of reproductive rights, and what it means for women to make their own decisions regarding their health.
In this financial year, approximately 90 hours of education on family planning and sexual and reproductive health were delivered to over 12,000 individuals in rural communities visited on patrol. In addition to this, ADI's Gender Equity Officers also delivered awareness sessions on gender equity. Outreach health patrols also provide opportunities to engage with local health workers, and provide support and training based on their needs and requests. Many rural health workers in PNG work in isolation, with little opportunities for professional development.
Why This Matters
Access to family planning gives women and girls the ability to plan their futures, stay in education, and protect their health.
In remote communities, these services are not just important—they are essential.
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