The inclusion of persons with disabilities (PWD) remains a key priority for both the Australian and New Zealand Governments in their development cooperation across the Pacific. Recognising that access to services and economic participation are critical for inclusive growth, these governments have embedded disability inclusion as a cross-cutting issue across their aid portfolios.
In Papua New Guinea, one such initiative working to realise this vision is Callan Connect, supported through the Australia–Papua New Guinea Subnational Program. Callan Connect is implemented in partnership with the Network of Callan Services for Persons with Disabilities (CSNU), the largest national provider of disability services in PNG. Its aim is to improve access to specialist services for PWDs, particularly in remote and underserved communities.
Earlier this year, Callan Connect mobilised a disability outreach team to Malasang, in North Bougainville. Over the course of three site visits, more than 225 people with disabilities were screened—160 female and 65 male. As a direct result, 192 corrective glasses were issued, significantly enhancing the visual capacity and quality of life for many individuals (137 female and 55 male recipients).
While this recent engagement focused on the Autonomous Region of Bougainville (ARoB), Callan Connect’s operations also extend to the Western Province and communities along the Kokoda Track catchment. These regions are among the most isolated in PNG and face severe challenges in accessing even basic health services, let alone specialised disability care.
The Callan Connect model goes beyond screening and diagnosis. It coordinates a comprehensive referral and care pathway for clients, including arrangements for surgeries, follow-up interventions, and specialist care. The program also manages the logistical elements that often prevent rural PWDs from receiving treatment—transport, accommodation, meals, and in-community support for visiting medical teams.
This holistic approach is essential in a country where disability inclusion is still constrained by limited infrastructure, weak service delivery, and persistent stigma. Through targeted, community-based engagement, Callan Connect not only delivers life-changing services but also raises awareness and shifts social attitudes around disability.
By resourcing organisations like CSNU and leveraging local networks, the Australia–Papua New Guinea partnership is helping to build a more inclusive and equitable system—one where no one is left behind, regardless of their physical or cognitive ability.
As momentum builds for more inclusive development programming across the Pacific, initiatives like Callan Connect offer valuable lessons for disability-responsive service delivery in low-resource, geographically fragmented settings.