Exploring the lives of women smallholder farmers in Papua New Guinea through a collaborative mixed methods approach

This paper analyzes the design, implementation, and challenges associated with mixing methods within a baseline study involving the collaboration of rural women smallholders and their families in three regions of Papua New Guinea. We first describe the context of the research and how the baseline study was conceptualized as part of a participatory research and development project designed to provide a rich collaborative learning exchange between participants and researchers. We explain how three qualitative participatory techniques used alongside a small-scale quantitative livelihoods survey to gain an understanding of the social, economic, and agricultural factors impacting upon the lives women smallholders and their families. We follow this with a critical discussion of the challenges and benefits of utilizing mixed methods in an international development contex

Sexual health and wellbeing training with women in Pacific Island Countries and Territories: a scoping review

Background: Women who are spouses of students at a faith-based university in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are afforded proximal power. These women are perceived as leaders and regularly approached by members in their communities to provide advice on sexual and reproductive health matters. Women leaders therefore need access to sexual health information and training to provide appropriate advice. Objective: The aim of this paper is to review the characteristics of community-based sexual health training in Pacific Island Countries and Territories (PICTs), as reported in published literature. This is evidence to inform the development of sexual health training programs for women in PNG. Methods: A systematic search of databases, repositories and websites identified peer-reviewed studies. Grey literature was also sourced from government and non-government organisations and PNG health professionals. Six published papers, one report, one health worker practice manual and one health worker training package were identified for inclusion. Selected papers were assessed against the Canadian Hierarchy of Evidence to determine quality of evidence for practice. Themes were identified using a thematic analysis approach. Results: Three themes became apparent from the literature synthesis: i) program development; ii) mode of delivery, and iii) evaluation. Social and cultural context influenced all elements of sexual health training in PICTs. Few studies reported evidence of comprehensive evaluation. Conclusions: Successful sexual health training programs in PICT communities are designed and delivered accounting for local contexts. Programs that engage participants with diverse abilities inspire change to achieve desired outcomes. Key findings from this study can be used to assist women leaders to contextualise and operationalise sexual health training to promote the wellbeing of members in their communities

Pauline Ayuk and Tokamit Loko - Oral History interview recorded on 02 April 2017 at Lakurumau, New Ireland Province

Mrs Ayuk relates her experiences of both the first and the second second World War. At the time of the first war, she was newly married. It was at time that she witnessed Japanese invasion of Lakurumau. She tells of an experience where (she believed) her father\u27s traditional protection kept her and her family from being harmed by the Japanese. Her father communicated with their ancestral spirits. She lived on to witness the second war. So while Other villagers hid in the bushes, Pauline and her family remained in the village unharmed. Mr Loko tells of how the name of the village was changed by the \u27whiteman.\u27 He tells that the village was initially known as \u27Lodumau\u27 but was changed to \u27Lakurumau,\u27 as it is known today. He also talks about the first invasion as told to him by relatives.PNG Voices from the War is supported through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Decentralisation and Citizen Participation Partnership. The content is owned by the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery, and hosted by Deakin University.Visit the Voices from the War website - http://pngvoices.deakin.edu.au - to access all the interviews and to learn more about the impact of World War 2 on Papua New Guinea.<br /

Esther Lunga and others - Oral History interview recorded on 31 March 2017 at Karmelboet, New Ireland Province, PNG

Mrs Esther Lunga, Mr Junias Lunga, Mrs Francesca Kote, Mrs Elsa Telum, Mr Aisoli Topu and Mr Bruno Leto discuss their late family member, Aisoli Salin, and what he did during his life.PNG Voices from the War is supported through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Decentralisation and Citizen Participation Partnership. The content is owned by the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery, and hosted by Deakin University.Visit the Voices from the War website - http://pngvoices.deakin.edu.au - to access all the interviews and to learn more about the impact of World War 2 on Papua New Guinea.<br /

Developing a model of peer collaborating in E-learning that can be applied to the PNG context

There is an expectation that lecturers should be equipped with the skills needed to apply technology to support and enhance learning in their subjects. For many lecturers, the increasing emphasis on the use of ICT for research and teaching can be threatening, but these fears can be eased if professional development is supportive and ongoing, and provided in flexible, appropriate and adaptable ways. This study focused on collaboration strategies employed by four lecturers and two instructional designers (IDs) as they worked together to develop online learning environments as well as other types of learning resources. It focuses on two case studies and describes the roles that the two IDs played in facilitating the professional development of lecturers that were constructing e-Learning environments. The findings suggest that the lecturers needed ongoing support, advice and technical assistance for an extended period of time. Lecturers who are novices in using ICT for learning, should be encouraged to attend basic ICT training programs before working with IDs and ICT experts to design e-Learning resources for their subjects. Providing technical training by ICT experts enables lecturers to see the benefits and potential of ICT in learning and gives them the confidence to plan effective e-Learning environments. The results are consistent with previous research findings, stressing the need for professional (IDs, ICT experts and lecturers) to collaborate and share their ideas, knowledge, expertise and skills in order to plan and design effective and meaningful learning environments. It is also important for IDs to explain their role clearly and outline the type of support and assistance they would provide during the design process. Lecturers who collaborated closely with the ID/ICT experts gained more skills and were prepared to use ICT in learning while those who spent less time with them were less confident and had to attend ICT training courses during the session. This study demonstrated that having regular group meetings during the design process, receiving individual ICT support, having a good rapport between members of the design team helped to decrease lecturers\u27 concerns and ICT problems. This study has enabled the researcher to develop a team collaboration model for planning and designing e-Learning resources that would be piloted in tertiary institutions in Papua New Guinea. The findings, also contributes to the research literature about the design processes needed to improve the quality of learning resources. As team members share and learn from each other\u27s experiences and expertise, they create authentic and student centred learning environments

Lawrence Sebeit - Oral History interview recorded on 30 March 2017 at Tatau, New Ireland Province

PNG Voices from the War is supported through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Decentralisation and Citizen Participation Partnership. The content is owned by the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery, and hosted by Deakin University.Visit the Voices from the War website - http://pngvoices.deakin.edu.au - to access all the interviews and to learn more about the impact of World War 2 on Papua New Guinea

Francis Jossan and Paparas Mokis - Oral History interview recorded on 16 May 2017 at Luburua, New Ireland,PNG

Mr Jossan tells about what he witnessed with the Japanese when they invaded his village. He also tells of how the Japanese taught some skills to people and how used the people to do different tasks for them as labourers. He also explains how the Japanese penalised the people when they did not comply to the commands given. Mr Mokis supports details in Mr Jossan\u27s story but relates to the stories as told to him by an elder (relative). He also tells about how the Japanese forcefully took away local women from their husbands; the husbands were punished by either death or beating or imprisionment if they tried to defend their wives.PNG Voices from the War is supported through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Decentralisation and Citizen Participation Partnership. The content is owned by the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery, and hosted by Deakin University.Visit the Voices from the War website - http://pngvoices.deakin.edu.au - to access all the interviews and to learn more about the impact of World War 2 on Papua New Guinea.<br /

Joe Bomgut and others - Oral History interview recorded on 29 March 2017 at Tatau, New Ireland Province, PNG

Close relatives of Mr Aisoli Salin talk about his life before, after, and during the War, when he served as a coastwatcher and observed Japanese movements and their treatment of the people of the Tabar Islands, New Ireland Province.PNG Voices from the War is supported through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Decentralisation and Citizen Participation Partnership. The content is owned by the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery, and hosted by Deakin University.Visit the Voices from the War website - http://pngvoices.deakin.edu.au - to access all the interviews and to learn more about the impact of World War 2 on Papua New Guinea.<br /

Demas Malvu Kavavu - Oral History interview recorded on 16 May 2017 at Kavieng, New Ireland Province

Mr Kavavu provides an overview of New Ireland\u27s history, before describing his own experiences as a child under Japanese occupation during the war. In this interview, he sings one of the Japanese songs he was taught while at school.PNG Voices from the War is supported through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Decentralisation and Citizen Participation Partnership. The content is owned by the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery, and hosted by Deakin University.Visit the Voices from the War website - http://pngvoices.deakin.edu.au - to access all the interviews and to learn more about the impact of World War 2 on Papua New Guinea.<br /

Joseph Kaletau - Oral History interview recorded on 16 May 2017 at Luburua, New Ireland Province, PNG

Mr Kaletau tells about how he witnessed the initial arrival of the Japanese.PNG Voices from the War is supported through the Papua New Guinea-Australia Decentralisation and Citizen Participation Partnership. The content is owned by the PNG National Museum and Art Gallery, and hosted by Deakin University.Visit the Voices from the War website - http://pngvoices.deakin.edu.au - to access all the interviews and to learn more about the impact of World War 2 on Papua New Guinea.<br /