The visit brought together Caritas Australia, Caritas Papua New Guinea and local program partner Catholic Church Health Services (CCHS) to connect with communities and capture stories for the upcoming Women for the World campaign.
Stories from the frontlines of maternal health
At the heart of the visit were rural health centres that serve as critical lifelines for communities, particularly for women and mothers.
Travelling to Ho’owalai and Daio health centres, the team saw firsthand the realities of delivering healthcare in remote settings, where access to services can be limited, infrastructure is often basic, and distance presents a daily challenge.
These are places where care is not just important, it is essential.
At Ho’owalai, the community’s welcome was unforgettable: music, dancing, a bamboo band, shared meals and Mass. It was a powerful reminder that these health centres sit at the heart of community life, supported by strong local leadership and deep trust.
At Daio, the team met Rose, a mother whose story will feature in this year’s Women for the World campaign. Like many women in Papua New Guinea, Rose’s experience reflects both the challenges of accessing maternal care and the life-changing difference that supported, facility-based care can provide.
A mother of nine, Rose has delivered most of her babies at the Daio health centre but has never received any pain relief. One of her babies was delivered at home, but Rose reflected on the danger of this, telling the team that many women die doing so.
In Papua New Guinea, many women, especially in rural areas, face significant barriers to accessing skilled care during childbirth. Many women still give birth at home because healthcare facilities lack running water, electricity, delivery beds and basic medicines such as pain relief. This contributes to Papua New Guinea having one of the worst maternal death rates in the Pacific region.
Strengthening rural health facilities helps encourage more women to give birth with the support of trained midwives, nurses and doctors, improving outcomes for both mothers and babies.
The role of faith-based health networks
CCHS operates more than 240 health facilities across Papua New Guinea, many in remote and underserved areas. These services play a vital role in delivering primary healthcare and align closely with national health priorities.
Through Caritas Australia’s partnership with Caritas Papua New Guinea and CCHS, these facilities are being supported to strengthen services, improve infrastructure and expand access to essential care.
This locally led, faith-based model is central to delivering impact, combining community trust with practical, on-the-ground reach.
Deepening understanding and advocacy
A key part of the visit was the opportunity for Geraldine Doogue to experience this work firsthand.
Spending time in communities, speaking with health workers, and hearing directly from women and families provided a deeper understanding of both the challenges and the impact of Caritas Australia’s programs.
This experience will inform her role as MC for two upcoming Women for the World luncheons in Sydney and Melbourne, helping bring these stories to life for supporters across Australia.
Her engagement also represents a powerful opportunity to amplify the voices of women and communities in Papua New Guinea through informed, authentic storytelling.
Strengthening partnerships with the Australian High Commission
While in Port Moresby, Caritas Australia, Caritas Papua New Guinea and CCHS met with the Australian High Commission to strengthen collaboration and reaffirm a shared commitment to locally led development.
Discussions highlighted the impact of long-standing partnerships, including the Church Partnership Program and the Australian NGO Cooperation Program, in supporting resilient communities across Papua New Guinea.
There was strong alignment around the importance of community-based healthcare, the role of church networks, and the opportunity to work more closely together to deliver sustainable outcomes, particularly in areas such as maternal health and gender equality.
The meeting also reinforced a shared focus on building long-term partnerships that support locally led solutions and strengthen systems over time.
Looking ahead
This visit underscored both the scale of the challenge and the power of partnership.
Across Papua New Guinea, rural health centres continue to play a vital role in supporting women, families and communities, often in incredibly remote and complex environments. With the right support, these services can help ensure more women have access to safe, quality care when they need it most.
As Caritas Australia prepares for the Women for the World campaign, the stories gathered during this visit, grounded in lived experience and community leadership, will play a crucial role in connecting supporters with the impact of this work.
Because at its heart, this is about ensuring every woman has the support she needs to safely bring new life into the world.
