Australia is stepping up efforts to tackle high priority health issues in the Solomon Islands and across the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
Through expanded partnerships between governments and civil society, we will provide $15.9 million to the Pacific Community - the region's principal scientific and technical organisation - to help strengthen the health workforce across the Pacific.
The package also builds partnerships between Pacific and Southeast Asian organisations and their Australian counterparts, encouraging experts from across the region to share their technical skills and to develop exciting new links
Under the package we will:
- invest $9 million to provide technical support to improve immunisation coverage across the region , drawing on the expertise of the National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance and the Australian Regional Immunisation Alliance.
- support regional collaboration and partnerships through research on issues at the intersection of human, animal and environmental health, such as in food security and nutrition, by jointly funding programs with the Australian Council for International Agricultural Research.
- co-fund two collaborative Centres of Excellence with the National Health and Medical Research Council, that link Australian and regional health research institutions.
- strengthen community preparation and response to epidemic disease threats through a $3 million investment which will support the Australian Red Cross to work with partners in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Vanuatu.
- support training for animal health workers across the Pacific and Timor-Leste to enhance regional biosecurity and better protect animal and human health, through a $2.5 million partnership with the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
These activities are funded under the Australian Government's Partnerships for a Healthy Region initiative, which works with governments and civil society organisations in the Pacific and Southeast Asia to build resilient, equitable and inclusive health systems.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Foreign Affairs, Penny Wong:
"A peaceful, stable and prosperous Pacific rests on the shared wellbeing and health of communities across our region.
"The Albanese Government is responding to Pacific priorities and working with partners to improve immunisation coverage across our region, helping communities better anticipate, prevent, detect, and control communicable diseases and protect the most vulnerable."
Quotes attributable to Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy:
"This new package reflects our commitment to the health of our family and neighbours across the Pacific and Southeast Asia.
"Recognising the importance of working in partnership with governments and local civil society organisations, we are committed to addressing high priority health issues in our region."
