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| Papua New Guinea Ex-Servicemen's Welfare Association | |
|---|---|
| Name | Papua New Guinea Ex-Servicemen's Welfare Association |
| Type | Non-governmental organization |
| Headquarters | Port Moresby |
| Region served | Papua New Guinea |
| Leader title | President |
Papua New Guinea Ex-Servicemen's Welfare Association is an organization representing former members of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, former personnel of the Australian Army, and veterans who served in regional conflicts such as the Second World War, Kokoda Track campaign, and the Bougainville Civil War. The association engages with national institutions including the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, provincial administrations like the Northern Province (Papua New Guinea), and international organizations such as the Commonwealth of Nations to advance ex-servicemen's interests. It interacts with legal frameworks like the Constitution of Papua New Guinea and veterans' instruments modeled on the Returned and Services League of Australia.
The association traces roots to post‑World War II welfare movements and the demobilization efforts following the Territory of Papua and New Guinea administration; early organizing overlapped with activities of the Royal Papua New Guinea Constabulary and missions of the Catholic Church in Papua New Guinea. During the transition to independence in 1975, leaders coordinated with figures from the Pangu Pati, advocates associated with the Papua New Guinea Defence Force Act, and international advisors from the United Nations. The association played roles during the Bougainville conflict ceasefire negotiations and engaged with peace processes influenced by the Burnham Agreement and mediation efforts involving the Australian Government and the New Zealand Government. Throughout the 1990s and 2000s it adapted to reforms in social policy shaped by the Department of Personnel Management (Papua New Guinea) and budgetary debates in the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea.
Membership includes veterans of campaigns like the Battle of Buna–Gona, participants in postwar policing alongside the Royal Papua and New Guinea Constabulary (historical), and former servicemen who served under the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit. The association's structure mirrors models used by the Returned Servicemen's League and regional bodies such as the Solomon Islands Ex‑Servicemen organizations, with branches in provinces including East Sepik Province, Milne Bay Province, and West New Britain Province. Leadership positions have been contested in provincial elections similar to contests in the National Capital District (Papua New Guinea), and governance practices reference procedures from the Public Service Commission (Papua New Guinea). It liaises with statutory entities like the Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia) and training institutions such as the PNG Defence Academy.
Advocacy priorities encompass compensation arrangements comparable to schemes in the United Kingdom and welfare programs modeled after initiatives by the Returned and Services League of Australia. The association campaigns on issues linked to land claims that recall jurisprudence from cases like those heard in the Papua New Guinea Supreme Court, and works on health initiatives addressing conditions treated at facilities such as Port Moresby General Hospital and clinics supported by the World Health Organization. Programs include reintegration assistance that parallels projects by the International Committee of the Red Cross and vocational training collaborations with the Asian Development Bank and the Asian Pacific Economic Cooperation training networks. It has lobbied for pension reforms influenced by legislation in the Australian Parliament and for benefits aligned with practices in the New Zealand Defence Force.
The association organizes ceremonies at memorials such as the Bomana War Cemetery and participates in observances for commemorations like Anzac Day and anniversaries of the Battle of the Coral Sea. It has contributed to heritage projects alongside cultural institutions including the National Museum and Art Gallery (Papua New Guinea) and academic partners like the University of Papua New Guinea. Policy engagement extends to submissions on national veterans' legislation referenced to models from the Veterans' Affairs Legislation Amendment (Australia), coordination with commemorative schedules maintained by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and involvement in cross‑border initiatives with the Australian War Memorial.
The association partners with non‑governmental organizations such as the Red Cross Society of Papua New Guinea, faith groups including the United Church in Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands, and community development agencies like the Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society. It cooperates with regional security interlocutors including the Pacific Islands Forum and training exchanges with institutions like the Australian Defence Force Academy and the Royal Military College, Duntroon. Community outreach encompasses veterans' housing projects drawing on models from the Habitat for Humanity network and public health campaigns coordinated with the United Nations Population Fund and the World Bank.
Prominent figures associated with the association include veterans who later assumed public roles comparable to leaders in the National Alliance (Papua New Guinea), former servicemen who became members of the National Parliament of Papua New Guinea, and advocates who worked with commissioners from the Ombudsman Commission (Papua New Guinea). Leadership has included ex‑members with service histories tied to units such as the Papua Infantry Battalion and administrative experience linked to the Australian New Guinea Administrative Unit. The association has engaged elder statesmen who consulted on reconciliation similar to participants in the Bougainville Peace Agreement process and public figures who collaborated with the Department of Community Development (Papua New Guinea).
Category:Veterans' organizations Category:Organisations based in Port Moresby