Air Niugini announces partnership with Bel Isi PNG

Air Niugini, has joined Bel isi PNG by becoming a subscriber of the service.

Air Niugini, the national airline of Papua New Guinea (PNG) has joined Bel isi PNG by becoming a subscriber which will ensure support to victims of family and sexual violence (FSV). The initiative recognizes the impact family and sexual violence has on employees, and the increasing costs to employers and businesses in general as a result of this.

Air Niugini Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Mr. Bruce Alabaster said with the partnership now in place, airline staff who are faced with family and sexual violence will now be able get timely assistance with well-coordinated processes and procedures in place to guide them.

He said “Air Niugini does not condone any form of violence including family and sexual violence and we are serious about this partnership to ensure our staff are protected from violence, especially our female staff who make up 48 percent of the workforce.

Mr. Alabaster added that continuous violence can have short- and long-term impacts on the mental and physical health of staff which can in turn have significant economic and social costs not only for employees and employers but also the wider community.

“Implications of family and sexual violence vary from a staff not being able to perform at work to lost productivity, increased staff turn-over, increased absenteeism and others. It is therefore important that any staff faced with violence gets the assistance that he/she requires regardless of the gender.” Mr. Alabaster said.

Bel isi PNG is a public, private, civil society partnership that provides access to case management and safe house services for survivors of family and sexual violence (FSV). Along with that it provides business leaders with transformational tools to support change in the workplace and community, this includes awareness training for all staff and support with FSV policy development and implementation.

Bel Isi PNG Program Manager, Danielle Winfrey expressed appreciation, “We look forward to the opportunities this partnership with Air Niugini presents.  Through this subscription service, Bel isi PNG will support Air Niugini to comprehensively address the impact of family and sexual violence in their workforce.”

Evonne Kennedy, Executive Director for Business Coalition for Women added: “The business community can play an important role in providing a timely response to staff who are experiencing family and sexual violence.  We know the significant costs of family violence to business. We also know companies can play an important role in raising awareness and making sure that staff have access to good support”.   

Bel isi PNG is supported by the Australian Government in partnership with the Government of Papua New Guinea as part of the Pacific Women Shaping Pacific Development Program, Business Coalition for
Women, National Capital District Commission, Bank of South Pacific, Steamships Trading Co, G4S and Oil Search.

If you are subject to abuse or violence or know someone who is; seek support through the Bel isi PNG Case
Management Centre. Call the emergency contact numbers on, Bel isi PNG Case Management: 79169063 ,  St John Ambulance 111, Counselling: 1-Tok Kaunselin Helpim, 7am-7pm, 7150-8000, Police: 24hr Toll Free Hot Line 1800-100, Transport: G4S Meri Seif Line 7222-1234, COVID-19 Toll Free Help Line 1800200,   Or you can visit www.belisipng.org.pg or email info@belisipng.org.pg