International Projects

Family Planning NSW manages the Sexual Health and Family Planning Australia (SH&FPA) International Projects, which focus on improving the reproductive and sexual health of communities in the Asia Pacific region. Funding for these projects is received from AusAID, the Asia Pacific Alliance and private donors.

SH&FPAs International Program promotes at national and international levels the objectives of family planning organisations to enable people to achieve reproductive and sexual health and well-being in the context of a sustainable environment.

We ascribe to and endorse the International Planned Parenthood Federation Charter on Sexual and Reproductive Rights. This rights-based approach is consistent with the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) Program of Action, developed in Cairo in 1994. At the heart of the Program of Action is the recognition that population policies that promote personal choice and human rights, and which are integrated with broader development goals such as poverty alleviation and gender equity, are effective both in improving quality of life and stabilising population levels.

For the latest news about our international projects, read our newsletter, Working in the Region.

Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

All of the international projects are closely aligned to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). The MDGs were developed in 2000 and adopted by 189 nations including Australia, to represent an agreed agenda to reduce poverty and advance human development in a range of critical issues.

 The MDGs, to be achieved by 2015:

1. Eradicate extreme poverty and hunger
2. Achieve universal primary education
3. Promote gender equity and empower women
4. Reduce child mortality
5. Combat HIV/AIDS, malaria and other diseases
6. Ensure environmental sustainability
7. Develop a global partnership for development.  

Current International Projects

Papua New Guinea - Men and Boys Sexual Health and Behavioural Change Program

The Men and Boys Behaviour Change Program is run by project partners Help Resources and aims to improve knowledge of sexual health and promote health supporting behaviours and attitudes in men.

During 2008/09, the program was focused on peer educators conducting 4 workshops in Maprik, Kanauki, Ambunti and Upper Sepik, with male dominated work locations (mining, forestry) identified for one workshop per location. Additionally peer educators completed two training sessions in Wewak to increase the facilitator's skills to deliver education on specialised areas.

The peer education approach engaging men from communities to facilitate activities builds upon existing strengths with communities and engages leaders and change agents. Peer educators are paid a small reimbursement fee for communications and transport costs. This needs further investigation for sustainability purposes.

A formal evaluation of the Men and Boys Behaviour Change program was performed in 2008/09 to determine the effectiveness and appropriateness of the program model. The evaluation showed that the program is very well received as it comes from within the community, with training conducted by local men for the local community. The report also provided recommendations to ensure the ongoing support required to ensure the sustainability of the program. 

Solomon Islands - Strengthening Youth Participation and enhancing empowerment in Sexual and Reproductive Health

Working with the Solomon Islands Planned Parenthood Association (SIPPA), the project aims to increase sexual and reproductive health information to young people.

The project uses weekly youth radio broadcasts to promote youth services and activities relating to reproductive and sexual health and provides targeted seminars to marginalised young people in different locations including schools and church groups. During 2008/09, the program delivered workshops in Honiara, refresher / up-skilling training for community based youth educators in provinces, the Stepping Stones program as a pilot initiative and workshops for Youth Leaders and support their delivery of training to young people.

Solomon Islands - Population Environment Community Education
Working with Live and Learn Environmental Education the project aims to provide opportunity for understanding the social and environmental impacts of increasing population growth and provide communities with appropriate sustainable livelihood skills.

During 2008/09, eight community outreach training workshops were conducted on population and environment for sustainable livelihood conducted in community learning centres and rural training centres with schools and teachers. The training is followed up by monitoring visits to the centres to support the community to increase their knowledge and skills for sustainable livelihood. 

Fiji - Stemming the Northern Tide - Addressing HIV/AIDS in Fiji

Working in partnership with Reproductive and Family Health Association of Fiji, the project aims to increase knowledge and skills and change behaviours of communities to impact on HIV/AIDS in rural parts of Fiji.

Activities during 2008/09 included workshops conducted Labasa, Wailevu, Lekutu, Vuya, Bua and Seagaga Districts with up to 30 community members attending per workshop. 

Timor-Leste - Sexual Reproductive Health Training and Health Promotion Capacity Building

During 2008/09, the aim of the project was to increase the capacity of Health Promotion and Behavioural Change Communication (BCC) in Reproductive Health. Activities included the field testing of health promotion and community education resources to ensure that they are culturally appropriate, delivery of Men and Boys Reproductive Health and Behaviour Change training to 20 participants as Men and Boys/Reproductive Health community based advocates including representatives from the Ministry of Health and other NGOs.

Cook Islands - Building Capacity: Reproductive Health and Young People

Working in partnership with the Cook Islands Family Welfare Association, the project aims to raise the capacity of reproductive and sexual health educators to deliver up- to- date health promotion programs to young people in the Cook Islands. This was achieved by the delivery of health promotion workshops to Board members, staff and peer educators and the development of a culturally appropriate health promotion activities and resources.

Papua New Guinea - COMPASS

The COMPASS project is an AusAID funded project to 2012 with the aim to improve the HIV status in Papua New Guinea as part of Papua New Guinea Sexual Health Improvement Program (PASHIP). The COMPASS project is a partnership between SH&FPA, Papua New Guinea Family Health Association and Family Planning New Zealand International.

The project has four outputs:

1. Awareness raised and positive change supported among men and boys on sexual and related behaviours;
2. Training provided for staff and provincial and district health services on STI treatment in Morobe and East Sepik Provinces;
3. Advanced qualification trialled using open distance learning mode;
4. Strengthened clinical and management capacity in existing STI referral centres or alternative centre.

Common Ground

Working in partnership with the Australian Reproductive Health Alliance, the project aims to educate the Australian community on the links between population, the environment and development issues. The project is funded in 2008/09 to develop a resource kit to be placed on the Common Ground website, as a resource kit for trainers to run workshops on population, environment and development issues.