Comments

Thank You for the informative article. TB being broadly classified into two types, active and latent. In terms of funding, which is more expensive to manage by the hospitals or are both equal? Which is more common in Momase and Highlands? Does your article include MDR TB too? Thank you so much, David (interested student)

Thank you so much, Stephen for providing this very useful information.

Hi Stephen, Thanks for sharing this vital information. I am quite interested in this program, however, I will be turning 46 this December. I understand that the post-selection period may take awhile. Do you think this will affect my eligibility to participate? Thanks again!

An informative and important blog. The WHO Global Tuberculosis Report 2023 also has some useful statistics and insights about TB in PNG. For example, Annex 3 of that report shows that PNG is one of only 30 countries worldwide, and the only country in the Pacific, classified as a "high TB burden". Annex 3 also reports that PNG is one of only 30 countries worldwide, and in the Pacific, with a high burden of multidrug resistant TB / rifampirin-resistant TB. Data on page 8 and 10 of the report suggest actual TB notifications in PNG have been increasing from around 25,000 in 2016 to around 35,000 in 2022 (actual cases may be larger). Estimates on page 36 of the report suggest possibly up to 40% of TB patients in PNG experience "catastrophic" health related expenditure (defined as equal to or greater than 20% of household income): not as high as Solomon Islands and Fiji in the Pacific but still high by global standards. On a more positive note, the report does find (page 48) that PNG has recently transitioned out of the 30 global "high TB / HIV burden countries". In short, the latest WHO report confirms TB is a particularly important - yet often preventable - public health, social and economic challenge in PNG, as well as the other 29 "high burden" countries globally.

These details reveal serious flaws in Australia's refugee acceptance and visa procession systems. "The evidentiary burden for Afghan women is impossibly high" as the following specific example demonstrates. Hana* (a pseudonym for her protection) and her 3 girls aged 4, 5, 8 and a boy 9, had lived with her mother, and adult brothers and sister since her husband abandoned them 4 years before the fall of Kabul in August 2021. Her husband had no contact with the family since that time and his whereabouts are unknown. Australia issued 449 evacuation visas to the entire family except Hana and her children on the grounds they were not dependents. Her adult sister and brothers were evacuated, including her married brother. Left alone in Afghanistan, Hana* attempted to obtain passports for her children without a male guardian. She was arrested and detained by the Taliban with her children. The Taliban published her children’s names on the grounds they would never be issued with passports as the mother was without a male guardian. They then threatened her and the children for many hours saying she should be shot or forced to marry a Taliban fighter. Hana* went into extreme hiding as the extended community in Kabul were now aware she was alone with her children. She was extremely afraid someone would recognise one of the children if she sent them out to obtain food. During this time Australia refused to commence processing of their visa application or to allow health or security checks to be completed for them. Hana and her children were not able to leave this safe house for over 2 years. She only went outside twice with a paid escort commissioned by an international network, to obtain identification documents for the children and then assistance with evacuation to Pakistan. The Australian authorities did absolutely nothing to assist them. The policy to refuse visa applications to women left without a mahram is gender biased and has exposed these women to harm for prolonged periods. Pakistan has been forcing back Afghans living there, to the country they fled. 41 of our soldiers died in Afghanistan, protecting its civilians for a better life. In their memory, our policies towards Afghan refugee women need complete reviewing. Facilitating their refugee clearance would be - at last - providing Afghan women with minimal standards of care and protection.

Thank you Stephen. Really eager to apply for the ballot in June 3.

Hallo Isabelle, My name is Sahar Naseri. I am 19 years old and I live in Kabul, Afghanistan. I lost my family 5 years before. I have one sister. She is 14 years old. I was in the 9th class when Taliban came to Afghanistan. Me and my sister we want to go to school and make our future. Do you know of some possibility how to go in some another country to make our future? It would be very nice of you how guide us how to apply a visa in a safe country to make our future. Sahar Naseri

The PEV ballot hasn't opened yet, so there is no way you could have registered yet. Make sure you weren't scammed. The PEV ballot opens June 3. You will certainly have a chance if you enter the ballot, and it won't affect your PALM application.

Ballot opens June 3. Some info here: https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/subclass-pacific-engagement-visa-192

The government hasn't sent yet how long you will have to secure a job. Whether if you don't get a job quickly enough you can try again the next year is another unknown. These are really interesting questions, and we'll try and find out answers asap. We're expecting more information about those "stage 2" (post-ballot) requirements to be released soon.

Thank you for the article. this article is very outstanding for my understanding because of the reasons which are stated about the effect of polygamy marriage in PNG. It can indeed be considered as a social evil. Polygamy marriage in PNG is the cause of the g works of the devil in the lives of young people, especially young girls. Thank you

"Birds of the same feather flock together" a pretty impressive story of you twos. love that