Comments

Hi Peter, Please check the link below for more details. The 2025 PEV round will open up again around June. https://immi.homeaffairs.gov.au/visas/getting-a-visa/visa-listing/pacific-engagement/pacific-engagement-visa-subclass-192 All the best, Natasha

Hi Simon, Thanks for your comments. It's unclear if DHA will still require a still-valid job offer by the time they assess the application because no validity is stated for job offers. Unlike medicals or IELTS where those are valid for one year. There is certainly plenty room for improvement from both the PNG and Australian side in making the PEV a success. Best, Natasha

Hi Louisa, If you haven't applied in the 2024 PEV round, then you will have to wait until around June this year for the next 2025 PEV round to open. Please familiarise yourself with the costs associated to a PEV if you are selected so you can be prepared. All the best, Natasha

thanks 🙏

Hi Natasha, Thank you for this piece. I'm the primary applicant, and the process of securing a job has been incredibly stressful — not just for me, but for my entire family. After reaching out to employers and recruiters and submitting over 200 job applications, I have received nothing but unsuccessful responses. The entire process has been difficult, but knowing that others have successfully received their visas gives me hope to keep going. I remain hopeful that I will receive a positive response from an employer soon. Thank you!

Thanks for your comment, Linda. Devpol is currently taking suggestions for what the sector would like to see featured at this year's conference. Today we also launched a podcast to announce the dates for AAC2025 and encourage speakers from across the sector including early career researchers and researchers from developing countries. Listen now. AAC2025 will be held from Wednesday 3 to Friday 5 December. The call for papers will be launched in July with posts on all Devpol channels including our fortnightly newsletter. Sign up now.

Hello Tagolyn, thank you so much for your interest. You can contact me on the email address provided to you by the Devpolicy Blog editors.

Very important and relevant comment. Perhaps should be the focus of the next AAC?

Thanks for this Lisa, it is good to see some optimism among the frustration and disappointment. One of my fears though is that this is going to push back the localisation and decolonisation agendas and fuel an even more arduous approach to risk from donors. The 'efficiency' and 'waste' narrative, the fake news and misrepresentation of some of the programs USAID was supporting, the obsession with labelling anything to do with equality and rights as 'woke' -- fighting a disinformation machine seems like a challenging task for an already gutted sector. Among aid sceptics there is very little understanding that localisation is a tool for effectiveness, not a 'risk' to donor funds, for example. There's still even scepticism among the uninformed about the effectiveness of cash, for example, despite so much evidence. It worries me. Especially as we are heading into an election campaign period ourselves. One thing I would add to your list is that we need to ensure we don't walk away from rights-based approaches just to appease loud, uninformed voices. We should be loudly and firmly communicating why we invest in this work and addressing disinfo head on. On that note, I was really pleased to see Australia's new International Gender Equality Strategy come out in the midst of all this -- I was heartened that our government was clearly affirming our commitments.

I completely agree!

Hi Ben, You will have to reach out to the Cocoa Board to find out more details: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cocoa-Board-Of-Papua-New-Guinea/61565939244651/?_rdr Tom

Hi James, Thanks for reading. You will have to reach out to the Cocoa Board to find out more details: https://www.facebook.com/people/Cocoa-Board-Of-Papua-New-Guinea/61565939244651/?_rdr Tom