Papua New Guinean Clinicians complete Critical Care through Observership at Cairns Hospital

Photographs and content contributed by Cairns Hospital and Hinterland Health Service

Six clinicians from across Papua New Guinea have completed a specialised clinical observership at Cairns Hospital and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service, gaining hands-on experience as part of a regional effort to strengthen health systems in Australia's neighbouring countries.

Two groups, comprising three doctors and three nurses in total, undertook a two-week placement in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in November 2025 and April 2026 as part of the Regional Emergency and Critical Care Systems Strengthening Initiative (RECSI). Supported by National St John Ambulance PNG as the consortium implementing partner, the clinicians travelled from Port Moresby General Hospital, Goroka Provincial Hospital and ANGAU Memorial Hospital in Lae to take part in the program.

Image 1: (L-R) Cairns Hospital ICU nurse unit manager Gillian Tassell, with PNG clinicians Rose Mathias, Kila Virobo, and Dr David Saia.

Each group spent time immersing themselves in the Intensive Care unit, being involved in daily workflows, and sharing insights into clinical skills, data systems and unit management.

Dr David Saia, originally from Milne Bay Province and working as a Medical Officer in PMGH’s intensive care unit noted the benefits of gaining exposure to different systems, including patient data management.  “I also want to gain a deeper understanding of electronic patient records system. In PNG, like at Port Moresby, it's much more hands-on. Here, everything's digitally stored—it's a game-changer for accessing data” he said.

Dr Saia said he had also valued multidisciplinary team discussions and seamless communication tools, observing how they fostered clarity in high-stakes environments like the ICU.

Ms Mathias, from the Chimbu Province and working within the newly built ICU at her hospital in Lae, said she was impressed by evidence-based nursing protocols, structured handovers, and bedside team leadership - innovations she plans to champion back home. ‘The nursing handover process is new; I can help my nurses improve and initiate changes for better patient care,’ she said.

Fellow clinician Ms Virobo, from the Central Province, said she was eager to share knowledge gained in Cairns with her colleagues back home. “With full resources here, you deliver top-quality care—something we advocate for amid our sustainability issues,” she said.

Image 2: (L-R) Cairns Base Hospital Intensive Care Doctor Grace Pearson, with PNG clinicians Dr Priscilla Nonge, Dr Daisly-Anne Imona and Sr Doris Yambaha. 

The placements supported mutual learning, with Cairns Hospital ICU nurse unit manager Gillian Tassell noting how the initiative was an exciting opportunity for staff to engage with nurses and doctors from across the Pacific. ‘While they are here to observe and learn from us, we are also learning from them and gaining an appreciation of how well resourced we are in Australia,’ she said.

The observerships at Cairns Hospital contribute to deepening clinical partnerships between Australia and its neighbouring region, reinforcing a shared commitment to high-quality acute care for all. 

RECSI is a partnership-based initiative supported by the Australian Government through the Partnerships for a Healthy Region Initiative.