The international program was funded for a number of small projects in different areas of reproductive health.

The three year grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation had the following objectives:

• To promote knowledge, education and research, paying attention to the needs of indigenous people, both within Australia and internationally.
• To identify and support specific development projects which promote reproductive health and enhance the status of women and girls, in the Pacific Islands.
• To conduct a Pacific Regional Workshop on expanding men's roles and participation in reproductive health.
• To develop in close consultation with partners, projects based on careful needs analysis and management of the implementation, monitoring and reporting of field projects in the Pacific Islands.
• To develop a comprehensive international program strategy for ARHA.
• To promote public support for the improvement in the well-being and status of women and in the reproductive health of individuals and families.

Pacific Men’s Workshop Nadi, Fiji

ARHA in conjunction with the Reproductive and Family Health Association of Fiji, hosted a Pacific Men’s Workshop in October 2003, which brought together men who were actively working in reproductive health programs with men who were working in NGO programs in the community.

The aim of the workshop was to identify practical ways in which to provide services to men and support their constructive involvement in their own health and that of their female partners and families.

The background to the Men’s Workshop was the Program of Action (POA), adopted by consensus at the International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD) which stresses that males as well as females must have access to appropriate information and services to achieve good sexual health and exercise their reproductive rights and responsibilities. Men’s roles are seen as part of a strategy to strengthen preventative programs that address threats to women’s health. In the Pacific region men tend to be the main policy makers, media gatekeepers, religious leaders, managers, community leaders and heads of households. Men who are educated about sexual and reproductive health are more likely to support their partners.

The facilitators were Dr Michael Flood and Ms Mili Kaitani and the workshop was attended by over 25 men from countries across the Pacific. Participants represented government and non-government organisations that are involved in men’s health at the level of policy or program implementation.

Read the report ARHA produced from the workshop.

Men’s Forum Bougainville

A two day Men’s Forum was held in Arawa, Bougainville 19-20 February 2003. The forum was conducted and sponsored by a trainer from ARHA in partnership with Bougainville Community Integrated Development Association (BOCIDA). Men from NGOs, churches and health services were invited to participate.

The aims of the workshop were: 

- Explore men’s attitudes to parenting and find ways to improve this role
- Learn more about health issues affecting men and women
- Discuss marital relations and relationships

PNG & Australia Reproductive Health Indicators