The Sisters of Mercy went from Australia to Papua New Guinea (PNG) in 1956. The first three young women from PNG were received as candidates in 1980. Traditionally the sisters have been involved in responding to the needs of the people of PNG through education, health and pastoral ministry.

Mercy Works PNG

The Mercy Works PNG (the development agency of the Institute of Sisters of Mercy of Australia & Papua New Guinea) projects offer skill development workshops, support groups and individual advocacy and referral services to families and individuals in need. Services covered include human rights awareness, health education, violence prevention, parenting skills, cooking, sewing, budgeting and income-generation activities. The projects empower young women, men and their families to address problems of unemployment, high rates of domestic violence, and HIV/AIDS. It supports a ‘safe motherhood’ training programme in remote villages where maternal and child death rates are excessively high. The Farm Education and Employment project supports unskilled and unemployed young men at risk.

The Mercy Education Programme provides young women who are disadvantaged with literacy, cooking and sewing skills and opportunities to complete their secondary education.

Refugees in Papua New Guinea

There are large numbers of refugees in PNG. Mercy Works Inc. supports the work of the Social Programme for Refugees.