The Centre for Excellence in Financial Inclusion (CEFI) completed a five day Training of Trainers (TOT) program for the Department of Treasury’s Labor Mobility Unit at the CEFI office in Port Moresby.
The initiative was part of the Labor Mobility Unit Worker Preparedness Program, aimed at ensuring Papua New Guinean workers heading to Australia and New Zealand are financially equipped to manage their earnings responsibly and sustainably.
Participants included Regional Hub Coordinators from the Highlands, Momase, New Guinea Islands, and Southern/Central regions, as well as three Assistant Directors and other LMU officers from NCD.
Fourteen officers including six females took part in the training, representing Lae, Mount Hagen, Bougainville, East New Britain, West New Britain, Abau/Central Province, Simbu, and NCD.
On Friday 08th August, 2025 a mini graduation ceremony was held to certify the 14 officers who sucessfully completed the week long training.
Manager of the Corporate Affairs Department – Bank of Papua New, Mr Jerome Peniasi, congratulated the graduates and noted the importance of financial literacy as a necessity rather than a luxury. He explained that the training focused on two core components: savings and budgeting with the aim of turning seasonal workers into financial literacy champions capable of turning income into investments and sustainable livelihoods. He underlined LMU’s target of facilitating temporary overseas employment for 8,000 citizens annually by 2025, stressing that financial education was key benefiting families and communities in PNG.
Director of the LMU Ms. Hakaua Harry described the event as an important step in building staff capacity to better prepare workers heading to seasonal jobs overseas. She credited the World Bank for initiating the programme and emphasized that financial literacy would empower coordinators to train others in budgeting and savings. “We are preparing our people to know how to manage their money before they leave,” she said, adding that this was important for long-term benefits beyond the work contracts.
World Bank representative Mr Thomas Walker commended the participants, highlighting the organization’s commitment to supporting labour mobility initiatives in PNG. Drawing on regional research, he observed that workers’ outcomes vary greatly depending on their preparation. “Some save and build futures; others return with little to show,” he said. He urged graduates to extend their training not only to workers but also to families and communities, reinforcing that saving and money management are important for resilience and poverty prevention.
Also present to witness the graduation was CEFI’s Acting Executive Director Mr. Peter Samuel.
Speaking on behalf of the participants, Ms Ellen Morgan described the week as “challenging but fun,” noting that the training provided structured methods to deliver financial literacy sessions not only to workers bound for Australia but also to their families, youths, and women in their communities. She emphasized the role of financial skills in nation-building, adding that families play a critical role in supporting workers to achieve long-term goals.
Mr Stoney Yanopa, LMU Coordinator for Sinaiseo District, Chimbu Province, said the training was personally beneficial, teaching him to budget and prioritise needs over wants. He expressed hope that the knowledge would help returning workers start small businesses and improve their standard of living. Mr Yanopa urged LMU to continue offering such training, describing coordinators as “the eyes and ears” in communities who can deliver financial literacy where it is most needed.
Ms Lynna Joel, Training and Skills Development Manager, thanked CEFI, facilitators, drivers, and LMU leadership for their support. She encouraged graduates to apply their training plans and extend the knowledge to families as well as workers. “You are now equipped with the certificate to go in and train,” she said, urging participants to sustain their commitment.
The TOT program successfully equipped LMU officers with both the technical knowledge and facilitation skills needed to deliver financial literacy training within their regions.
By strengthening the capacity of these coordinators, CEFI and its partners have contributed to ensuring that PNG workers participating in labor mobility schemes are better prepared to make informed and sustainable financial decisions abroad.
Ends.
Image caption: The training brought together participants from the Labour Mobility Unit who engaged in interactive learning activities and practical exercises (pictured). The programme concluded with a mini graduation ceremony where participants proudly received their certificates of participation, marking a significant step towards strengthening financial literacy capacity for Papua New Guineans working abroad.
