Mentor Future Leaders in PNG – Build Skills, Strengthen Governance, Create Lasting Change

The Diocese of Kundiawa, through Palms International Volunteering, is strengthening governance, accountability, and workplace performance across its education, health, and administrative services. We are seeking an experienced professional to mentor local staff in financial management, auditing, and continuous improvement practices—helping build a more capable, confident, and sustainable workforce.

This role is ideal for someone who values relationship based development, cultural immersion, and long term impact.

What you’ll do

First few weeks – Learn, observe, build trust

• Learn local language, cultural norms, and workplace context with support from a local mentor.
• Build relationships across the institute
• Document existing strengths, systems, and community assets.
• Avoid recommending changes during this period—focus on understanding why things are done the way they are.

Ongoing responsibilities

• Assess the financial management skills of administrative and finance staff.
• Develop simple, practical financial processes tailored to each agency’s needs.
• Provide regular coaching (one to one and group) to build confidence and capability.
• Conduct short interval performance appraisals to track learning and progress.
• Lead quarterly audits with mentees to reinforce skills and embed best practice.
• Support the development of a pool of trained financial personnel for future vacancies.
• Document progress, stories of change, and evidence of improved performance.

You may also be asked to support additional diocesan institutions such as Rosary Kondiu High School or Dirima Ladies College.

What you’ll bring

• Experience in Administration and Finance and development of employees’ performance.
• Training expertise across design, delivery, implementation, and assessment.
• Strong mentoring, relationship-building, communication, and teamwork skills.
• Patience, adaptability, and cultural sensitivity.
• The ability to cope with cultural isolation and different living standards
• Commitment to serve for 12 months with limited resources.

What you’ll gain

• Deep cultural immersion in the PNG Highlands.
• The opportunity to build genuine, long term partnerships.
• Professional experience in cross cultural mentoring and capacity development.
• A meaningful role contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education), SDG 3 (Good Health & Wellbeing), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

About the Diocese of Kundiawa Kundiawa is a small but vibrant provincial capital in the central Highlands of Papua New Guinea. The Diocese oversees schools, health services, and community programs across the region. Staff are dedicated and hardworking, but many require structured mentoring to strengthen long term planning, accountability, and financial management.

About Palms International Volunteering For 65 years, Palms International Volunteering has supported skilled Australians to live and work alongside communities in the Asia-Pacific. Our volunteers don’t ‘fix’ problem - they build relationships, strengthen local capacity, and walk with communities striving for dignity and opportunity.

These are ‘solidarity placements’. Accommodation and a small stipend is provided, as well as preparation and ongoing support. The focus is on living as a true neighbour to learn, and to establish an effective mentoring role. This is the basis for lasting capacity building in the community. It is also a chance for you to step out of the rush and reconnect with what matters through a deep cultural immersion and genuine community relationships.