WLI alumna, Makonong Kumpio from Papua New Guinea (PNG) is a practicing social worker and educator with several years’ experience supporting survivors of family violence to access housing and justice in Australia and PNG.
With gender-based violence (GBV) a critical issue in Papua New Guinea, Makonong is deeply passionate about driving policy change to better support and train first-line responders to address family violence and child protection in PNG.
Makonong – who has a Master of Social Work from Australian Catholic University – has worked to mainstream policies within education institutions, ensuring that child protection and the prevention of sexual exploitation, abuse, and violence is upheld.
In her current position, she plays a key role in terms of safeguarding and prevention in Port Moresby, where she is leading the prevention team as Coordinator for Community Engagement and Programs with the National Capital District Commission.
In-depth learning & reflection
Committed to further developing her professional and leadership skills, Makonong, with support from WLI’s Leadership Fund, attended the 2026 Asia Pacific Coercive Control and Children Conference hosted by the Safe & Together Institute in Sydney. The conference brought together practitioners, policymakers, and researchers across the Asia Pacific region to strengthen responses to domestic and family violence, particularly coercive control and its impact on children.
“I wanted to enhance my professional knowledge and leadership capacity in GBV, child protection, and systems-level responses, as well as strengthen my ability to contribute to Gender Equality, Disability and Social Inclusion (GEDSI) informed programming, teaching and learning and improving GBV referral pathways in Papua New Guinea,” she says.
Makonong shared that thanks to the conference, her understanding of coercive control as an ongoing pattern of behavior has deepened. She now also has “practical grounding in the Safe & Together Model for child protection and GBV work”, and that she really benefitted from engaging in “in-depth learning, reflection, and professional dialogue with practitioners across various sectors including social work, law, health, and community development.”
“I strengthened my ability to apply survivor-centered, child-focused approaches in case management, sharpened my understanding of multi-sectoral coordination and GBV referral pathways, plus grew my awareness of culturally responsive approaches suited to the Pacific context,” says Makonong, who added that the experience also significantly strengthened her confidence as an emerging leader in PNG’s GEDSI and GBV sector.
“I learned that effective leadership requires not only technical knowledge but also the ability to influence systems, advocate for vulnerable populations, and work collaboratively across sectors. Also, the exposure to global best practices challenged me to reflect on my own approaches and identify areas for growth.”
Working towards positive change in PNG
Acutely aware of how important her work is, particularly in PNG, Makonong is keen to apply her newfound knowledge to help “strengthen GBV referral pathways and coordination between service providers, promote survivor-centered and child-focused approaches in service delivery, and building capacity among community organisations, faith-based groups, and government stakeholders in PNG.”
“I also want to help influence policy and practice through the integration of global best practices, such as the Safe & Together Model, and enhance GEDSI-informed programming and inclusive development approaches more broadly,” adds Makonong.
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Through the WLI Leaders Hub, alumni of the Women’s Developmental Leadership Program like Makonong can apply for and access workplace internships and professional development opportunities, including supported participation in international programs and conferences.