“We’re proud to play a part in supporting PNG’s emergency ambulance service, and ability to provide increased primary healthcare to communities and rural villages,” Chief of Joint Operations Lieutenant General Greg Bilton, AM, CSC said.

The PNG Troop Carrier ambulances were refurbished in Darwin by St John Northern Territory (NT), which CEO Judith Barker said was a testament to the skills and expertise of the St John NT Mechanical Workshop.

“Our Mechanical Workshop is responsible for building and maintaining the NT ambulance fleet, which operates in often extreme weather and environmental conditions. We are pleased to share this expertise with St John PNG as they too work in similar conditions,” Barker said.

“These vehicles are dedicated off-road 4WD response vehicles. They will be used in remote areas, with rough terrain, for specialised medical emergency retrievals. St John NT has worked with a number of Australian suppliers to ensure the PNG ambulances are fitted out with equipment suitable for the challenging conditions they are likely to face.”  

Defence has delivered a total of three ambulances to PNG in the past month, along with other critical supplies and equipment to assist in the country’s response to the COVID-19 crisis.

“Defence is currently providing targeted assistance including technical and logistics support as part of the whole-of-Australian government support to PNG,” Lieutenant General Greg Bilton added.

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“This has included transporting Australian Medical Assistance Team (AUSMAT) personnel, medical equipment, vaccines and other humanitarian supplies to Port Moresby.”

[Related: HMAS Choules to transport emergency services vehicles to PNG]