The Highlands Foundation

19/02/2026

Join us for the FIRST PACKING DAY FOR 2026
Sunday 22nd Feb 1pm - 4pm
Tea, coffee , lunch, and refreshments served. Please bring a plate to share.
21 Dousa Road, Altona

What We Need

For BABIES:
knitted baby blankets 1.2msq
knitted baby jumpers (T-style are great)
Booties / socks
singlets
onsies 000 / 00
baby clothes 000 - 0
Reusable nappy covers
For WOMEN:
t-shirts/polo tops for women (size 14/16/18)
drawstring skirts ( length - below the knee) or fabric for sewers
new underwear (size 14/16/18 full brief)
gifts for women (beads, large-toothed comb, small purse)
bath towels
face washers
flannel sheets and PJs to make reusable hygiene kits (preferably darker colours)
Bags with handles for packs (contact Shan for pattern/size information)

Email Shan, our donations coordinator with any questions
highlandsfoundation.donations@gmail.com

HIGHLANDS FOUNDATION T-shirts will be available to purchase on Packing Day - $40

04/02/2026

29/01/2026

Update and first packing day for 2026! - https://mailchi.mp/c88f3d8f2b9a/update-and-first-packing-day-for-2026

23/11/2025

Our final packing day for the year. Some regulars and some new faces. Some new memberships and an AGM with changes to our exec team. Stay tuned for the minutes for details. We will be having more frequent packing days next year with the goal of getting this container on the sea to Hela province by the middle of the year. Stay tuned for dates.

Thank you to all of our volunteers and supporters. It’s been an amazing year with a lot achieved. Wishing everyone a safe and happy festive season. Look forward to seeing you all next year around February.

19/11/2025

Reminder about our AGM & Packing Day on Sunday 23 November -

 Sunday 23rd November  12:00 – 2:00 pm (AGM & lunch)  2:00 – 5:00 pm (Mini Packing Day)  21 Duosa Rd, Altona North

05/11/2025

On our way out of Port Moresby, Marie and Kylie met with the President of Rotary Club of Port Moresby Florence Willie and Midwifery advisor to the PNG Midwifery Society Julie Kep. We also met with a representative from PNG Ports. These in country connections are vital for the work of the Highlands Foundation.

03/11/2025

Our last day in Wewak East Sepik was spent networking and having meetings with Rotary Community Corp Wewak and UNICEF.
We also were interviewed by Journalist Justice Sangkol who will be publishing and airing the story of the Highlands Foundation projects on the radio and news articles. We are very grateful for a short but very productive trip to East Sepik.

02/11/2025

Today we went on a very bumpy 2hr drive to Yangoru district health centre to take some of the medical supplies and mother and baby packs.
We had an obstetrician and paediatrician with us. We found one woman in early labour. On assessment fundal height measured 47cm. We made the call that this woman needed to be referred to Wewak hospital due to the potential risks of a macrosomic (big) baby and possible shoulder dystocia and possible post partum haemorrhage, possible twin pregnancy. She was transferred immediatley. We also met a mother with a month old baby who walked in with a very sick baby who had a a high fever and hadn’t breast for many hours. Our paediatrician assessed the baby and diagnosed him with septicaemia and meningitis. Treatment of IV antibiotics was commenced and transfer to Wewak hospital was organised. We ended the day with wonderful hospitality at our host Linda Tano’s village where we enjoyed a traditional lunch of locally grown foods such as Taro, sweet potatoe, bananas and greens cooked in coconut milk, home grown chicken and sago.

01/11/2025

Saturday we did lots of distributions of supplies. Firstly to the operating theatres and emergency department in Wewak. We then saw two new mothers with newborns heading home on the back of a truck and we gave them some Mother and Baby Packs. We then headed off on a very rough and choppy boat ride to the Kuiruru Island health centre with more supplies. While we were there Marie had the honor of supporting staff to assist with a birth of a baby. We then realised the woman had undiagnosed twins and the second twin was not coming out so we transferred the family on the boat to the hospital. We will follow up what happened to them and if all was well. The Island health centre is very run down with no electricity or running water. Our supplies came in handy and we gave the mother 2 mother and baby packs.

31/10/2025

Kylie (Secretary) and Marie (President) are in Wewak East Sepik (PNG) officially handing over the container filled with necessary medical items. After many challenges and almost 2 years of hard work and dedication from our volunteers we are here to see the delivery of the container contents. During our short visit we are building partnerships and getting first hand experiences of the plight of the local health care workers addressing maternal and infant mortality.

29/10/2025

Our dynamic volunteers making a difference

29/10/2025

Correction - AGM & Packing Day on Sunday 23 November -

 Sunday 23rd November  12:00 – 2:00 pm (AGM & lunch)  2:00 – 5:00 pm (Mini Packing Day)  21 Duosa Rd, Altona North