Australia is supporting Cricket PNG to establish a new Women's Cricket Program which helps young girls to experience cricket and enhance their skills during term breaks.

To do this, Cricket PNG is providing Boy Free Zone Cricket Games to introduce the game to more girls and women.

Delivered by the national women's cricket team, the "Lewas", the program delivers awareness and advocacy activities with women and girls and assisting in training programs on and off the field. The activities will form part of Cricket PNG's broader Kriket Bilong Olgeta program.

While getting more girls onto the field is a key priority, the program will also refer girls and women to services from groups including the Young Women's Christian Association PNG, Anglicare, PNG Education Advocacy Network (PEAN) and World Vision to enhance health, foster self-esteem and provide opportunities for leadership.

"Sport has tremendous potential to improve the lives of children and families and strengthen communities," Australia's High Commissioner to PNG, Ms Deborah Stokes, said.

"Women and girls must have equal rights to access and participate in sport. The Women's Cricket Program will provide girls and women with opportunities to play, build social networks, get social support and develop their leadership potential."

Ms Nellie Pabulu, Kriket Bilong Olgeta Program Coordinator, said, "Cricket PNG would like to positively change existing gender norms and help girls and women move into public spaces without any fear."

"Moreover, the women's cricket program should provide opportunities to bring communities together and help realise development objectives relating to such issues as (post) conflict management, reproductive health and gender –based violence."

The Kriket Bilong Olgeta program is part of the Australian Government's Pacific Sports Partnerships, which is funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, in partnerships between the Australian Sports Commission and Australian sport organisations, and their counterpart regional and national sport federations in the Pacific.

Pacific Sports Partnerships aim to strengthen the delivery of quality sport for development activities in Pacific communities by building the skills of local administrators, coaches and officials.