Anthony “Tony” Healy’s story stood out during this year’s International Volunteers Day, celebrating the enduring partnerships fostered through the Australian Volunteers Program (AVP).
Tony is an Australian Volunteer whose work in PNG exemplifies the spirit of collaboration and innovation that drives positive change through Cricket PNG and its community outreach.
After a 35-year teaching career in Melbourne, Tony embraced the opportunity to volunteer internationally, motivated by a lifelong connection to PNG and a passion for sport.
Since joining AVP, Tony has contributed to grassroots development through AFL and cricket initiatives, working alongside local colleagues to create programs that are inclusive, educational, and culturally relevant.
In partnership with Cricket PNG, Tony helped launch the Table Cricket program, an innovative adaptation designed for students with restricted mobility and disabilities.
This initiative, first introduced at Cheshire Services, transforms a ping pong table into a miniature cricket ground, enabling children in wheelchairs to experience the joy of cricket and to meaningful participation in sport.
Over the next six months, Tony and Cricket PNG will expand this program, promoting cricket as “the world’s most inclusive game.”
Reflecting on his experience, Tony says that embracing local culture is key.
“Working with local staff in both PNG and Fiji has been the highlight of my time as a volunteer. To be a successful volunteer in PNG, you need to embrace the culture and embrace the people. They are simply the best,” he said.
Tony’s commitment to education has also led to the creation of a sequential mathematics program for middle-year students, integrating cricket into the classroom.
Developed with Helai Willie, Cricket PNG’s scorer and data specialist, the program uses real game scenarios to teach probability, statistics, and data analysis. Trialed at Zion Zeal Christian School, the lessons have already shown remarkable engagement with the students, with plans to roll out across the country in 2026.
Australian Volunteers Program supports locally led development by placing skilled volunteers with partner organizations across PNG and beyond. These partnerships strengthen people-to-people ties between PNG and Australia and deliver sustainable outcomes in education, health, sports, and community development.