Meeting our colleagues in person remains one of the greatest privileges of TPA’s work. The warmth, generosity and professional commitment shown by our partners in Vietnam and Cambodia continue to inspire our Australian volunteers and strengthen the bonds that underpin every case discussion and teaching session.

Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, Hanoi

At Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, it was a privilege to reconnect with the dynamic Respiratory, Nutrition and Surgical ICU teams, along with the Endocrinology nursing group. Lively and practical discussions are continuing between these teams and Australian subspecialists, with shared case reviews and forward planning already underway for 2026.

We were honoured to meet with Dr Cao Viet Tung, Vice Director, who expressed sincere appreciation for TPA’s ongoing support. Further meetings with Haematology and Stem Cell teams opened important conversations about additional collaboration in the coming year.

The commitment of our Vietnamese colleagues to improving complex paediatric care is remarkable.

The foundations laid during this visit position 2026 to be a year of deepened partnership and expanded teaching.

Cambodia

In Cambodia, meetings centred on child protection training at the National Paediatric Hospital. We extend heartfelt thanks to Prof Karen Zwi and Dr Lauren Chong for generously sharing their expertise. Their sessions focused on early detection, early intervention, and safeguarding vulnerable groups. It was heartening to witness growing engagement and understanding among Cambodian clinicians, and to begin shaping plans for further work in 2026.

TPA meetings included Prof Eap Tek Chheng and Prof Chean Sophal.

Cambodian mentor group

A special acknowledgement to our Cambodian mentor group colleagues: cardiology, respiratory, emergency and endocrinology. Their drive to learn continues to inspire their Australian mentors:

• Dr Mim Scharkie
• Dr Nitin Arora
• Dr Hannah Corbett
• Dr Stephanie Alexander

Since late 2025, Dr Uma Visser and Dr Caroline Fox have also joined the mentor group effort. Their excellent teaching and the diligence of their Cambodian colleagues demonstrate the power of sustained professional relationships.

In August 2025, Richard Webster from The Children’s Hospital at Westmead provided face to face clinical teaching at Angkor Hospital for Children and at the National Paediatric Hospital in Phnom Penh. His time on the ground strengthened neurology capacity and complemented our ongoing virtual teaching.

Big News for Little Lives: Newborn Screening for Congenital Hypothyroidism in Solomon Islands

Early detection. Timely intervention. Lifelong impact.

Welcoming Dr Viliame Sotutu

We are delighted to welcome Viliame Sotutu to the TPA Advisory Group. Dr Sotutu is an experienced paediatrician and currently Head of Paediatrics in Mt Isa. His Fijian heritage and understanding, together with his professional connections throughout the South Pacific and New Zealand, bring invaluable cultural insight and regional expertise to TPA’s strategic planning. We look forward to the guidance he will provide as our Pacific work continues to expand.

Growing Professional Collaborations

Partnership built on trust, warmth and shared purpose.

TPA’s collaborations continue to broaden the expertise available to our overseas colleagues. Our partnership with the Australian College of Neonatal Nurses is enhancing neonatal nursing engagement and awareness of challenges faced in low resource settings.

Similarly, collaboration with Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine is expanding developmental medicine input and strengthening multidisciplinary knowledge exchange.

These relationships are mutually beneficial. Australian clinicians gain insight into global child health realities, while our partners access expanded subspecialty expertise.

Matchboard Charity Partnership

TPA was honoured to be selected as Matchboard’s official charity partner for Executive Connections 2025, bringing together 70 senior Customer Leaders in Sydney in September 2025. For every meeting held during the event, including their innovative speed networking sessions, $20 was donated to TPA.

Through this generous initiative, $1000 was raised to support our programs. This generous support helps us connect Australian paediatric subspecialists with clinicians in low-resource communities across the Indo-Pacific and in remote Australia, strengthening child health where it is needed most.

We extend our sincere thanks to Matchboard for championing global child health and are deeply grateful for this creative and practical support, and for the opportunity to introduce new networks to TPA’s mission.

Strengthening Paediatric Oncology in the Solomon Islands

Taking Paediatrics Abroad (TPA) is delighted to announce that two Fellows from the National Referral Hospital (NRH), Honiara – Dr. Steven Hugo Lumasa and Sister Dora Gonu – have completed a three-month observership at the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network (SCHN) through the Australia Awards Fellowship program.

The Australia Awards Fellowship program, funded by the Australian Government, aims to build networks of influence and leadership by strengthening partnerships between Australian organisations and partner organisations in the region and around the world. Fellowships target senior and mid-career officials and professionals who are in a position to advance development outcomes in priority areas and increase the institutional capacity of partner countries through their leadership.

TPA warmly acknowledges the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT) commitment to advancing health outcomes in the Pacific and recognises that this Fellowship would not be possible without DFAT’s generous support.

The Fellowship builds on several years of collaboration between NRH paediatricians and SCHN’s Dr Luciano Dalla-Pozza and recently, Dr Draga Barbaric, through regular TPA-facilitated telehealth consultations. These case discussions have guided the establishment of the Solomon Islands’ first paediatric oncology service, with several children already successfully completing cancer treatment locally.

The Fellows, a paediatrician and a nurse educator, are uniquely placed to bring back new knowledge, clinical skills, and professional networks to strengthen paediatric oncology services at NRH. Their involvement will also enable the training and mentoring of colleagues, ensuring that the benefits of this Fellowship extend to both current and future generations of children.

TPA extends sincere gratitude to DFAT, to NRH Honiara for its leadership, and to the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network for generously hosting this observership. Together, these partnerships are advancing health equity and building stronger systems for children in the Pacific.

Every case discussion, every teaching session, and every face to face visit reflects a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children with complex medical conditions across the Indo-Pacific.

Across Vietnam, Cambodia, the Solomon Islands, Papua New Guinea and the Pacific, our partnerships continue to deepen. Every case discussion, every teaching session, and every face-to-face visit reflects a shared commitment to improving outcomes for children with complex medical conditions.

To our Australian volunteers, international colleagues, donors and partners, thank you. Your expertise, generosity and dedication make this work possible.

We look forward to building on these foundations throughout 2026.