Bougainvilleans living outside Bougainville will have a chance to tell the Autonomous Bougainville Government how to improve government awareness to them.

An online survey will be launched this Sunday 24 February 2019 and publicised through social media to get wide reach of Bougainvilleans living outside the region.

ABG Director of Media and Communications Adriana Schmidt, said the online survey would take about 15 minutes and focused on understanding how people living outside the region are getting information about ABG and the upcoming referendum.

“We know good awareness is key to keeping people informed and confident about what is happening to decide Bougainville’s future political status,” Ms Schmidt said.

The independent survey is being conducted by the Queensland University of Technology, using Bougainville researchers who produced the first Bougainville Audience Study in 2015.

“This survey will tell us how people get their information, what their preferred channels are, and what their current level of understanding is about the ABG, the Peace Agreement and referendum preparations.”

The online survey is one strategy of the second Bougainville Audience Study to improve government information. In December last year Bougainville researchers undertook 570 individual surveys and conducted over 200 focus group discussion across Bougainville. The online survey will capture the views of people living outside Bougainville as well as focus group discussions.

The second Study will compare results with the first Study conducted in 2015.

“Based on the findings of the 2015 study, the ABG has made a lot of improvements to government information. We now have the ABG website and Facebook page, we have produced 13 editions of the Bougainville Bulletin, and conducted over 300 community discussions and broadcasts with our Radio Ples Lain and video teams. We also have made videos, fact sheets and posters.”

“What we want to know now is how effective have we been, and how can we do better to reach people in Bougainville and those outside.”

The survey link will be available and promoted from this Sunday 24 February until 10 March. Bougainvilleans living outside Bougainville are encouraged to complete the survey as openly and honestly as possible. All information will be confidential and answers will not be identifiable.

Copies of the first Bougainville Audience Study can be downloaded at: www.abg.gov.pg/reports

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