Pacific spotlight on Barbara Sobi: shaping nursing and emergency readiness in Papua New Guinea
30 Mar 2026
Written by Erika Lu
As a Nurse unit manager of the operating theatre at Port Moresby General Hospital, Barbara Sobi plays an essential role in surgical care and emergency preparedness in PNG.
Alongside her clinical leadership, she is dedicated to strengthening perioperative nursing capability through training, mentorship and her contribution to the Papua New Guinea Emergency Medical Team (PNG EMT).
Through her involvement with the National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre (NCCTRC), Barbara has further developed her skills as a clinician, instructor and mentor. These opportunities have enabled her to share knowledge with colleagues across PNG while building the skills needed to respond to health emergencies in the region.
Her motivation for pursuing nursing began with a simple but powerful inspiration. As a young student, Barbara was inspired by a nurse whose compassion and dedication left a lasting impression. This sparked her lifelong commitment to helping others and ensuring patients receive high-quality care.
From the operating theatre to emergency response
Barbara began her nursing career in 1994 graduating from the Lae School of Nursing before working in her hometown Alotau. She later joined Port Moresby General Hospital, the nation's primary referral public hospital.
Her work in operating theatre exposed her to complex surgical cases requiring precision, teamwork and strong clinical judgement.
As a national referral hospital serving communities across the country, the hospital exposes me to complex cases that require precision, teamwork and strong clinical judgement.
“My background is perioperative nursing and I welcomed the challenge of emergency work,” she added. “Working in the operating theatre, I see trauma cases coming straight from the emergency department and being part of the PNG EMT has pushed me beyond my comfort zone.”
Through these experiences, Barbara built a strong foundation in clinical care and emergency preparedness.
After more than 3 decades in nursing, Barbara remains committed to continuous learning. “Each training I participate in gives me new knowledge and skills that I can apply in my work and pass on to others,” she said.
Through her involvement with the NCCTRC Regional Engagement Program (REP), she completed 2 key trainings: the Major Incident Medical Management and Support (MIMMS) course and the MIMMS Generic Instructor Course (GIC). She also participated in the AUSMAT Surgical Team Member course during the 2025 AUSMAT National Field Exercise in Darwin.
Completing the MIMMS GIC was key milestone. As the only nurse in her cohort, Barbara stepped outside her comfort zone to develop teaching, facilitation and assessment skills.
“Since the MIMMS GIC, I’ve taught and mentored young nurses at my workplace. The course taught me valuable skills as an instructor and showed me how to structure teaching and provide effective feedback,” she explained.
Being an instructor is not just about giving instructions; it’s about allowing nurses to process, ask questions and engage in discussions.
Barbara now applies these skills within the operating theatre, running regular teaching sessions that combine practical demonstrations, discussions and competency assessments to build confidence, clinical skills and preparedness among nurses.
Her participation in the AUSMAT Surgical Team course further broadened her understanding of multidisciplinary EMT operations.
“The training in Darwin was a humbling experience,” Barbara said. “Learning alongside surgeons, anaesthetists and physicians inside the AUSMAT EMT Type 2 field hospital gave me insights into using resources effectively in austere environments.”
As a member of the PNG EMT, Barbara shares these lessons to strengthen national readiness and support future health emergency responses.
Barbara is also focused on building a legacy through mentorship.
“I am extending the skills and knowledge I learned to nurses across my country – helping them see how the perioperative role is essential to managing disasters,” Barbara added.
From her beginnings as a young nursing student, Barbara continues to strengthen nursing leadership in PNG by sharing her expertise and mentoring the next generation of nurses.
She encourages emerging nurse leaders to embrace growth and opportunity. “Take challenges as they come. Nursing has evolved. Leadership and education opportunities now exist in every discipline,” she concluded.
I worked in my hometown Alotau for a few years before moving to Port Moresby General Hospital – the primary referral public hospital in PNG.