The Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society (PNGRCS) was first established as a Branch of the Queensland Chapter of the Australian Red Cross in 1951. Following the country’s independence, it became a National Society in 1976. The Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society was established as an independent National Society under the Papua New Guinea Red Cross Society Incorporation Act 1976 and officially recognized as an auxiliary to the Government of PNG. Papua New Guinea Red Cross was thereafter recognized by the International Committee of the Red Cross in 1977 and admitted into the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) in October 1977. The National Society has its Headquarters in Port Moresby. It is structured as a network of 12 fully fledged Branches, one interim and one sub-branch established in 13 provinces out of the 22 provinces in the country.