Rising Up: How Two Women Took Volleyball from Vanuatu to the World

Nov 18, 2025 | Sports, Sista i Shine | 0

Miller Pata is from from the islands of Banks in Vanuatu and Debbie Masauvakalo from Darwin in Australia, but their paths crossed through a shared dream. What started as a simple love for volleyball became a journey that transformed both of their lives and changed the face of women’s sport in Vanuatu. This is their story.

Debbie

I was born in Darwin, Northern Territory, and started playing volleyball at 14. By 15, I was representing the Northern Territory under-16s at the Australian National Championships.

I first met Miller in 2006 at the provincial games in Ambae– I was an Australian Volunteer at the Vanuatu Ministry of Youth and Sports. She was quiet and reserved, but you could see the determination in her eyes.

In November 2007, at the national championship in Port Vila, she played for Torba Province winning the gold medal and earning her spot in the national volleyball squad.

My proudest moment was in 2015, the team participated in the 5th FIVB Beach Volleyball World Tour Grand Slam at Long Beach and beat the number one ranked team and World Champions – Brazil, in a thrilling 2-1 match. Miller trained to be the best, and in 2015 she beat the best, Brazil.

I remember asking her when she arrived back at the airport, “How did you beat the number one team in the world?” Miller replied: “No-one thought we could beat them, but we believed.”

Watching her rise from player to – eventually — national head coach was absolutely inspiring.

Miller

A lot of people don’t realise this, but Debbie created beach volleyball in Vanuatu as we know it today. She is like our mother figure and deserves all the praise for gifting us this incredible sport, helping us through the hard times, and opening the door to opportunities to grow ourselves and build on our volleyball careers.

I grew up on Mota Lava in the Banks Islands, one of five children. We didn’t have much, but we had each other and we had volleyball.

I started playing in primary school and I fell in love with the game.

I was selected for the new national volleyball team in 2007. Later that year, we represented Vanuatu at the Oceania Beach Volleyball Championship in Samoa where we won silver and that was the start of everything.

Debbie

When I came to Vanuatu as an Australian Volunteer in 2004, it was meant to be for 12months.But when the Director of the Department of Youth and Sports at that time said, “If you leave, nothing will continue,” I stayed. That decision changed my life.

Back then, beach volleyball was almost unknown. One day I thought, we can build something here. So, with a few locals, I founded the Port Vila Beach Volleyball Association (PVBA).We started small, hosting weekend competitions at Mele Beach and Erakor Island Resort and soon the spark began to grow.

When I heard Vanuatu had medalled at the Oceania Championships, I knew there was talent waiting to be developed. That was when I realised this could become something much bigger.

Miller

From 2007to 2022, I represented Vanuatu internationally—in Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, England, winning more medals than I can remember.

My proudest moments came in 2018 and 2022, when we won bronze at the Commonwealth Games. In 2013, we partook in the 9th FIVB World Championship in Poland.

That was my final game as a player. After sixteen years, I knew it was time to give back, so I became a coach, guiding young players in Vanuatu to find the same fire that once drove me. Now, I coach juniors and seniors, from under-12s to under-21s. I tell them, if you love this sport, give it your heart. Don’t just play for fun, play with purpose.

Debbie

In 2013, Miller was awarded the Batch of Distinction Award from the President of Vanuatu during Independence Day. And in 2015, she was voted as the world’s most inspirational player.

But it wasn’t easy. When we missed qualifying for the Rio Olympics by just one spot, it felt like the world had collapsed. We finished seventeenth while the top sixteen went through. Miller was devastated.

I told her, “Don’t give up. We’ve already qualified for the Commonwealth Games, you need to keep going.” And she did. Even with a baby in her arms, she trained, played and led with courage.

In 2018, she competed at the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games with her seven-month-old baby. We weren’t allowed to stay in the athletes’ village because of the baby, but Miller kept going. They later changed the rules because of Miller so that mothers with young children can now stay in Games villages. That’s the kind of quiet, powerful change she brings.

Miller

Debbie was more than our president; she was our sister. She carried us through every storm. When we had no sponsors, no facilities, no support, she refused to quit.

She found ways to keep us going, organising trips, finding sponsors, and helping with our home struggles.

We trusted her completely because she cared for us beyond the sport.

When my father passed away, just a week before an Olympic qualifier in New Zealand, I wanted to quit. But Debbie helped me find the courage to continue.

Debbie

Volleyball taught me teamwork, confidence and how to keep pushing when things got tough.

In the early days, even uniforms were a battle for the women’s team because wearing competition bikinis went against the country’s cultural norms.

But step by step, the world changed. Now players can wear shorts and singlets, which is a small but meaningful victory for cultural respect and dignity.

Through our Volley for Change and World Para Volleyball programs, we’re also helping people with disabilities to play, learn and lead. Sport is more than a game, it’s a learning experience. It builds strong minds, strong hearts and strong communities.

Miller

Debbie taught me that leadership is about compassion and faith. Because of her, I learned to believe in myself, to speak up and to lead. She helped shape my journey from a shy island girl to a national coach.

Now when I look at my young players, I see myself. I tell them to focus, work hard and never let go of your dreams.

Debbie

Seeing Miller today as one of the only female head coaches in the world, and the only one in Oceania, makes me proud beyond words. We’ve walked a long road through heartbreaks, cultural challenges and small victories that became milestones.

We’re now focused on training more coaches to build the next generation. If we can empower more local coaches, we can reach more youth, more islands, more dreams. Sport creates leaders and leaders build nations.

When I see little girls playing on the beach now, I see hope. I tell them, no dream is too small, no goal too far.

Miller

For me, success has never been about medals or fame. It’s about the people who walk beside you. Debbie walked beside me through every win and every loss. Together, we’ve shown that women can lead, coach and dream as big as anyone.

My dream is to one day coach the Vanuatu team that qualifies for the Olympics. But even if that day takes time, I feel like we’ve already won because we’ve come so far in such a short time, and we’ve inspired a generation to believe in themselves.

Our story isn’t just about volleyball. It’s about friendship, faith and resilience. Because when women rise together, nations rise with them.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Labour Dep’t weighs review of long-term PALM participation over impact on children August 28, 2026
Vanuatu’s Labour Department is weighing a review of long-term participation in Australia’s Pacific Australia Labour Mobility (PALM) scheme, with the impact of workers’ prolonged absence on children and families emerging as a key concern. Commissioner of Labour (COL) James Willie said the department is currently holding internal discussions on the social impacts of labour mobility, particularly where parents remain overseas for extended periods while their children stay in Vanuatu. He said any future review of the programme needs to consider the experiences and concerns of children and families affected by long-term labour mobility. “We are now having in-house discussions,” Willie said. “The Department of Labour thinks we should focus on children and the impact on them.” Willie said the department is looking at long-term PALM workers, as well as workers who leave Vanuatu when they already have children or whose children are born while they are overseas. “There are some thoughts about reviewing long-term PALM participation, especially because we see the impact that a parent’s prolonged absence can have,” he said. The COL said the department was looking at two particular areas: long-term PALM participation and the circumstances of workers who leave Vanuatu while they have young children. He said the discussions are still at an internal stage and no final decision has been made to reduce or end participation in the programme. The Commissioner said the department intends to take the issue to a wider group and gather evidence and views from stakeholders, including the Child Desk, chiefs, churches and women’s organisations. “If there is anything to review, it is the impact on children,” he said. “What does the Child Desk register with us? What are the concerns of the Council of Women? We need to hear from them.” Willie said consultation with chiefs and churches would also form part of the department’s consideration as it examines the longer-term social impacts of labour mobility. The proposed review comes as Vanuatu continues to send workers to Australia and New Zealand through labour mobility programmes. Willie said the Government is also working on broader reforms to the country’s labour mobility framework, including a proposed replacement for the existing Seasonal Employment Act. He said the proposed legislation would seek to address some of the social issues that have emerged over the years of labour mobility. Among the measures being considered is a child support plan intended to address the impact of labour mobility on families. The Commissioner said the department would continue discussions and consultations before any review is taken forward. “The review, especially of long-term participation, is a priority when it comes to children,” Willie said. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Father sentenced to five-and-a-half years for sexually assaulting daughter August 27, 2026
The Supreme Court of Vanuatu has sentenced a 44-year-old father to five years and six months’ imprisonment after he was found guilty of sexually assaulting his five-year-old daughter. Justice Maree Mackenzie handed down the sentence on August 25, 2026. The father, who was a pastor, was convicted following a trial held on May 27 and 28, 2026. The verdict was delivered on June 17, 2026. The Court heard that the defendant was the father of the victim, whose name and identifying details have been permanently suppressed by order of the Court. According to the judgment, the family was living in Tanna in 2025. The Court heard that in April 2025, while the child’s mother was away from the home with the other children, the father sexually assaulted his daughter. The following day, the child told her mother that she was experiencing pain. Her mother then sought medical attention for her daughter. Following a medical examination, the Child Desk Office in Tanna became involved and a complaint was made to police. The prosecution subsequently charged the father with unlawful sexual intercourse under section 97(1) of the Penal Code [CAP 135], an offence carrying a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. There had initially been a second charge of unlawful sexual intercourse, but the prosecutor entered a nolle prosequiin relation to that charge at the conclusion of the prosecution case. In determining the sentence, Justice Mackenzie identified a number of aggravating factors. The Court said the offending represented a gross breach of trust, noting that the defendant was the child’s father and should have protected her. The Court also noted that the offending occurred in the family home, where the child was entitled to feel safe. The child’s age was another aggravating factor. She was only five years old at the time of the offending, while the defendant was 42. The Court also found that there was an element of planning because the defendant took the opportunity to offend when the child’s mother was away with the other children. Justice Mackenzie further considered the physical injury suffered by the child and the potential for long-term emotional and psychological harm. The judgment noted that while there was no specific evidence before the Court detailing the long-term psychological impact on the child, such harm from sexual abuse can be serious and may not become apparent until many years later. Both the prosecution and defence submitted that a starting point of six years’ imprisonment was appropriate. The Court considered previous Vanuatu cases involving unlawful sexual intercourse where the offending involved penetration. Justice Mackenzie referred to decisions including Public Prosecutor v Andy [2011] VUCA 14 and Public Prosecutor v Freddy [2019] VUSC 19. In Andy, the victim was 10 years old and the offending involved a breach of trust and injury. The Court of Appeal considered a starting point of between six and seven years’ imprisonment appropriate. In Freddy, the victim was under five years old and the offending caused injury. The starting point in that case was six years’ imprisonment. Justice Mackenzie found the offending in the present case to be at least as serious as those cases, particularly because of the child’s age, the breach of parental trust and the injury suffered. The Court therefore adopted a starting point of six years’ imprisonment. The Court then considered the defendant’s personal circumstances. He did not plead guilty and was convicted after trial, meaning he was not entitled to any reduction for an early guilty plea. He was 44 years old at the time of sentencing and had no previous convictions. The Court recognised his good character as a first offender and noted that he was regarded positively in his community. However, the Court also heard information in the presentence report concerning allegations of violent and aggressive behaviour at home. His wife had provided that information, which was also supported by another pastor. The defendant continued to deny committing the offence. Justice Mackenzie said that because he continued to deny the offending, there could be no reduction for remorse or for his stated willingness to undertake a custom reconciliation involving his wife and daughter. The Court reduced the six-year starting point by six months to recognise his good character as a first offender. The defendant had been held in custody since April 30, 2025. By the time of sentencing, he had spent approximately 16 months in custody, which the Court said equated to two years and eight months of imprisonment for sentencing purposes. That period was taken into account when the Court imposed the final sentence. The final sentence was therefore set at five years and six months’ imprisonment, backdated to begin from April 30, 2025. The Court also considered whether the sentence could be suspended under section 57 of the Penal Code. Justice Mackenzie said there were no exceptional circumstances that would justify suspending the sentence, either wholly or in part. The Court referred to previous Court of Appeal decisions which established that suspension of imprisonment in cases involving serious sexual abuse would only be appropriate in an extreme or exceptional case. Although the defendant was a first offender and was regarded positively in his community, the Court found that those factors could not outweigh the seriousness of the offending. Justice Mackenzie said the sentence needed to reflect accountability, deterrence and denunciation, particularly because the defendant had taken sexual advantage of his young daughter, who was highly vulnerable because of her age and the relationship of trust between them. The Court therefore ordered that he serve the sentence immediately. The defendant has 14 days to appeal against the sentence. The judgment was dated August 25, 2026, at Port Vila. The victim’s name and identifying details remain permanently suppressed by order of the Supreme Court. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Grandfather sentenced to more than four years for sexual offences against granddaughter August 27, 2026
A 64-year-old grandfather has been sentenced to four years, four months and 20 days in prison after pleading guilty to offences involving his teenage granddaughter. The Supreme Court of Vanuatu, presided over by Chief Justice (CJ) Vincent Lunabek, handed down the sentence on 21 August 2026. The defendant faced one count of an act of indecency with a young person, three counts of incest and one count of domestic violence. The Court heard that the complainant was 14 years old when the offending began in January 2024. According to the sentencing judgment, the offending continued on several occasions through 2024 and into 2025. The defendant initially pleaded guilty to the domestic violence charge on 7 April 2026 but pleaded not guilty to the remaining four charges. However, on 29 June 2026, when the trial was scheduled to begin, he changed his pleas and pleaded guilty to the act of indecency and all three incest charges. CJ Lunabek identified several aggravating factors, including the age difference between the defendant and the complainant, the breach of trust arising from their grandfather-granddaughter relationship, and the repeated nature of the offending over an extended period. The Court adopted a nine-year global starting point for the offending. The defendant received a 30 per cent reduction for his guilty pleas, followed by further reductions for personal and mitigating factors. The Court also took into account the five months and five days he had spent in custody before being released on bail. The Court noted that the defendant was a first-time offender and had made a customary compensation payment of VT50,000, together with several island food crops, to the complainant’s family. Despite the mitigating factors, the CJ declined to suspend the prison sentence, finding that there were no exceptional circumstances to justify suspension. The defendant was therefore ordered to serve four years, four months and 20 days’ imprisonment with immediate effect. He has 14 days to appeal the sentence. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

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Tari draws on six years in China to advise new scholars August 25, 2026
Fourteen Ni-Vanuatu students preparing to begin university studies in China have been urged to embrace the challenges of learning a new language, adapting to a different education system and living in an unfamiliar culture. The students, who will study at universities across China, including in Shanghai, Jiangsu and Beijing, received pre-departure advice last week, including from Delinson “Delly” Tari, a former Chinese scholarship recipient who spent six years studying in China. Tari was invited by the Chinese Embassy to share her experience with the new scholarship recipients and lessons from her time at Zhejiang University, where she completed a degree in Education. Speaking to the students, Tari said studying in China had been one of the most transformative experiences of her life, exposing her to a different education system, culture, language and way of seeing the world. “It is truly an honour to be invited back to share my journey with students who are now preparing to take the same step that I once took,” she said. “I hope that by sharing my experiences, the lessons I learned, and some of the challenges I faced, I can give you a better idea of what to expect and perhaps offer some encouragement as you begin your own journey.” Tari, who returned to China last month for a 10-day seminar, said one of her first challenges had been learning to use Chinese in everyday life. “Before I left, I had learned enough Chinese from USP to say a few words, and I left Vanuatu feeling fairly confident about it. But I quickly realised that knowing a few phrases is very different from actually listening to and using the language every single day,” she said. “Chinese got a lot more complex once it wasn’t just something I studied, but something I had to live in.” She said being surrounded by the language every day ultimately helped her learn faster. “Don’t panic if the reality feels harder than what you prepared for. That’s normal, and it’s actually a sign that you’re being pushed in the right direction,” Tari said. “As long as you stay focused and put in the work during your language year, you learn faster than you expected.” She encouraged the students to take their Chinese language studies seriously from the beginning, saying the language would help them make friends, communicate in everyday situations and adapt to life in China. Tari also recalled the difference between her workload at USP Emalus in Vanuatu and what she experienced at university in China. “Before I left, I was at USP Emalus here in Vanuatu, taking four courses at a time. To me, four courses felt like a lot, but in China, ‘a lot’ meant something else entirely. It meant eight or more courses a semester, sometimes even up to 12,” she said. Her advice was to complete as much coursework as possible in the first two years. “Take as many courses as you can in your first and second years of university. Your final year should belong to your thesis only, as that is hard enough on its own,” she said. She also encouraged the students to ask whether their universities offered courses in English and not to be afraid to speak up or ask for help. “You will not get anywhere if you keep to yourself,” she said. Tari’s other advice was to take their conduct and professional relationships seriously during classes and internships. “Watch how you carry yourself. During your classes or internships, show up on time, work hard, and be willing to learn. And don’t be afraid to show your work,” she said. “I’ve seen people being offered jobs by the very organisations they interned with. I’ve seen companies hire right from school fairs. I have many of my international friends working for big companies such as Huawei because they are well-spoken and excellent at building relationships.” She encouraged the students not to underestimate small opportunities. “So I encourage you not to look down on the little things you do. Think big,” Tari said. During her recent trip to China, Tari took part in the Young Leaders of Friendly Organizations in Oceania Seminar, which brought together young people from across the Pacific to discuss leadership and their role in building relationships between their countries and China. She said meeting young people from across the region reminded her that studying in China was also about becoming part of a wider Pacific community. “What stayed with me most wasn’t the lectures, it was the people. Talking with them made me realise something I hadn’t fully understood before: this isn’t just about me, you or Vanuatu going to China for an education,” she said. “There is a huge community of Pacific students in China right now, from Fiji, from Tonga, from Samoa, from all over our region, all learning, all growing, all working towards the same thing.” “Bettering our islands. And China knows this. China sees what we’re building and is standing behind us as we do it.” She told the students they would not be alone while studying thousands of kilometres from home. “When you go, you’re not just representing Vanuatu, you’re joining a whole network of Pacific people who are quietly, steadily, shaping the future of our region together, thousands of miles from home,” Tari said. “So you won’t be alone. You will have your brothers and sisters from all across the Pacific there with you.” Tari said her experience in China had been about more than earning a degree. “Studying in China was never just about the degree. It was about immersion, language, culture, and friendships that cross oceans, not only with the Chinese people who host us, but with our own Pacific brothers and sisters we meet along the way,” she said. As the students prepare to leave for China, Tari encouraged them to complete their academic and language requirements early and make time to explore their surroundings. “Get your coursework and language requirements out of the way early. read more…

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How Vanuatu women became the voice their communities needed August 25, 2026
The story of how four Australia Awards WLI Alumni in Vanuatu turned a workshop they attended into a movement they now lead, and why it matters for every young person in the country Somewhere in Vanuatu right now, a young person is staring at a message on their phone that makes them feel afraid, ashamed, or alone. Maybe it is a photo someone shared without their permission. Maybe it is a threat. Maybe it is someone older asking for something they do not know how to refuse. They do not know what to call what is happening to them. They do not know that what is happening to them is against the law. And they do not know who to tell. This is the reality that a group of Vanuatu women, alumni of the Australia Awards Women Leading and Influencing (WLI) program, decided they could no longer simply witness. Instead of standing by, they chose to act, transforming concern into action and creating opportunities for young people to better understand, prevent, and respond to digital violence. It began with a question In November 2025, four WLI Vanuatu Alumni sat in a room at Onesua Presbyterian College in Port Vila and watched something remarkable unfold. UNFPA Vanuatu, together with the Vanuatu Police Force Family Protection Unit, the Vanuatu Women’s Centre, and school staff, was leading a Digital Violence Awareness Workshop for 169 secondary school students as part of the 16 Days of Activism campaign. The alumni were there to observe and participate. What they saw changed the course of what came next. They watched students who had never had a safe space to talk about digital violence suddenly have one. They watched young people ask questions they had been carrying silently. They watched facilitators navigate uncomfortable topics with skill, compassion, and cultural care. And somewhere in that room, each of the WLI women quietly asked herself the same question. “We watched how UNFPA and the Police and VWC worked with the students. And we thought: we can do this too. We should be doing this too. This is exactly the kind of thing our communities need us to do,” said Leisale Roberts, WLI Alumna. Five days that built something new Six months later, in May 2026, the team gathered in a room very different from Onesua. This time they were not observers. They were participants in a five-day Training of Trainers (ToT) programme in Family Life Education that was delivered by the Vanuatu Family Health Association (VFHA) and endorsed by UNFPA, alongside provincial youth officers from the Ministry of Youth and Sports. Over five intensive days, participants worked through six modules covering consent, sexuality, gender roles, reproductive health, facilitation methods, and effective programme delivery. Each session was designed to equip participants with both technical knowledge and practical facilitation skills. It was rigorous. It was sometimes uncomfortable. Discussing sensitive topics in mixed groups, navigating the absence of a shared Bislama vocabulary for technical terms, and sitting with the weight of subjects that carry real stigma in Vanuatu communities was not easy. But that, it turned out, was precisely the point. “Consent must follow the FRIES model. Consent must be freely given, reversible, informed, enthusiastic, and specific. Safe spaces are not given; they are built, deliberately, by the people in the room,” said Vasemaca Justine Pikioune, WLI Alumna and TOT participant. By the end of Day 5, each of six WLI women held something they had not held before: a formal certification as a Family Life Education facilitator, endorsed by UNFPA. For several of them, it was the first facilitation certification of their careers. It was more than a piece of paper. It represented permission to lead, not from UNFPA, but from themselves. “You cannot lead others through discomfort you have not sat with yourself. As facilitators, we need to examine our own values and biases before we can create a safe space for others to do the same,” said a TOT Participant in a Combined Group Reflection on Day 5. The Sunday that made it real: Certification marked an important milestone, but the women understood that meaningful impact would come only when they applied their learning in real community settings. Before they walked into any school, the team spent a Saturday afternoon in a four-hour pre-training session that had nothing to do with certificates and everything to do with readiness. Run sheets were reviewed line by line. Roles were assigned. Child protection protocols were rehearsed. Scenarios were played out. UNFPA, the Vanuatu Police Force (VPF) Child Desk Officers and Family Protection Unit (FPU), and the VWC were each contacted, briefed, and confirmed as panel participants and support partners. The team packed take-home notebooks for every student across both sessions alongside Bislama reference cards listing the Police FPU, the VWC, the VFHA, and the helplines. The team understood something important: what happens in the room is only the beginning. What students carry out with them is what lasts. “We wanted to be ready for anything. When you work with young people on topics this sensitive, you cannot wing it. These are real issues affecting real lives,” said Daisy Rose Sipiti, WLI Activity Lead and Coordinator. Into the schools In August 2026, the team delivered two Digital Violence Awareness Workshops at two Port Vila secondary schools, reaching more than 200 students across both sessions. The workshops were led entirely by WLI Alumni. UNFPA, Police Child Desk Officers and the FPU, the VWC, and the VFHA participated as panel speakers and support partners. Every session was delivered in Bislama, a deliberate choice that recognised something the team had learned: sensitive conversations land differently when spoken in the language that lives closest to the heart. Each three-hour workshop moved students through a module covering digital violence and technology-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV), gender equality and healthy relationships, and practical steps for staying safe online. Girls gathered with WLI women. Boys gathered with male facilitators, including Danny, a Ministry of Youth officer who had completed the TOT read more…

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