Sisters in Service: Building the Next Generation of Nurses in Vanuatu

Nov 10, 2025 | News, Sista i Shine | 0

At the Vanuatu College of Nursing Education, history was made when two women—Evelyne Emile and Di Brown—worked together to advance the field of nursing in the small island nation. Their collaboration brought internationally recognised standards into local training, and changed the face of nursing in Vanuatu. This is their story.

Evelyne

Born in West Ambae, I started my career as a nurse in 1983 and spent nine years working in the hospital. In 1994, I started a teaching career at the Vanuatu College of Nursing Education (VCNE) as a trainer. I always knew that better training meant better healthcare for everyone.

I received my diploma of teaching in 1996, which elevated my status at VCNE. Over the years I have taught clinical lessons, supervised students in hospitals and guided the college through accreditation and reform.

Years passed, a new act – Nurses Act of 2000, was set-up to establish a Vanuatu Nursing Council in 2003, and I was selected to represent VCNE and serve as the Council’s secretary for 12 years.

By 2009, I was appointed as the Principal Nurse Educator for VCNE. Today, at 61 years old, my role is to oversee the only nursing college in the country–I was responsible for preparing young nurses to serve in the health sector.

This is such important work –we are helping to build the qualifications of our health workers so they can provide better services to our people and better healthcare for our country. But we couldn’t have done it without Di.

Around the same time Evelyne was shaping VCNE’s growth, I was already an experienced nurse and educator working across the Pacific. Born in Trinidad, I was trained as a nurse in London in the 1960s before moving to Australia in 1973, where I worked in many states of Australia for many years until I got my citizenship in 1976.

Over time, I collaborated with regional nursing education services, helping countries like Fiji and Indonesia develop university-level nursing programs.

Today, I am a Professor of Nursing at the University of Technology Sydney’s World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Nursing, Midwifery, and Health Development (WHO CC).

I’ve probably retired three times. I keep coming back as I love nursing and because I have the chance to meet and work with wonderful colleagues, like Evelyne, across the Pacific region.

I worked as a clinical nurse for about 30 years and in universities for about 25 years, and in 2017, the Vanuatu Ministry of Health invited me, as part of a team from the WHO CC to support VCNE in reviewing its curriculum and aligning it with government priorities to improve the quality of healthcare. This is when I first encountered Evelyne.

Evelyne

Di came to assist us when we were reviewing our curriculum. Without her, we wouldn’t have achieved what we have today.

Together we began updating VCNE’s programs and developing new ones. Our first major project and accomplishment was designing a Bachelor of Nursing program to improve the skills of practicing nurses.

But early on, we faced a major challenge: most of VCNE’s teaching staff only held basic diploma-level qualifications, so we created learning courses to upgrade their instructing skills so they could teach at the advanced bachelor level.

That was one challenge we had to tackle–we realised the staff didn’t yet have the level of qualification to teach a bachelor’s program, so we pivoted. We developed a Bachelor of Nursing Conversion Program for nurses who already had diplomas, to help them upgrade to a degree level.

That quick adjustment changed everything. Thirteen of the staff graduated with bachelor’s degrees, and that gave VCNE the legitimacy to move forward.

The project was never just about education—it was about partnership. Evelyne was very open-minded. She helped us meet the right people, set up committees, and kept things moving. That kind of leadership made our collaboration work.

The only sacrifice I had to bear was being away from my family, but I choose to offer my services despite it all, because the work we do is so worthwhile and it will benefit Vanuatu’s entire health sector.

Evelyne

Under my leadership, VCNE continued to grow. After gaining accreditation for its courses, the college went on to develop the Advanced Diploma of Nursing in August 2025, which was the first of its kind in Vanuatu.

We developed the courses internally with support from Di and other advisors. Now we’re ready to deliver programs that meet national and international standards. Next year, we plan to introduce a Postgraduate Diploma in Midwifery, which will push the nursing standard even further.

This achievement was not about personal success—it was about building a foundation for future nurses, to raise the quality of nursing in Vanuatu. It’s hard work, but it’s worth it when you see students growing in confidence and skill, and think about how much they will help people in the future.

I am glad to have met Di. We relate so much because we were both nurses ourselves. She is a problem solver and expert at what she does. Her support helped pivot our curriculum to new heights that I never thought possible.

Even when formal projects ended, I remained connected to VCNE. Our biggest accomplishment is the relationship we built – between Evelyne and me, and between our institutions. Even when there wasn’t a project running, we always kept the door open for each other.

My respect for Evelyne has only deepened over time. She’s very determined and knows what’s going on, even when other people don’t notice. She has solid values and is passionate about nursing. That’s what makes her such an effective leader.

Evelyne might be a quiet and humble woman, but she has a lot to contribute with her years of experience. Everyone should pay attention to what she has to say!

I also feel a personal connection to Vanuatu. When I come here, it feels like home, because Vanuatu is much like my birthplace in Trinidad with its warmth and sense of community.

I’m so grateful for the chance to work here and to share what I know.

Evelyne

I treasure the friendship that has grown from working closely with Di. Our relationship is very professional– we respect each other and can speak honestly without judgment. We share the same passion for helping others and neither of us work for money—we just love what we do.

Through all of it, my motivations have stayed the same – love for my job and knowing my students will go on to make a difference and protect the health of our country. My message to Di is to keep sharing your wisdom to help those in need and never give up.

This project has been one of the most rewarding in my long career. Because of Evelyne’s drive and the nurses here, there’s a strong commitment to improving healthcare in Vanuatu.

People need to understand how important nurses are to this country and to value what this college and its staff are offering.

I hope our story inspires others to continue building on their own work.

And my message to Evelyne is to keep doing what you are doing. You’re doing something that truly matters, and it has been a joy and a privilege to walk along side of you.

SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

Follow Sista

NEWS

‘The scars children carry can last a lifetime’ August 13, 2026
Amid the public outrage and questions over the President’s recent pardoning of convicted rapists and the alarming increase in child abuse cases in Vanuatu, the REACH Family Centre is calling on Parliament to pass the proposed Child Protection Bill, saying stronger laws are needed to hold people who abuse children accountable. Every day at the REACH Family Centre, Mansen Roy and Salokie Narfi work alongside children experiencing challenges no child should face. Some are struggling with overwhelming stress. Others are navigating violence at home, bullying, online harm and the fear of speaking out. For Narfi, a counsellor and group work practitioner for children and adolescents, the hardest part is seeing how many suffer in silence. “Children want to come for help, but they are scared of the consequences,” she says. “Some are afraid their parents will find out. Others are afraid nobody will believe them.” Using drawing, play therapy and other child-friendly approaches, Narfi helps children express emotions they cannot find the words for. She remembers one child who repeatedly blacked out at school. “Through counselling, the child understood the emotional pain carried,” she says. “The mother also received counselling. Today that child is brighter, more confident and looking forward to the future.” But not every story has such a hopeful ending. Roy, REACH’s Acting Executive Director, says many of the challenges children face are made worse by gaps in protection and understanding. “Violence against children remains one of the biggest issues,” he says. “We should teach, guide and love children,” he says. “Wrong treatment can create trauma that children carry for their whole lives, like a scar that never goes away.” Against this backdrop, REACH is pushing for the proposed Child Protection Bill to reach Parliament and become law. Both Roy and Narfi say the legislation would strengthen their work by creating a clearer approach to responding when children are at risk of serious harm, including sexual abuse. It would also help place children’s wellbeing at the centre of decision-making. “This Bill will support our work in the field,” Mansen says. “The justice system punishes perpetrators, but what about the survivors? Children also need healing, psychological support and protection to move forward into the future.” Narfi says the law would also ensure serious cases of abuse are recognised early and responded to properly. “Children are the future of the country,” she says. “If this Bill passes, we can build a stronger Vanuatu with children who are supported, protected and able to become the future leaders of our nation.” REACH is one of the few organisations in Vanuatu providing holistic support to entire families, working with mothers, fathers and children together because lasting change begins at home. Yet the demand for counselling and mental health support continues to grow, while resources remain limited. Roy believes passing the Child Protection Bill is no longer simply a legal decision – it is a moral one. “Child protection affects everyone because every one of us was once a child,” he says. For the children who are too frightened to speak, and for those still carrying invisible scars, the time to act is now. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

read more...
Man remanded over alleged sexual assault of four-year-old girl August 13, 2026
A man from Tanna has been remanded in custody after being charged over the alleged sexual assault of a four-year-old girl at Salili on Efate last week. The accused, identified in a remand warrant as Simeon Tom Yatika, appeared before the Port Vila Magistrates’ Court on 11 August 2026. He is charged with unlawful sexual intercourse, contrary to section 97(1) of the Penal Code [CAP 135]. The prosecution applied for the accused to be held in custody, and the court granted the application. The warrant directs the officer in charge of the Correctional Centre to keep Yatika in custody until his next appearance on 25 August 2026 at 9am. A source close to the Magistrates’ Court said the court was informed that the alleged victim suffered injuries and experienced difficulty using the toilet after the incident. The court also reportedly heard that the accused had been receiving mental health care but had not attended medical appointments for some time. The circumstances surrounding that information remain matters for the court and relevant medical professionals to consider. The allegations have not been tested at trial. The accused has not been convicted and is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty. The case has caused concern and renewed public frustration over the protection of children and the handling of sexual offence cases in Vanuatu. Many members of the public are expected to question whether vulnerable children are receiving adequate protection, medical care and support after alleged abuse. The case also comes amid wider criticism from women’s groups over the treatment of child sex offenders and calls for stronger safeguards in decisions involving pardons and accountability. Women’s groups have recently urged the Government to review the presidential pardon process following the pardoning of men convicted of sexually abusing children. Community members have called for the justice system to respond firmly to allegations involving children, while also stressing the importance of allowing the courts to assess the evidence fairly and independently. Under Vanuatu law, sexual intercourse with a child under 13 is a serious criminal offence, with the law providing a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. The prosecution must nevertheless prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt before a conviction can be entered. The matter remains before the Port Vila Magistrates’ Court. The child’s identity has been withheld to protect her privacy. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

read more...
Cervical cancer preventable, yet a leading cause of death among Vanuatu women August 12, 2026
Minister of Health Robert Bohn said cervical cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among women in Vanuatu, yet it is entirely preventable through vaccination, screening and early treatment. Speaking at the official launch of the Vanuatu National Cervical Cancer Elimination Strategy 2026–2035 yesterday, Minister Bohn said access to these highly effective prevention measures had previously been limited or unavailable in Vanuatu. As a result, women were often diagnosed at advanced stages of the disease, when treatment options were limited and survival rates were lower. Minister Bohn said the launch reaffirmed a collective commitment to ensuring women and girls have access to prevention, screening and treatment services, with their health, dignity and future at the centre of the national effort. “The Vanuatu Strategy aligns with the World Health Organization’s Global Strategy to Accelerate the Elimination of Cervical Cancer as a Public Health Problem and its 90-70-90 coverage targets: 90 per cent of girls fully vaccinated with HPV by age 15; 70 per cent of women screened with an HPV test or other high-performance test by ages 35 and 45; and 90 per cent of women with cervical pre-cancer treated and women with invasive cancer appropriately managed,” he said. The Minister of Health said the Government of Vanuatu, through this strategy, is reaffirming its commitment to achieving these goals by 2035. Mr. Bohn said Vanuatu now has accessible, culturally appropriate and scalable approaches to prevention, and together the country can make a difference for women and families across the country. “The country has already made significant progress on this pathway, and today I would like to acknowledge the persistence, advocacy and hard work of health and community workers to reduce the preventable burden, incidence, illness and death caused by cervical cancer,” he said. “An opportunistic screening programme has existed since 2008, with national Human Papillomavirus (HPV)-based screening implemented in 2022, and close to 20,000 women screened to date. The hard work of the Vanuatu Ministry of Health, the Vanuatu Family Health Association and the Ikkana Cancer Society has meant that access to screening has been made available across all provinces, with over 3,500 women receiving treatment.” Mr. Bohn said Vanuatu is also protecting girls from cervical cancer through HPV vaccination, with the national HPV vaccination programme beginning in 2023 and 16,412 girls vaccinated to date. He said this ensures that today’s girls grow up protected, empowered and free from a disease that previously often arrived too late for treatment. “With continued awareness and coordinated delivery strategies, communities learn that the HPV vaccine protects their children and they therefore want their children to be vaccinated,” he said. “As we endorse this document, we acknowledge the journey of women and families affected, the conscientious efforts of health and community workers to improve health outcomes and the valued collaboration of international partners which strengthens our progress. “The Strategy presents a roadmap to strengthen and sustain current efforts, prioritising primary health care, public health approaches and people-centred service delivery tailored to the Vanuatu context.” Minister Bohn said sustained progress would require long-term, sustainable financing and continued coordinated efforts across sectors and disciplines to ensure Vanuatu remains on the path to eliminating cervical cancer. He said the Government of Vanuatu is committed to ensuring activities are adequately coordinated, funded and maintained over time. “Government commits to ensuring that no woman is left unseen, no girl unprotected, and no life lost to a preventable disease,” he said. The senior consultant in obstetrics and gynaecology, medical lead for the cervical cancer screening programme and chairperson of the development of the cervical cancer elimination strategy, Dr Boniface Damutalau, said the document launched yesterday provides a roadmap for combating cervical cancer. He said cervical cancer screening began in 2022 using new technologies to detect pre-cancerous lesions, and the launch of the strategy provides guidance for screening, vaccination, treatment and sustainability of the programme through to 2035. “It’s a document that helps us with a roadmap of how we do our screening, our vaccination, our treatment of pre-cancerous lesions, and also it will help us with the sustainability of the programme for the next 10 to 15 years,” he said. Dr Damutalau said available data shows around 18 per cent of women have HPV infection, although he believes the figure could be higher because the hospital continues to see two or three new cervical cancer cases each month. He explained that the best way to prevent cervical cancer is through immunisation of young girls aged around 9 to 14 years and regular screening. Dr Damutalau said screening is the only way to detect cervical cancer early, allowing treatment to begin before the disease progresses. He said Vanuatu can currently treat stage 1 cervical cancer locally, while women with more advanced stages must travel overseas for further treatment. “There are a lot of challenges. I think the biggest ones that we encounter are that Vanuatu is very sparse, with different islands, so there is a lot of geography we have to go through, and human resources are also one of the important things that we combat every day,” he said. “Human resources across ministries are not enough, but we always try to reach as far as where women live, from remote places in the north down to the south.” Dr Damutalau acknowledged the efforts made by women who come forward to clinics for screening. He said there are currently two clinics providing services, one in Port Vila and one in Luganville. Cervical cancer is caused by HPV, and once a woman becomes infected, the virus can change cells on the cervix, causing them to become cancerous. Dr Damutalau said most HPV infections clear naturally, but some remain and can increase the risk of cervical cancer. He said about 90 per cent of cervical cancers are linked to HPV, which is why vaccination and early screening are important. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

read more...
More boys than girls drop out of school August 12, 2026
More boys than girls are dropping out of secondary schools in Vanuatu, with TORBA Province recording the highest dropout rate. Boys are repeating grades more than girls at both primary and secondary levels across all provinces, and TORBA Province again has the highest repetition rate. These findings were conveyed by the Director of Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), John Gideon, in his presentation to set the tone for discussions at the National Education Forum in Port Vila. He said more boys are leaving school for reasons beyond the classroom, such as the cost of education, distance to school and boarding challenges. In 2016, Vanuatu came up with a policy requiring children to start formal primary school at age 6. Director Gideon revealed that the net enrolment rate has been declining since 2023, with girls recording a higher rate while boys’ participation remains lower. Girls also recorded higher gross enrolment rates than boys at every level. Director Gideon also mentioned that the education system is not retaining students, especially at the secondary level. He said about 41 out of every 100 children who start Year 1 remain in school by Year 6, and only about 5 out of every 100 continue through to Year 13. Director Gideon highlighted that the number of early childhood centres has decreased since 2022, primary schools have remained stable, while secondary schools have grown the most, with 67 new schools established since 2015. “There are over 5,400 teachers, but they are not where the students are,” he said. SHEFA, TAFEA and SANMA have the most senior secondary schools, while TORBA faces a severe shortage of junior secondary teachers. Director Gideon encouraged participants at the forum to examine what the data reveals about boys’ engagement in the education system, how to increase enrolment in early childhood and the relationship between enrolment and student progress. Currently, 104,510 students are enrolled across more than 1,000 registered schools in Vanuatu. However, Director General Cherol Ala pointed out that not all children are in school, highlighting the need to improve access, enrolment and participation. While literacy and numeracy outcomes continue to decline, she said monitoring of the nationwide Curriculum Improvement Program (CIP), launched last year, is showing improved outcomes in student learning. Other challenges she mentioned include student and teacher attendance, high dropout rates, limited access to formal training and qualifications, school infrastructure, access to schools and rolling out internet connectivity. She reminded everyone about the ministry’s mission to provide young people with lifelong skills, values and confidence to become self-reliant and contribute to development. Throughout the four-day National Education Forum, government leaders, educators and partners have discussed what has not worked and what needs to be done to improve education outcomes. The forum ends today. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

read more...
Vanuatu’s education crisis a ‘national disaster’ – Pikinini Playtime CEO August 12, 2026
Pikinini Playtime founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tony Batten has described Vanuatu’s education situation as a “national disaster”, warning that poor literacy outcomes among children could affect the country’s future development. Speaking during an interview on Kava Mo Kajap, Mr. Batten said reports that around 70 per cent of children are unable to read and write at the expected level should be treated as a serious national concern. “I think it is a national disaster, like a hurricane or an earthquake,” Mr. Batten said. He said Vanuatu’s greatest resource is not its land or natural resources, but its people, and education is the foundation needed to develop that human resource. “Human resources are the number one resource for Vanuatu,” he said. Mr. Batten said countries that have successfully moved from being less developed to more advanced economies have done so by investing heavily in education and building a skilled population. However, he said Vanuatu’s current education results remain a major concern despite the country spending a significant amount of its national budget on education. “Vanuatu gives a lot of money per capita into education, but the results are still among the lowest in the Pacific,” he said. The Pikinini Playtime founder said the challenge is not only about funding but about how the education system delivers results. He questioned why many students continue to leave school without basic reading and writing skills despite years spent in classrooms. Mr. Batten said the impact of poor education outcomes can also be seen in the country’s workforce, where businesses often recruit skilled workers from overseas to fill positions. “We bring people from the Philippines and other countries to do accounting, bookkeeping, management, building and supervisory work, but many ni-Vanuatu are not able to take those opportunities because they do not have the basic education,” he said. He said the literacy issue must be addressed early because children who fail to develop strong reading skills in their early years often struggle throughout their education journey. Mr. Batten also raised concerns about the value placed on education within the system. He said teacher absenteeism, weak accountability and a lack of support for educators contribute to children losing confidence in learning. “When children see that school is not important, they begin to believe they don’t need school,” he said. Mr. Batten acknowledged that many teachers are working under difficult conditions but said the system needs stronger support, training and leadership to improve outcomes. He believes improving education requires everyone involved — government, schools, teachers, principals and parents — to work together. “Children are smart. They have the ability. But they need the right support and the right opportunities,” he said. Mr. Batten said addressing literacy must become a national priority because the future of Vanuatu depends on the quality of education provided to today’s children. SOURCE: VANUATU DAILY POST

read more...

The Hub

Sisters in Service: Building the Next Generation of Nurses in Vanuatu

Follow Sista

NEWS

Join Us

Archives

Sista i Shine

‘My Name’ by Vepaiamele Grace Trief

Sisters in Service: Building the Next Generation of Nurses in Vanuatu

Related Posts

.22 rifle seized, man remanded after fatal shooting and arson

Four mothers to showcase Vanuatu-Made products in Australia

Shortage of qualified teachers affects nursing education

Police Clearance did not highlight conviction: RSE Agent

Follow Sista

NEWS

Join Us

Archives

‘My Name’ by Vepaiamele Grace Trief