As COVID-19 cases were entering the Pacific region earlier this year, the Vanuatu government responded by setting up a technical working group to develop a contingency plan for the Ministry of Education & Training. Dick Hopkins, an Australia Awards alumni, was at the forefront of…

Vanuatu’s economy relies significantly on tourism and with borders closed due to COVID-19, the tourism sector has largely collapsed. Businesses are struggling, with some closing their doors and many others being forced to downsize the number of staff they have employed. For the first time…

Dr. Jimmy Obed, Australia Awards Scholarships Alumni and Senior Psychiatry Registrar, Vanuatu Central Hospital, leads on Mental Health Psycho-Social Support Sub-Cluster, COVID-19 Response Dr. Jimmy Obed is Vanuatu’s only Ni-Vanuatu psychiatrist. He completed his studies at the University of Melbourne in 2019 and is now…

Australia Awards alumna, Elvie Tamata, was invited to present her research paper at the Australian Association for Research in Education Conference in December 2019, held at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia. “It’s my first time to attend an academic conference and I…

It was early 2010 and Viran was a mother of two very young children when her husband was given an Australian Award to study at the University of Canberra. She had no desire to separate her young family and wanted to support her husband, so…

Meet our Australia Awards Vanuatu Awardee, Leisau Tarip from Nguna Island, North Efate, who is currently studying for a Master in Professional Accounting at Griffith University, Australia. During her studies this year, this 39-year-old mother-of-four has been successful enough to be offered a place at…