Ambassador for Global Health for Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Dr Lucas de Toca, emphasised the importance of targeting local needs and supporting local knowledge. 

 "We need to ensure that we're supporting local knowledge because they understand the needs of their community, so we're very excited for the Ngalu Fānifo Project because it is delivered in the region, by the region and for the region. Investing in partnerships is a key priority for us and we truly want to see more Pacific support." 

 The three-year Ngalu Fānifo project focuses on building the capacity of clinicians, health professionals, and community providers to deliver culturally grounded, effective mental health care, creating a lasting positive impact on the lives of those they serve.  

"Our partnership with PMA is new and we’re very excited about it, it's our first partnership of this kind and touches on areas where there is such a high need. 

 "We’re committed to supporting clinicians, supporting workforces, mental health; the way PMA operates within the Pacific in building up capacity, so that clinicians in their own island can provide services of high need is exciting and will be invaluable in the work we carry out together." 

Vanuatu’s first and only psychiatrist, and Head of Mental Health for the Vila Central Hospital, Dr. Jimmy Obed, says a key mission for the Ngalu Fānifo project is to recalibrate community's perception on mental health. 

 "We've already started meeting with the community and they are excited to play a role in normalising conversations surrounding mental health. It's important that we are listening to our communities because often we find that we need to re-visit our approach and that western tools and methodologies do not work for our people. 

 "Our communities open up when we embrace culture and tradition, and facilitate these conversations in spaces and settings they are familiar with." 

 Associate Professor at the University of Waikato and Trustee for the Pacific Mental Health Commissioner, Dr. Sione Vaka, relays the importance of integrating culture in the approach to mental health. 

 "We need to build on local knowledge and integrating culture at all levels. Clinical and culture are inseparable in terms of mental health, especially as we are working with people’s behaviours and attitudes; these are key components of culture as well. 

"Ngalu means wave and Fānifo is when you ride those waves, so it’s also important to understand that the waves we experience here in Aotearoa are different to the waves of the islands."