In the village of Paunangisu, the team facilitated training with community members involved in home and elder care. Training was also extended to Emua village, where the team worked with local leaders and families to grow knowledge and confidence around mental health. 

Community leader and advocate Peter Kaloris described the value of strengthening village-based systems of care. 

"One of the biggest challenges is how people interpret mental health. There are many different views and this creates conflict. Coordination is difficult, and referral pathways from the community to specialist services aren’t always clear. Getting the right support requires not just clinicians, but also good systems and administration.” 

To respond to these challenges, local initiatives have been developed to support people returning from clinics, ensuring they receive continued care within the community, including social and cultural support during recovery.  

Through the Ngalu Fānifo program, communities are also making use of practical mental health resources that help identify illness, measure wellbeing, and strengthen recovery. 

“These are the tools we’ve been waiting for,” said Kaloris. “We are grateful that PMA understands how to bring science and mental health into our Pacific culture in a way that works for us.” 

The Ngalu Fānifo program continues to build sustainable systems of care by combining evidence-based approaches with local knowledge, helping communities in Vanuatu create stronger, more inclusive support for mental health. 

Drawing on lessons shared in earlier visits to Tonga and Vanuatu, the program has shown how investing in training, building local leadership, and creating culturally relevant tools can bring long-term benefits. By strengthening knowledge at the community level and supporting existing networks, Ngalu Fānifo continues to help Pacific communities respond to mental health challenges.