This deployment was especially significant following the 7.3 magnitude earthquake in December 2024, which caused widespread damage across Efate Island, including Port Vila. 

The team, which included mental health specialists, delivered training sessions to participants from the Saupia Health Clinic Frontliner, the Paunganisu Community in North Efate, and Malapoa College in Port Vila. 

A total of 63 participants, 39 of whom were female, were reached in this recent deployment and were equipped with a baseline understanding of mental health and wellbeing and the tools to be able to apply what they have learnt to serve their communities.  

Throughout the training, participants engaged in open dialogue about how mental health challenges are more widespread than commonly recognised, especially in the absence of formal support systems. The earthquake's impact, which included loss of life, destroyed homes, and disrupted infrastructure, further highlighted the need for responsive, community-based mental health care. 

A participant from the Sapuia Health Clinic shared the value he found in the training: 

"I learned that mental health starts small and if it goes untreated then it becomes a bigger issue. In the community, we know everyone, we need to pay attention to behaviour changes so we can help. Thank you for the training. The youth of the village that I work with, I can now help further as a result of this training. Thank you for this initiative to teach us how to support the community." 

A key moment during the outreach was the renaming of the project’s Vanuatu arm to Nawiana, meaning wellbeing, a name suggested by the Paunganisu community, symbolising cultural alignment and community ownership. 

The team also met with stakeholders including the Women's Crisis Centre and V-Pride, who expressed interest in future collaboration. They further engaged in discussions around psychological first aid training for civil servants and frontline staff, introduced in response to the December quake. 

PMA CEO Debbie Sorensen reaffirmed the importance of these visits. 

"This visit was about listening, learning, and walking alongside our partners in Vanuatu. The strength of this deployment lies in its deep connection to community voices and the shared commitment to building mental health services that reflect the culture, resilience, and aspirations of the ni-Vanuatu people."