Contributing positively to Vanuatu’s education system

Elvie Tamata is dedicated to making a positive contribution to Vanuatu’s education system. From her early teaching career to leading teacher development, Elvie’s passion for education research drives her work. Now in the final stages of her PhD in education at Deakin, she is pioneering a curriculum reform enactment strategy that support teachers and teacher collaboration, shaping the future of education in Vanuatu.

From teacher to changemaker

After working as a secondary school teacher for seven years, Elvie’s growing interest in the education system led her to pursue further studies at the University of the South Pacific.

Equipped with new knowledge, she returned home and embarked on a project providing professional development opportunities for primary school teachers.

‘At the end of the project, the ministry saw its success and had me establish the in-service teacher unit at the Teachers College,’ Elvie recalls.

For 10 years, she managed this project before stepping into the role of deputy principal of the Teachers College, now the School of Education at the National University of Vanuatu, responsible for academic affairs. But her desire to drive meaningful change pushed her to continue learning.

A commitment to research and representation

In 2018, Elvie completed an online master’s degree at Deakin University while balancing her full-time job and family responsibilities. Late-night study sessions and lunch-hour coursework fuelled her ambition to pursue a PhD in education.

‘I wanted to involve myself in research because there’s very little research done by locals in Vanuatu. Most of the research we have is conducted by outsiders. I wanted to research my own people and build a research culture in Vanuatu,’ Elvie explains.

Beyond research, Elvie is passionate about inspiring young women in a male-dominated society. ‘We have a very male-dominated culture in Vanuatu. Females are not often in the mainstream of things.’

With a daughter of her own, she is determined to be a role model and show that girls can achieve anything they set their minds to, proving that gender should never limit their potential.

Life as a PhD student at Deakin

Receiving a scholarship to study abroad at Deakin University Burwood Campus, Elvie is now in the final stages of her PhD in education. Her education research focuses on curriculum reform in Vanuatu, specifically on how early primary teachers are supported to enact curriculum changes effectively in their classrooms.

She developed a support strategy called ‘school-based teacher collaboration’, creating spaces for teachers to support each other through informal meetings, sharing challenges, teaching strategies, developing resources and trialling new ideas.

‘I’m looking at ways in which teachers can continue to access support within the school that does not depend on outside expertise or funding,’ she explains.

Elvie values Deakin’s strong support system including her supervisors Associate Professor Peta White and Dr Rebecca Cairns. She appreciates the collaborative environment at Deakin, where colleagues openly share ideas and provide constructive feedback. ‘We don’t take criticism personally. It’s something to learn and grow from.’

Elvie is determined to bring this culture of collaboration and positive feedback back to Vanuatu, to improve academic and professional practices there.

Encouraging research and collaboration

Elvie highlights the importance of providing PhD students with opportunities to present their work, believing that sharing research is key to receiving feedback and refining ideas. She hopes to see more of this culture of sharing and collaboration in Vanuatu.

An example of this is Elvie’s participation in events at Deakin, including volunteering as a committee member for a conference for graduate researchers in Deakin’s Faculty of Arts and Education. The 2025 conference theme, Evolving Narratives: Reimagining Power, Possibilities and Perspectives in the 21st Century, invited researchers to explore the evolving nature of narratives and their roles as creators, interpreters and storytellers in a dynamic world.

Finding a supportive community at Burwood

While living away from her family, Elvie has found a supportive community at Deakin. Through connections with her supervisors, fellow PhD students, participation in conferences and involvement in Bible study groups, she has built a strong sense of belonging.

As Elvie prepares to return to Vanuatu, she is excited for the next chapter but will miss her Deakin community. She plans to stay connected with her alumni network and continue collaborating with her supervisors, who have become friends and mentors.

Impacting education in Vanuatu

Elvie hopes to contribute to the newly established National University of Vanuatu and advance research in education to benefit her community. She highly recommends Deakin University for its excellent supervision, academic standards and supportive environment.

‘I would recommend Deakin to anyone looking for an opportunity to pursue PhD studies in education. You will not regret choosing Deakin.’

Elvie Tamata