Beyond the Exam Room: Elizabeth’s Mission to Better Protect Vanuatu’s Children

When Elizabeth William began her career in health care, she was often the only nurse at a rural health centre. That experience shaped her belief that learning should never stop – especially when people’s lives depend on it.

Today, Elizabeth is a midwife at Vanuatu National Hospital, but the same sense of responsibility still drives her. It was also what led her to join a specialised child protection training programme supported by UNICEF and the Vanuatu Ministry of Health.

Her motivation was rooted in a case she encountered earlier in her career. “I came across a case of an abused child, and it stayed with me,” she said. “I wanted to learn more so I could better support children and families.”

Elizabeth has worked in nursing since 2011 and qualified as a midwife in 2021. Along the way, she also completed nine months of counselling training. Even with that experience, she felt she needed stronger skills to respond to violence against children.

“We need to always keep learning to improve our capacities,” she said. “Even if we are already doing something, we can always do it better.”

The child protection training marked a turning point. It equipped health workers with practical tools to recognise signs of abuse, provide psychological first aid and refer survivors to specialised services. 

“I feel more confident now,” she explained. “I understand how important it is to build trust, take time and use the right approach so children feel safe to speak.”

She now applies a simple framework in her daily work: look, listen, learn and link. It guides her to observe carefully, listen without judgement, understand what a child is going through and connect them to the right support services.

The training also introduced clearer referral pathways and a hospital flow chart outlining what to do when abuse is suspected. This has helped Elizabeth act more quickly and confidently.

“Before, it was sometimes unclear what the next step should be,” she said. “Now I understand clearly the process, and we can refer more effectively.”

Just as important was learning about the services available outside the hospital. Elizabeth now works closely with organisations such as the Vanuatu Women’s Centre and Family REACH Centre, which provide counselling, legal support and long-term follow-up for survivors and their families.

“We are professionals, but we can’t provide everything on our own,” she said. “These organisations can support families over time and help them heal. It can really change lives.”

Empathy is at the heart of her work. Elizabeth says health workers must be careful not to retraumatize children during examinations or questioning and should always try to see situations from a child’s perspective.

“Children will only open up if they feel comfortable and respected,” she said. “We need to make sure we don’t cause more harm while trying to help.”

Now trained as a Child Protection Master Trainer, Elizabeth is committed to sharing her knowledge with other health workers. She hopes to strengthen reporting practices and improve coordination so that every suspected case of abuse is handled quickly and sensitively.

For Elizabeth, protecting children is not only part of her job – it is a responsibility she carries as a health worker and as a member of her community. She believes that when health professionals are properly trained and supported, they can play a critical role in stopping abuse and helping survivors rebuild their lives.

“Health workers are often the first people children see,” she said. “If we are prepared and confident, we can identify abuse earlier and help them get the support they need.”

Through the partnership between UNICEF and the Ministry of Health, that shift is beginning – one health worker at a time.

Her journey continues, but the lesson she has taken from the training is clear: meaningful change begins with listening, learning and being willing to do more for the most vulnerable.