Two young Vanuatu lawyers have returned home from Australia after completing intensive courtroom advocacy training, ready to share their skills with colleagues across the justice sector.
From a press release it states that Kylie Bakeomemea, a solicitor with the Office of the Public Solicitor (OPS), and Betina Ngwele, Senior State Prosecutor at the Office of the Public Prosecutor (OPP), spent two weeks in Melbourne as part of the Victorian Bar Association’s 2025 “Train the Trainer” program.
The program, supported by the Vanuatu Australia Policing and Justice Program (VAPJP), focused on strengthening courtroom advocacy and mentoring skills, enabling participants to contribute to legal capacity-building within their home countries.
Australian High Commissioner to Vanuatu, H.E. Mr. Max Willis, said the initiative reflects the partnership between Vanuatu and Australia to improve justice services.
“Within our partnership with Vanuatu – which aims to enhance, institutionalise and sustain justice services – we’re seeking new ways to strengthen legal capacity and skills. We’re proud to support the professional development of young leaders like Kylie and Betina who will empower and strengthen the justice sector for the long term,” Mr. Willis said.
During their training, the two lawyers observed live courtroom proceedings, including jury trials, and received mentorship from King’s Counsel and senior members of the Australian legal profession. Kylie described the sessions as a unique opportunity to learn directly from experts in advocacy and forensic practice, while Betina said seeing jury trials in person was “a lifetime memory.”
Both lawyers said the program left them energised and committed to strengthening courtroom advocacy in Vanuatu. They now plan to deliver structured advocacy training across the country, including for junior lawyers and colleagues in remote provincial offices with limited access to professional development.
The pair have already begun applying their new skills, assisting with the Victorian Bar Advocacy Training held in Port Vila in August, where they worked alongside legal teams from across the sector.
Officials say their contribution will play a key role in building a more inclusive justice system for Vanuatu, particularly for women, children, and people with disabilities who often face barriers in accessing justice.
