Issabelle Vilau’s Journey to academia

Issabelle Vilau attended the 2020 Australian National University-University of Papua New Guinea Summer School in Canberra supported by the ANU-UPNG Partnership. In 2021, she was appointed as a tutor at University of Papua New Guinea (UPNG). In 2025, Issabelle graduated from UPNG with a Master of Economics and Public Policy, supported by the partnership. She was recently promoted to Public Policy lecturer at UPNG. 

Reflecting on her journey, Issabelle shares her thoughts on her education and her experience at ANU and UPNG. Here is her story in her own words. 

It was January 2018, and I was holding a fresh copy of The National Newspaper, scanning the UPNG Continuing Student List with a pounding heart. To my absolute disappointment, my name was nowhere to be found—neither on the university’s list nor the Tertiary Education Study Assistance Scheme (TESAS) Scholarship List. As a previous awardee of the Academic Excellence Scholarship under TESAS, losing the scholarship felt like falling from grace.  

Devastated and ashamed, I made up my mind right then to abandon my studies. I knew that the loss of financial support from TESAS Scholarship would require my parents to dig deep into their pockets to pay for my tertiary education. Thus, I concluded it was reasonable for me to stay at home.  

A month passed and I was in my room. The afternoon sun cast a warm, golden-orange light across the walls, filling the room with a sleepy heat. I was taking a nap to refresh myself from the busy day when a sudden burst of energy shattered the silence.  

“Eh, eh, eh. My God is good, oh!”  

My mom barged into the room, singing at the top of her lungs. She wrapped her arms around me while I was still half-asleep and handed me a copy of the daily newspaper. I rubbed my eyes, scanned the lines, and there it was, my name printed clearly on the UPNG Supplementary list.  

A couple of days later, my dad handed me plane tickets from Goroka in the Eastern Highlands Province to Port Moresby, along with payment receipts for my compulsory board and lodging fees to continue my studies. With a light heart, I boarded a flight to begin my second year in February 2018, supported by my family.   

When the semester started, I was streamed into the Public Policy Management division. Interestingly, I had no idea what the program was about. I vividly remember walking into my first lecture thinking I would pass time and eventually walk out with a degree. But that introductory lecture on public policy development changed everything. I fell in love with the course instantly and my interest was sparked immediately. I realised that it was by complete fluke that I landed exactly where I belong.  

During my final year of undergraduate studies, I was fortunate to rank among the top ten students in Economics and Public Policy Management, earning a place in the ANU-UPNG 2020 Summer School Program in Canberra, Australia. The experience has broadened my horizons immensely. It taught me to think critically, remain open-minded, stay endlessly curious and embrace the discomfort of stepping out of your comfort zone.

I completed my undergraduate studies in October 2020 and returned home to search for employment. Then in June 2021, right before the graduation, I received a call from a close friend asking if I would be interested in taking up a tutoring position at UPNG. She had been offered the position, but existing commitments prevented her from taking it.  

I initially thought she was joking. I had always preferred to stay out of the spotlight, and teaching required standing front and centre every single day. My immediate reaction was a resounding “no”.  

My friend who had been a part of the 2020 Summer School cohort, refused to let me off the hook. “You’re doing nothing at home right now,” she argued. “At least try it out. The worst we can do is disappoint the department!”  

I know she was guilt-tripping me, but now looking back, I am endlessly grateful she did.  

When I spoke with the Head of the Department, he reassured me that I owed no long-term obligations—it was for one semester only and if I didn’t enjoy it, I could walk away from this. Hesitantly, I accepted the role of a tutor with the School of Business and Public Policy, teaching public policy and becoming the only female tutor on staff at the time.  

 
Moving away from family and standing in front of a class for the first time presented obvious challenges, but I am endlessly grateful for the never-ending support of my parents, continuous encouragement from my twin sister, elder siblings, and the effort of my friends to challenge and inspire me to endure this journey. 

During these challenging moments, something my elder brother once told me always echoed in my mind.  

“The fruit of a mango tree does not benefit the tree itself; it becomes a blessing to those around it.”  

This is a reminder that if you possess a valuable set of skills, intellect and resources, it is not yours to keep, but yours to give—to be a blessing to others around you. That philosophy transformed my perspective, encouraging me to overcome challenges and work to contribute to a greater good in my capacity as a tutor.  

While tutoring, I was offered a full scholarship to pursue a Master of Economics and Public Policy (MEPP) under the ANU-UPNG Partnership.  

Balancing postgraduate studies with full-time tutoring was intense, but it created a powerful feedback loop. The practical, PNG-tailored insights I absorbed in my evening master’s classes were immediately funnelled into my morning tutorials. I could offer my undergraduate students richer guidance, sharper analytical tools and deeper real-world case studies. 

I graduated with an MEPP in 2025 and was promoted to Lecturer within the Public Policy Management division in August 2026.  

Looking back, what started as a reluctant trial became a fulfilling journey. Teaching has allowed me to grow into the best version of myself, surrounded by brilliant students who inspire me daily.  

While my journey in academia had just begun, I continue to remain deeply committed to sharpening my skills so I can continue sharing knowledge with the next generation of intellectuals and leaders in Papua New Guinea. 

Learn more about the relationship between ANU and the University of Papua New Guinea. The ANU-UPNG Partnership is an initiative of the PNG-Australia Partnership, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. 

This article and photos may be reproduced with acknowledgement that it was first published by the Australian National University and a link to the original article.