The family of Canberra teenager Zoe Marshall is yet to make contact with their daughter in Vanuatu but hopes to hear good news soon after an Australian Defence Force helicopter landed on the remote island where she was staying on Thursday.
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Mother Alison Abernethy said Zoe was not among the five Australians taken from Pentecost Island to Port Vila.
The 18 year old was among 19 volunteer teachers, including eight Australians, unaccounted for on the remote northern island on Wednesday after the category 5 cyclone swept through the region on March 13, devastating much of the country.
Ms Abernethy last heard from her daughter on March 12 via text message as the Watson teenager bunkered down in anticipation of the storm.
Ms Abernethy said she was informed by a Department of Foreign Affairs case worker that a defence-run helicopter with consular staff and paramedics landed on the island Thursday morning.
The helicopter was expected to return to Pentecost on Friday, she said.
"Today [Thursday] they went with a special task of landing the helicopter and bringing volunteers out," Ms Abernethy said.
"Zoe's not one of the volunteers taken back to Port Villa. My case worker wasn't sure how they made the decision of where to go first [but] Zoe is really, really remote. We've got our fingers crossed for tomorrow."
Ms Abernethy said the family had been inundated with supportive phone calls, text messages and emails since losing contact with her daughter.
"We've been amazed and awed by the level of community support; that's getting us through," she said.
"We're just so grateful everyone is thinking positive thoughts for Zoe."
In an online blog on Wednesday Zoe's father, Rob Marshall, also thanked the community for an outpouring of support since losing contact with his daughter, who he emphasised was not missing but unaccounted for.
"She's no doubt where she was before Cyclone Pam hit Vanuatu. She's with her host family and volunteer buddy Courtney, at Level School near Namaram on the island of Pentecost," he wrote.
Mr Marshall said the family did not intend to head to Vanuatu at this stage.
"Alison had a knee replacement a week or so ago and she can't even walk up the driveway," he said.
"And what would I do when I got there? Get in the way and be another mouth to feed. We'll let the aid agencies and government do their work; they are the experts and we are eternally thankful for anything that they can do."
Mr Marshall said he couldn't imagine his daughter wanting to come home to Canberra anytime soon despite the devastation across the region.
"She's the kind of young woman who will want to help her host village and family. Hopefully it is safe and practical for her to do so," he said.
