Senior Medical Adviser - Emergency Medicine | Volunteer Service Abroad/Te Tūao Tāwāhi

Job description

Te Whāinga | Our Purpose is

Te Hono Tangata - Te Huringa Ora.

Ka hono a Te Tūao Tāwāhi i ngā tūao pūkenga ki ngā whakahaere me ngā hapori i te Moana-nui-a-Kiwa me tua atu, hei tautoko i ngā wawata kua tautuhia ā-rohe, ā, kia tutuki ai te panoni toitū.

Connecting People – Transforming Lives.

Volunteer Service Abroad connects skilled volunteers with organisations and communities in the Pacific and beyond to support locally identified aspirations and achieve sustainable change.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role

This is your opportunity to become a VSA Volunteer and share your experience, skills and knowledge to serve and capacity build in Vanuatu. Work alongside our local partner organisation to create a fair future for all.

VSA will support you by funding and organising your flights, visas, insurances, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while you are on assignment.

This assignment is a unique opportunity to volunteer as a Senior Medical Officer (SMO) specialising in Emergency Medicine at the Northern Provincial Hospital (NPH) in Luganville, Vanuatu.

As a volunteer, you will work closely with junior doctors, nurses, and other healthcare staff to provide high-quality emergency care for the community and tourists. Beyond direct clinical responsibilities, your role will focus on capacity building—mentoring and educating staff, developing clinical protocols, and supporting professional development. Your expertise will help to establish a stronger foundation for emergency medicine in Vanuatu, a speciality still in its early stages of development, ensuring that life-saving care can reach those in need.

By volunteering, you will not only provide essential medical services but also contribute to improving systems and knowledge within the hospital. This role is ideal for an experienced emergency medicine professional who is passionate about teaching and thrives in resource-limited settings. You’ll be part of a collaborative effort to strengthen healthcare delivery in Vanuatu.

Our Partner Organisation -Northern Provincial Hospital (NPH) is the second largest hospital in the country, serving the northern islands with a range of essential healthcare services, including medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics, and emergency care. However, the Emergency Department currently lacks senior medical expertise, and your involvement could make a significant impact on patient outcomes in this vital setting.

Situated on a hill overlooking Luganville, NPH serves as a crucial healthcare hub for emergencies and referrals across its extensive catchment area, which includes the Banks Islands and other remote regions. The hospital maintains strong partnerships with international charitable organisations, frequently welcoming volunteer doctors and aid, particularly from countries like New Zealand, Australia, and China. This collaborative spirit is vital to its efforts to deliver essential healthcare services to the region.

Ngā tino Pūkenga/Wheako – Essential skills/experiences for the role

Are you someone who wants to make a difference, have a sense of adventure and like the challenge of being outside your comfort zone? VSA Volunteers are technical experts who impart their skills and knowledge to the local community. You will need to be flexible, adaptable, resourceful, resilient with a passion for Aotearoa and the wider Pacific community. We're looking for a volunteer with the following:

Extensive experience in emergency medicine
Must be at a Senior Medical Office level or FACEM level of expertise.
Experience working with paediatric emergencies
Provide evidence of completed anaesthetics or ICU rotation
Willing to apply for Medical Council approval in Vanuatu (paid for and organised by NPH and a certificate of good standing from the Medical Council NZ (MCNZ).
Teaching and mentoring experience

Desirable: anaesthetic experience, past experience working in remote/developing environments particularly the Pacific, able to work with limited resources.

About Vanuatu Vanuatu, a beautiful archipelago in the South Pacific, is known for its stunning beaches, vibrant cultural heritage, and warm, welcoming people. Comprising 83 islands, it is home to diverse communities spread across urban centres, rural villages, and remote locations. While Vanuatu offers incredible natural beauty, its health system faces challenges, especially in remote areas, where access to medical care and specialised healthcare services is limited. This creates a vital need for skilled professionals who can contribute to building local capacity and improving health outcomes.

Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) has a longstanding relationship with Vanuatu, working alongside local communities, government agencies, and organisations to support sustainable development. VSA volunteers bring expertise, mentorship, and collaborative support in sectors like health, education, and infrastructure. In healthcare, VSA’s focus is on empowering local staff, improving skills and systems, and creating long-term benefits for communities. By volunteering in Vanuatu, you’ll be joining a team dedicated to creating meaningful change while respecting and celebrating the unique culture of the Ni-Vanuatu people.

Te tono | How to apply: Apply for this amazing opportunity through our website. For more information on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.

To review the full assignment description please copy and paste the below link into your browser:

https://vsa.org.nz/assets/Assignment-Descriptions-2019-2020/2025/January-2025/Senior-Medical-Officer-Emergency-Medicine-VAN42083.pdf

If you are on the VSA website, please click on the download assignment description tab above.

What’s included

Included when you join us

Flights

VSA organises and fully funds return economy-class international flights between New Zealand and your host country, plus any approved domestic travel connected to your assignment.

Insurance

You’re covered under VSA’s comprehensive travel and medical insurance policy, which also includes emergency evacuation and personal belongings coverage. Before departure, you’ll receive full information on what’s covered and how to access support.

Accommodation

VSA arranges and funds safe, furnished accommodation throughout your assignment, whether you're in a capital or rural location. A housing checklist ensures your needs are met for comfort and security.

Living allowance

You’ll receive a modest monthly living allowance, paid into a local bank account, designed to cover essentials like food, transport, and utilities. This is in line with VSA’s cost-of-living support for volunteers.

Pre-departure training

Before you leave, VSA provides a multi-day residential briefing in Wellington, fully funded by VSA. This includes cultural orientation, language training, health and safety guidelines, and logistical preparation to get you deployment-ready

In-country support

From your first day on assignment, you’ll have strong in-country support from VSA staff, Programme Managers and Coordinators, who provide orientation, security briefings, pastoral care, and ongoing assistance throughout your placement.

Preparation

How to prepare?

Understand the recruitment process

Be prepared for a comprehensive recruitment journey. This includes initial screening, background checks, and two interviews, one of which is a panel interview with a subject matter expert. Only after successfully completing these steps will you receive a provisional offer and begin the onboarding process. It’s essential to wait for VSA’s confirmation before making significant life changes, such as resigning from your job or selling property, as there may be delays in immigration or medical clearances.

Participate in the briefing course

Once accepted, you'll be invited to attend a multi-day residential briefing in Wellington. This course equips you with tools for success, covering cultural orientation, safety protocols, health preparation, and assignment logistics. It’s also a great opportunity to connect with other outgoing volunteers.

Be adaptable and resilient

Volunteering abroad can be both deeply rewarding and personally challenging. Conditions may be unfamiliar, and change is often constant. Bring flexibility, a sense of humour, and a willingness to learn from others, you’ll grow alongside the community you’re there to support.

Manage health and safety

You’ll need to complete a health screening and ensure all required vaccinations are up to date. VSA provides medical and travel insurance, but you are also responsible for managing your day-to-day wellbeing. Think about how you'll maintain mental and physical health while overseas.

Engage in fundraising efforts

VSA asks volunteers to become ambassadors for the kaupapa. You will be asked to fundraise $1,000 to support the programme and raise awareness about your assignment. We provide resources and guidance to help you share your story and connect your networks with the impact of your work.

The platform we ask you to use is Raisely.

Complete necessary documentation

From visa applications to police checks and health forms, there are a few critical administrative tasks before departure. Our team will guide you through the steps to make sure everything is completed on time and with ease.