Occupational Health and Safety Adviser
Closing Date: 09 January 2025
Category: Healthcare & Medical
Change your scene and become a VSA Volunteer and share your experience, knowledge, and skills to transform the lives of many. Work with our partner organisation to create a fair future for all.
VSA will organise and fund, flights, visas, insurance, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while on assignment.
Please note VSA Volunteers must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
Volunteering with VSA
Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) is not your typical volunteering agency, we are committed to building sustainable communities across the Pacific. If you’re an experienced Occupational Health and Safety professional, looking for an extraordinary overseas experience in the Pacific to build into your field of expertise – working collaboratively with the National Referral Hospital, then read on, as we have an exciting opportunity in store for you!
Our Partner Organisation - National Referral Hospital (NRH)
The National Referral Hospital (NRH) serves as the primary provider of secondary and some tertiary healthcare services for the entire population of the Solomon Islands, including visitors. With 49 departments and units, and plans to introduce new subspecialties in ICU, cardiac care, renal services, ENT, and dermatology, NRH plays a vital role in patient care, corporate services, and public health. The Solomon Islands Government aims to achieve minimum Universal Health Coverage standards in the coming decades. In 2019, the population was estimated at 721,000 and expected to grow to 740,934 in 2020, yet NRH operates with only 300 beds—significantly below the national average of 0.4 beds per 1,000 people and far below the WHO standard of 5 per 1,000. As the country’s largest hospital, NRH admits around 14,000 patients annually and supports nursing professional development through its education programme.
The Assignment
This assignment is a partnership assignment between VSA and NRH. The Department of Occupational Health and Safety was recently restructured with a new team of two nursing staff. Occupational Health and Safety is a new area of expertise that staff have had very little previous experience in. An Occupational Health and Safety Mentor is required to help guide and direct the team so that they are able to understand occupational health and safety, and can support staff in the different departments.
The Occupational Health and safety team works closely with the Infection Prevention and Control team to monitor staff hospital acquired infections and patient hospital acquired infections. The challenge is that currently there is little structure or scope for the staff team and there are no defined safety and quality standards in the hospital setting
The Volunteer
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:
The Country
The Solomon Islands has over 900 islands, 5,000 rural villages and 550,000 people. Between 1999 and 2003 it experienced a period of conflict which took a heavy toll on the country and left a need for reconciliation and on-going peace and security measures.
A request for assistance by the government in 2003 led Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Island countries to form the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) which restored peace and security.
Apply Now!
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:
If you are on the VSA website, please click on the download assignment description tab above.
Please note: The VSA office will be closed from midday on 20th December, and our recruitment team will be unavailable to review applications or respond to queries about this assignment until we reopen on 6th January 2025. You’re welcome to submit your application during this period, and we’ll review it as soon as we return.
VSA will organise and fund, flights, visas, insurance, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while on assignment.
Please note VSA Volunteers must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident.
Volunteering with VSA
Volunteer Service Abroad (VSA) is not your typical volunteering agency, we are committed to building sustainable communities across the Pacific. If you’re an experienced Occupational Health and Safety professional, looking for an extraordinary overseas experience in the Pacific to build into your field of expertise – working collaboratively with the National Referral Hospital, then read on, as we have an exciting opportunity in store for you!
Our Partner Organisation - National Referral Hospital (NRH)
The National Referral Hospital (NRH) serves as the primary provider of secondary and some tertiary healthcare services for the entire population of the Solomon Islands, including visitors. With 49 departments and units, and plans to introduce new subspecialties in ICU, cardiac care, renal services, ENT, and dermatology, NRH plays a vital role in patient care, corporate services, and public health. The Solomon Islands Government aims to achieve minimum Universal Health Coverage standards in the coming decades. In 2019, the population was estimated at 721,000 and expected to grow to 740,934 in 2020, yet NRH operates with only 300 beds—significantly below the national average of 0.4 beds per 1,000 people and far below the WHO standard of 5 per 1,000. As the country’s largest hospital, NRH admits around 14,000 patients annually and supports nursing professional development through its education programme.
The Assignment
This assignment is a partnership assignment between VSA and NRH. The Department of Occupational Health and Safety was recently restructured with a new team of two nursing staff. Occupational Health and Safety is a new area of expertise that staff have had very little previous experience in. An Occupational Health and Safety Mentor is required to help guide and direct the team so that they are able to understand occupational health and safety, and can support staff in the different departments.
The Occupational Health and safety team works closely with the Infection Prevention and Control team to monitor staff hospital acquired infections and patient hospital acquired infections. The challenge is that currently there is little structure or scope for the staff team and there are no defined safety and quality standards in the hospital setting
The Volunteer
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:
- Qualification in OSH, Medicine, or related field
- Minimum of 3 years' experience in OSH in a medical setting/care facility
- Experience developing quality and safety standards
- Ability to analyse and report on data.
The Country
The Solomon Islands has over 900 islands, 5,000 rural villages and 550,000 people. Between 1999 and 2003 it experienced a period of conflict which took a heavy toll on the country and left a need for reconciliation and on-going peace and security measures.
A request for assistance by the government in 2003 led Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Island countries to form the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) which restored peace and security.
Apply Now!
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:
If you are on the VSA website, please click on the download assignment description tab above.
Please note: The VSA office will be closed from midday on 20th December, and our recruitment team will be unavailable to review applications or respond to queries about this assignment until we reopen on 6th January 2025. You’re welcome to submit your application during this period, and we’ll review it as soon as we return.
We are looking for a volunteer with:
- 9-month volunteer assignment based in Honiara
- Flights, accommodation and living allowance provided
- Share your skills and knowledge with others in a meaningful way
VSA covers flights, accommodation, insurance and some expenses. A living allowance is also provided.
Does volunteering with one of the largest and most experienced agency in international development interest you?