Volunteer with VSA

Kia ora, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula, Talofa lava, Halo, Kia orana, Mauri and warm Pacific greetings,
  
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 Fiji. 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.
  
If you’re an experienced tradesperson and you’re looking for an opportunity to build capability in the Pacific (while enjoying an extraordinary cultural experience), then please read on to find out more.

This assignment is a partnership assignment between VSA, and Pacific Polytech. We are seeking a passionate and experienced construction professional prepared to volunteer and support Pacific Polytech's goal of enhancing vocational education in construction. The volunteer will play a vital role in reviewing and updating Provider Qualifications (PQs) in areas such as carpentry, block laying, painting, tiling, plumbing, or welding. You’ll also deliver Training of Trainers (ToT) workshops, mentor local trainers, and collaborate directly with students to ensure high-quality learning experiences.
This position requires hands-on engagement across multiple campuses in Fiji, enabling you to share your practical knowledge, elevate training standards, and contribute to shaping Fiji’s skilled workforce.

Key Responsibilities:

• Review and Update Provider Qualifications: Collaborate with academic leaders and construction department heads to assess and refine current training qualifications, ensuring alignment with industry needs and Fiji Higher Education Commission standards.
• Train the Trainers: Deliver workshops to enhance the skills and confidence of Pacific Polytech’s trainers, focusing on effective teaching methods and knowledge transfer.
• Mentor and Coach: Provide on-site coaching and continuous monitoring of trainers’ delivery methods to assess progress and identify areas for further development.
• Enhance Student Outcomes: Work directly with trainers and students to ensure graduates are equipped with practical skills and expertise to meet industry demands.

Our Partner Organisation - Pacific Polytech is a registered not-for-profit technical training institution addressing the skills gap in Fiji’s workforce. Founded in 2021 by former Technical Colleges of Fiji staff, Pacific Polytech provides accessible vocational training to early school leavers and underserved communities in both urban and rural areas. With campuses across Fiji and plans for expansion, Pacific Polytech is dedicated to equipping students with in-demand skills that enhance employment opportunities and contribute to economic development.

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:

•  Minimum of 5 years experience in the construction industry (carpentry, block laying, painting, tiling, plumbing, welding) 

Important note: Due to our VSA funding requirements, our volunteers must be a NZ citizen or NZ Permanent Resident to progress further in our recruitment process.


The Country
Fiji includes the other 3 cultural groups called Fijians -Rotuma, Rabi, and Kioa (Rabian and Kioans) were resettled in Fiji after being evacuated from Ocean islands, Tuvalu and Kiribati).

It is a destination attraction for its coral reefs, clear lagoons, and tropical landscapes. Fijian indigenous society is very communal, with great importance attached to the family unit, the village, and the vanua (land). With the introduction of traditions such as Indian and Chinese and significant influences from Europe and Fiji's Pacific neighbours, particularly Tonga and Samoa, these various cultures have come together to create a multicultural national identity for Fiji.
  
Fiji has several development goals they are focusing on as a country such as lowering youth unemployment rates, reducing poverty, reducing child mortality and gender inequality, increasing environmental sustainability, and improving the health and education status of its citizens. 

Te tono | How to apply:

Apply for this amazing opportunity through our website. For more information on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.

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