Senior Medical Adviser - Emergency Medicine
Closing Date: 24 February 2025
Category: Healthcare & Medical
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 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:
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:
If you are on the VSA website, please click on the download assignment description tab above.
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
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:
If you are on the VSA website, please click on the download assignment description tab above.
We are looking for a volunteer with:
- 3-month (or longer) Volunteer Service assignment based in Vanuatu
- Flights, accommodation, and living allowance funded by VSA
- Empower local medical staff and enhance community health outcomes

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?