Volunteer with VSA

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 Emergecry Doctor, looking for an extraordinary overseas experience in the Pacific to build into your field of expertise – working collaboratively with the Vaiola Hospital, then read on, as we have an exciting opportunity in store for you!
 
Our Partner Organisation - Tonga Ministry of Health/ Vaiola Hospital

Vaiola Hospital is the main hospital in Tonga, situated on the outskirts of Tonga’s capital, Nuku’alofa.
The Emergency Department addresses all acute care needs across communicable and non-communicable diseases, maternal and child health, injury and mental health. Training of Emergency Care staff in Tonga is led by visiting emergency specialists from New Zealand and Australia, supported by MFAT. Formal training programs began in 2013 with the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) Certificate program.


The Assignment

Emergency Care at Vaiola Hospital encompasses pre-hospital and Emergency Department presentations.
The Emergency Department sees all patients with acute illness and injury, the efficient assessment and management of these patients being a priority.
Emergency clinicians need ready access to expert supervision and advice. This has been problematic in Tonga because of the limited and intermittent presence of senior clinicians.

The VSA role will focus on:

• Teaching and supporting junior staff, with a focus on teaching, in their assessment, diagnosis and management of the patients who present to the Emergency Department
• Supporting staff to work proactively with, and strengthen relationships with, inpatient teams
• Assisting the development of Emergency Departments throughout Tonga in Vava’u, Ha’apai, and ‘Eua, with an initial focus on Vaiola Hospital
• Supporting the strengthening of the safe inter-hospital transfer of patients throughout the Kingdom

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:

• Specialist in Emergency Medicine
• Fellow of ACEM or other professional college or Masters of Emergency Medicine
• Medical practitioner fully registered with the Medical Council or equivalent of home country
• Have worked in a variety of Emergency Medicine settings including LMICs, high income countries (HICs) and resource limited settings, urban and rural departments
• Experience in Quality Improvement
• Experience supporting and mentoring junior staff
• High standard of written and verbal communication
• Able to work as an integral member of a multidisciplinary team
• Able to maintain good professional relationships and be respectful of other team members’ skills
• Demonstrated ability to work flexibly in a constantly changing and challenging environment 

The Country


The Kingdom of Tonga consists of 176 islands in four major groups, Tongatapu Island group, Ha’apai Island group, Vava’u Island group, and the Niu Island group. These islands form a narrow archipelago extending north from the Tropic of Capricorn.
  
There are many natural wonders in Tonga, and it is also one of the only places in the world where you can swim with humpback whales.

Apply Now!

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


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We are looking for a volunteer with:

• Full time 3-12months Volunteering opportunity in Tonga
• Flights, accommodation and other expenses covered by VSA
• Make a lasting difference across the Pacific