Clinical Nursing Mentor (PNG 42065)

Closing Date: 06 March 2026

Category: Healthcare & Medical

Kia ora, Gude 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 to share your experience, skills and knowledge to serve and build capacity in Papua New Guinea. Work alongside our local partner organisation to plan and create a brighter future for all.
  
We are looking for an experienced Clinical Nurse mentor or someone with the right level of transferrable skills, who understands and shares the spirit of volunteering, with a keen interest in building capability in the Pacific (while embracing a new cultural experience).

The length of this assignment in the Papua New Guinea will be 12 months.

VSA will support you by funding and organizing your flights, visas, insurances, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while you are on assignment.
  
Ngā tino Pūkenga/Wheako – Essential skills/experiences for the role
If you are interested in this opportunity, below are some of the key skills and experiences that we’re looking for.
  • Registered Nurse with a valid practising licence and extensive clinical experience in a hospital or healthcare setting.
  • Proven track record in clinical mentoring and training, ideally within nursing education or capacity-building programmes.
  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills, capable of effectively mentoring and supporting diverse groups of healthcare professionals.
  • Commitment to delivering quality patient care, adhering to evidence-based practice, and pursuing professional development.
  
  
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.
  
Our Partner Organisation - Divine Word University (St Mary’s School of Nursing)

St Mary's School of Nursing, based in Kokopo, East New Britain Province, Papua New Guinea, provides a Diploma in General Nursing programme. This programme enables graduates to register as professional nurses with the Nursing Council of Papua New Guinea. Affiliated with Divine Word University (DWU), the school's nursing programme is accredited by the Department of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology of Papua New Guinea (DHERST).

The Assignment
The Clinical Nursing Mentor position is part of a collaborative initiative supported by the VSA Programme in PNG, aimed at enhancing healthcare outcomes through improved clinical capacity and capability among nurses and allied healthcare workers. 
This initiative focuses on targeted training and mentorship to equip nursing students and healthcare professionals with essential skills for effective patient care. The Clinical Nursing Mentor will provide expert guidance, training, and mentorship to nursing students and healthcare professionals in East New Britain, with the objective of enhancing clinical competencies, improving patient care practices, strengthening healthcare service delivery, and identifying and addressing gaps in clinical nursing education and practice. 
This volunteer position combines clinical expertise with teaching skills to ensure that nursing students receive high quality, hands-on learning experiences in real healthcare settings. 
Whenever practicable, the mentor will also support the strengthening of management and leadership capabilities among healthcare workers to improve service delivery and operational efficiency.

The Country – Papua New Guinea
Most people living in Papua New Guinea (PNG) are Melanesian, but some are Micronesian or Polynesian. PNG has over 800 known languages although there are three official languages: Tok Pisin, English, and Hiri Motu. Numerous indigenous languages are still used by people from a society that ranges from traditional village-based life to modern urban living.

Underlying the Papua New Guinean culture is the wantok system. Wantok, or ‘one talk’, refers to the people who speak your language or your extended family/clan; a Papua New Guinean’s primary loyalty will be to their wantok.
  
The country is predominately Christian, with indigenous faith and spirituality still important to many locals.
  
The people of Papua New Guinea are famously warm and hospitable and the isolated mountain ranges are often home to unique fauna and flora found nowhere else in the world.
  
Me pēhea te tuku tono| How to apply:
Apply for this opportunity through our website.
For more information or if you have any questions on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.

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


Applications close on: 6th March 2026

We are looking for a volunteer with:

  • 12-month assignment, flights and accommodation provided
  • Clinical leadership role for you to make your own
  • Embody the Spirit of Service with an experience like no other

VSA covers flights, accommodation, insurance and some expenses. A living allowance is also provided.