Clinical Services Advisor (Medical Doctor)
Closing Date: 29 May 2026
Category: Healthcare & Medical
Kia ora, Halo 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 Bougainville. Work alongside our local partner organisation to plan and create a brighter future for all.
We are looking for an experienced Clinical Services Advisor 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). This assignment offers a unique opportunity to contribute during a pivotal period in the region’s health system, supporting sustainable improvements in the quality, consistency, and delivery of care for local communities.
The length of this assignment in Bougainville will be six 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.
Our Partner Organisation – Arawa District Hospital
Arawa District Hospital is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation into a Level 5 Specialist Referral Centre, reshaping how healthcare is delivered across the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. This transition will significantly expand access to specialised services, reduce reliance on out-of-district and provincial referrals, and enable more people to receive advanced care closer to home.
As the hospital evolves into a higher-level facility, there is a growing need to strengthen clinical systems, workforce capability, and service coordination. Arawa District Hospital is therefore seeking skilled and committed healthcare professionals who are motivated to contribute to service improvement and support the development of specialist health services in Bougainville.
The Assignment – Clinical Services Advisor
Arawa District Hospital provides essential clinical services to a large and diverse population, managing communicable diseases, maternal and reproductive health needs, and a rising burden of non-communicable diseases. As the hospital expands its role, there is an increasing need to strengthen the quality, consistency, and coordination of clinical care across all service areas.
In partnership with the Volunteer Service Abroad Bougainville Programme, Arawa District Hospital is seeking a Clinical Services Advisor (Medical Doctor) to work alongside local health workers to strengthen service delivery and clinical systems. The volunteer will focus on practical, on-the-job mentoring and structured training for nurses, midwives, and junior clinicians.
This will involve working side-by-side with staff to strengthen clinical assessment, diagnosis, and management of both common and complex conditions, as well as building confidence in emergency and urgent care. In addition, the volunteer will support the development and implementation of simple, context-appropriate clinical protocols and systems to improve patient flow, triage, and quality of care. This includes strengthening documentation practices, supporting quality improvement activities, and reinforcing consistent clinical approaches.
The Country - Bougainville
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, (Otonomos Region bilong Bogenvilin Tok Pisin), previously known as the North Solomons, it is the largest island in the Solomons Island archipelago, situated on the border between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
The population is roughly 300,000 (as of 2023), with most people living on the largest island, Bougainville Island. Buka Island is over a close stretch of water. Volunteer Service Abroad has offices in both Arawa (Bougainville Island) and Buka (Buka Island).
Although the region is just over 2,300 square kilometres, the terrain is rugged. This makes travel slow on roads and boats. It is a mountainous region covered in forest and sea, making agriculture and fishing vital to people's lives.
The people are resilient, and all are likely to have been personally affected by the civil conflict in the 1990s, but they wish to develop. There are substantial cultural aspects to be considered when living in ARoB, which will be covered in briefings before volunteers depart and upon arrival.
VSA has been active in Bougainville for over 25 years. We started in the year 1998 with a programme focusing on response and reconstruction post-crisis.
As part of the New Zealand government’s commitment to delivering a ‘peace dividend’, we set up our field office in Arawa (the conflict zone in the 90s).
VSA volunteers have since been deployed in Buka, Buin, Nissan, Selau-Suir, Tinputz, and Wakunai districts to name a few. Today, our volunteers work alongside the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) across various community development, education, and health departments, along with local and international NGOs in Bougainville. Together, we aim to build an overall sustainable Bougainville community.
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.
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 Bougainville. Work alongside our local partner organisation to plan and create a brighter future for all.
We are looking for an experienced Clinical Services Advisor 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). This assignment offers a unique opportunity to contribute during a pivotal period in the region’s health system, supporting sustainable improvements in the quality, consistency, and delivery of care for local communities.
The length of this assignment in Bougainville will be six 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.
- Current professional registration, or eligibility for registration, with an appropriate regulatory authority
- At least five years of relevant clinical experience, including the management of acute and/or complex conditions in hospital or urgent care settings
- Demonstrated experience in mentoring, training, or supporting health workers to strengthen clinical practice and build capability
Our Partner Organisation – Arawa District Hospital
Arawa District Hospital is undergoing a once-in-a-generation transformation into a Level 5 Specialist Referral Centre, reshaping how healthcare is delivered across the Autonomous Region of Bougainville. This transition will significantly expand access to specialised services, reduce reliance on out-of-district and provincial referrals, and enable more people to receive advanced care closer to home.
As the hospital evolves into a higher-level facility, there is a growing need to strengthen clinical systems, workforce capability, and service coordination. Arawa District Hospital is therefore seeking skilled and committed healthcare professionals who are motivated to contribute to service improvement and support the development of specialist health services in Bougainville.
The Assignment – Clinical Services Advisor
Arawa District Hospital provides essential clinical services to a large and diverse population, managing communicable diseases, maternal and reproductive health needs, and a rising burden of non-communicable diseases. As the hospital expands its role, there is an increasing need to strengthen the quality, consistency, and coordination of clinical care across all service areas.
In partnership with the Volunteer Service Abroad Bougainville Programme, Arawa District Hospital is seeking a Clinical Services Advisor (Medical Doctor) to work alongside local health workers to strengthen service delivery and clinical systems. The volunteer will focus on practical, on-the-job mentoring and structured training for nurses, midwives, and junior clinicians.
This will involve working side-by-side with staff to strengthen clinical assessment, diagnosis, and management of both common and complex conditions, as well as building confidence in emergency and urgent care. In addition, the volunteer will support the development and implementation of simple, context-appropriate clinical protocols and systems to improve patient flow, triage, and quality of care. This includes strengthening documentation practices, supporting quality improvement activities, and reinforcing consistent clinical approaches.
The Country - Bougainville
The Autonomous Region of Bougainville, (Otonomos Region bilong Bogenvilin Tok Pisin), previously known as the North Solomons, it is the largest island in the Solomons Island archipelago, situated on the border between Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands.
The population is roughly 300,000 (as of 2023), with most people living on the largest island, Bougainville Island. Buka Island is over a close stretch of water. Volunteer Service Abroad has offices in both Arawa (Bougainville Island) and Buka (Buka Island).
Although the region is just over 2,300 square kilometres, the terrain is rugged. This makes travel slow on roads and boats. It is a mountainous region covered in forest and sea, making agriculture and fishing vital to people's lives.
The people are resilient, and all are likely to have been personally affected by the civil conflict in the 1990s, but they wish to develop. There are substantial cultural aspects to be considered when living in ARoB, which will be covered in briefings before volunteers depart and upon arrival.
VSA has been active in Bougainville for over 25 years. We started in the year 1998 with a programme focusing on response and reconstruction post-crisis.
As part of the New Zealand government’s commitment to delivering a ‘peace dividend’, we set up our field office in Arawa (the conflict zone in the 90s).
VSA volunteers have since been deployed in Buka, Buin, Nissan, Selau-Suir, Tinputz, and Wakunai districts to name a few. Today, our volunteers work alongside the Autonomous Bougainville Government (ABG) across various community development, education, and health departments, along with local and international NGOs in Bougainville. Together, we aim to build an overall sustainable Bougainville community.
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.
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?