VOLUNTEER APPLICATION INFORMATION
Please read this information carefully before completing your application form
Trip dates
Final confirmation of trip dates are published on the SPAW Facebook page and the SPAW website by the end of December each year.
The duration
Most trips are eight days which includes a five-day (Monday – Friday) clinic, travel time, set up and pack up day.
Trips to outer islands are typically a day or two longer to allow for the additional travel time.
The clinic time will be spent at a set location and/or field and village trips, depending on the location, facilities available and needs of the island.
The goal
The primary focus is desexing, vaccination and parasite control. We also offer health consultations, disease and injury care and minor surgical procedures for small and large animals.
The team
The size of the team varies depending on location and can be anything from two vets and 2 vet nurses to four vets and four vet nurses.
The opportunity to join a team is available to qualified/registered veterinarians with more than two years full time small animal clinical experience and surgical confidence (particularly desexing dogs and cats). Additional large animal experience is advantageous to the team but not essential.
Qualified vet nurses with at least two years full time experience in a small animal vet clinic are welcome.
Our goal is to treat as many animals as possible and therefore we cannot offer a teaching or supervised environment or accept volunteers without vet/vet nurse/vet tech qualifications and the above-mentioned clinical experience.
Depending on spaces available, we can allocate vet/vet nurse pairs or two colleagues/friends to the same team. If you are currently working in a clinic with a colleague or friend who meets the criteria and is interested in volunteering, please encourage them to complete an application asap.
The team, accommodation and vehicles have limited space for experienced veterinary volunteers only and we are unable to include or accommodate partners, family or friends of veterinary volunteers.
The costs to the volunteer
NZD$600 volunteer fee payable to SPAW
International flights are booked and paid by the volunteer (Return flights to Tonga or Samoa).
Personal Insurance (we strongly recommend travel and health insurance, including cover for disaster and medical evacuation)
Food – the islands allow food to be brought in from New Zealand and some meals may be donated by locals, however it is best to budget around $20-30 per day for meals
Activities and sightseeing.
The costs covered by SPAW
Domestic flights and ferries to outer islands (for Vavaú and Savaií trips)
Accommodation from Saturday to Saturday (seven days), except Vava’u which is Friday to Monday (11 days)
Airport transfers
Transport for the duration of the clinic
Scrub tops (for use during the clinic)
Manuals
All clinic supplies.
The process
Complete the online form and upload your CV
Completed applications are submitted to our vet board for approval
The approval process includes reference checks which can take up to 10 days
Once approved applicants will be notified via email and invited to join a team/trip according to the team needs, personal preference and spaces available.
The invitation
We consider all applications, but preference will be given to vets and vet nurses with more experience, as we need a team that is experienced, adaptable and covers a range of skills from small to large animals.
Acceptance is also dependent on the availability of applicants and size of the team. Most teams will include previous volunteers plus a mixture of new volunteers at different experience levels.
We value all our volunteers and hope that you will be able to join us. Our trips are well organised, busy, very well received by locals and provide an amazing experience for volunteers and much needed help to the island animals.
Thanks again for your interest in volunteering with SPAW.
Please contact us directly on *protected email*
