Veterinary Adviser
Closing Date: 06 August 2026
Category: Agriculture & Horticultural Sustainability
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 the Solomon Islands. Work alongside our local partner organisation to plan and create a brighter future for all.
We are looking for an experienced Veterinarian 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 Solomon Islands 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.
Our Partner Organisation – Western Provincial Government (WPG)
The Western Provincial Government (WPG) has been operating since 1978 when the country became independent. The province has its own Provincial Government Administration head by a Clerk. The role of the WPG is to develop the province, particularly rural areas. Planning is an important part of the WPG’s activities as this helps to ensure that development occurs in a
considered manner. Recently, the Western Provincial Assembly has been active, discussing financial progress and addressing legislative matters, such as the draft Provincial Government Act Bill 2025 and currently organising various forums and meetings to engage stakeholders and improve governance.
The WPG has a farm that is about 6km outside Gizo town. The farm has large and small livestock including cows, pigs, and chickens – layers. The WPG would like to grow their livestock and ensure that they conduct agricultural activities that will result in local available healthy agricultural products.
The challenge is there is no veterinary clinic or vet services in Western Province to ensure that livestock diseases are identified early on and treated. The other challenge faced by the government is the lack of a plan to cull and control the number of increasing wild dogs. The dogs that roam the streets can be aggressive and have attacked people resulting in injuries and one death in the past two years. The WPG is keen to have a vet support them to come up with a plan to keep stray dog numbers down.
The Assignment
This assignment is a partnership assignment between VSA and the Western Provincial Government.
A VSA volunteer is needed to help support the Western Provincial Government (WPG) staff to learn the skills to rear livestock on a farm well and be able to identify and treat disease early on. The volunteer will work alongside staff, training them in areas identified and developing animal husbandry and the procurement and storage of medicines for animals. The volunteer will also be called upon to support the WPG work in reducing stray dog numbers.
The Country – The Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands has over 900 islands, 5,000 rural villages and 550,000 people. Between 1999 and 2003 it experienced a period of conflict which took a heavy toll on the country and left a need for reconciliation and on-going peace and security measures.
A request for assistance by the government in 2003 led Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Island countries to form the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) which restored peace and security.
VSA has established a strong presence in Solomon Islands through its ongoing partnerships with multiple in-country partners, including strong relationships with Solomon Islands Government.
Me pēhea te tuku tono| How to apply:
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we still want to hear from you.
At VSA, we recognise that transferable skills, adaptability, cross-cultural awareness, relationship-building abilities, and a shared commitment to sustainable development can be just as valuable as specific technical expertise.
Apply for this opportunity through our website www.vsa.org.nz
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 the Solomon Islands. Work alongside our local partner organisation to plan and create a brighter future for all.
We are looking for an experienced Veterinarian 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 Solomon Islands 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.
- Qualification in veterinary science
- At least 2-years' experience working as a vet
- Experience working in rural settings and/or with limited resources
Our Partner Organisation – Western Provincial Government (WPG)
The Western Provincial Government (WPG) has been operating since 1978 when the country became independent. The province has its own Provincial Government Administration head by a Clerk. The role of the WPG is to develop the province, particularly rural areas. Planning is an important part of the WPG’s activities as this helps to ensure that development occurs in a
considered manner. Recently, the Western Provincial Assembly has been active, discussing financial progress and addressing legislative matters, such as the draft Provincial Government Act Bill 2025 and currently organising various forums and meetings to engage stakeholders and improve governance.
The WPG has a farm that is about 6km outside Gizo town. The farm has large and small livestock including cows, pigs, and chickens – layers. The WPG would like to grow their livestock and ensure that they conduct agricultural activities that will result in local available healthy agricultural products.
The challenge is there is no veterinary clinic or vet services in Western Province to ensure that livestock diseases are identified early on and treated. The other challenge faced by the government is the lack of a plan to cull and control the number of increasing wild dogs. The dogs that roam the streets can be aggressive and have attacked people resulting in injuries and one death in the past two years. The WPG is keen to have a vet support them to come up with a plan to keep stray dog numbers down.
The Assignment
This assignment is a partnership assignment between VSA and the Western Provincial Government.
A VSA volunteer is needed to help support the Western Provincial Government (WPG) staff to learn the skills to rear livestock on a farm well and be able to identify and treat disease early on. The volunteer will work alongside staff, training them in areas identified and developing animal husbandry and the procurement and storage of medicines for animals. The volunteer will also be called upon to support the WPG work in reducing stray dog numbers.
The Country – The Solomon Islands
The Solomon Islands has over 900 islands, 5,000 rural villages and 550,000 people. Between 1999 and 2003 it experienced a period of conflict which took a heavy toll on the country and left a need for reconciliation and on-going peace and security measures.
A request for assistance by the government in 2003 led Australia, New Zealand and other Pacific Island countries to form the Regional Assistance Mission to the Solomon Islands (RAMSI) which restored peace and security.
VSA has established a strong presence in Solomon Islands through its ongoing partnerships with multiple in-country partners, including strong relationships with Solomon Islands Government.
Me pēhea te tuku tono| How to apply:
We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and life experiences. If you’re excited about this role but your experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification listed, we still want to hear from you.
At VSA, we recognise that transferable skills, adaptability, cross-cultural awareness, relationship-building abilities, and a shared commitment to sustainable development can be just as valuable as specific technical expertise.
Apply for this opportunity through our website www.vsa.org.nz
For more information or if you have any questions on this assignment, email volunteer@vsa.org.nz.
We are looking for a volunteer with:
- Experience a unique opportunity volunteering for VSA
- Support livestock health and veterinary capacity in the Solomon Islands
- Flights, accommodation and living allowance provided
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?