Special Education Adviser

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Kia ora, Malo e lelei, Ni sa bula, Talofa lava, Halo, Kia orana, Mauri 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.

Please note VSA Volunteers must be a NZ citizen or permanent resident.

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About the role
This is your opportunity to become a VSA Volunteer and share your experience, skills and knowledge to serve and capacity build in Samoa. Work alongside our local partner organization to create a fair future for all.

VSA will support you by funding and organizing your flights, visas, insurances, accommodation, living allowance and utilities while you are on assignment.

If you're an experienced Special Education professional or have the right level of transferrable skills; and you're looking for an opportunity to build capability in the Pacific (while enjoying an extraordinary cultural experience), then please read on to find out more.

This assignment offers a rewarding opportunity to support a school dedicated to providing high-quality, individualised education for children with intellectual disabilities. The goal is to empower teachers by enhancing their skills in inclusive education practices, curriculum planning, and classroom management. You will work closely with the principal, teachers, and teacher aides to develop tailored learning programmes that address students' unique needs in areas such as communication, literacy, and life skills.

Through in-service training, modelling effective strategies, and developing appropriate resources, your role will ensure teachers are confident in creating student-centred learning environments. By supporting both educators and families, this assignment contributes to a more inclusive, supportive educational experience for students, helping them thrive and actively participate in their communities.

Our Partner Organisation - Aoga Fiamalamalama

This assignment is a partnership between VSA and Aoga Fiamalamalama. Aoga Fiamalamalama is a school dedicated to providing a caring, personalised, and high-quality educational environment for children with intellectual disabilities. Their mission focuses on working closely with families to support students' participation and contribution to their communities. The school's values emphasise recognising and encouraging each student's potential through a student-centred approach and individualised learning plans.

They aim to enrich the educational experience by implementing inclusive education practices, enhancing skills in communication, literacy, and life skills, and supporting families and communities with children who have disabilities.
Ngā tino Pūkenga/Wheako - Essential skills/experiences for the role
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:


Qualified teacher experienced working in special education (Bachelor's Degree in Education, or post-graduate diploma in Special Education)
Experience in training and mentoring teachers and teacher aides
Experience in developing curriculum materials and resources for children with special needs.
Knowledge around the IEP process or goal setting and the ability to model, train and assist teachers in planning good, relevant SAMART goals.
The Country - Samoa

Samoa is situated in the South Pacific approximately halfway between Hawaii and New Zealand. It sits squarely in the cyclone belt and is highly vulnerable to devastating storms. Around three-quarters of its 195,000 population live on the main island of Upolu; the rest live on the neighbouring island of Savai'i or one of the seven small islets.
The traditional Samoan way, the fa'a Samoa, remains a strong force in Samoan life and politics where family is all-important, and elders are highly respected.

Each village is made up of extended families that are represented on the village council by a chief (matai). The more western-style parliamentary system in Samoa is highly influenced by traditional social systems and the family, civic and political duties performed by the matai at village level. The country is predominantly Christian.

Te tono | How to apply:


Apply for this amazing opportunity through our website. For more information on this assignment, email *** .

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.

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



/vsa.org.nz/assets/Assignment-Descriptions-2019-2020/2024/December-2024/Special-Eduation-Teacher-Adviser-SAM42104.pdf
If you are on the VSA website, please click on the download assignment description tab above. Community Services & Development 51-100 employees
Volunteer Service Abroad - Te Tūao Tāwāhi operates volunteering programmes across the Pacific. We work with local partners and communities to establish long-lasting relationships that are locally led with an ethical approach to ensure our assignments are relevant and sustainable.
We provide the resources, skills, and knowledge so that the impact achieved during an assignment can be built upon for years to come. Our partners include regional and central government agencies, local and national NGOs, education and health organisations. We additionally work with New Zealand and regional partners such as UNICEF, World Vision, UN Women and the Pacific Community (SPC).
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