Projects Abroad healthcare placements offer a volunteer travel programme where students and professionals are supported in learning and contributing within a range of different settings.Volunteering is an opportunity to develop personal and professional skills and gain a broader perspective on the profession within a different culture and setting. It offers many challenges, while simultaneously providing a practical benefit to the local people.The roles and settings vary enormously, from large multi-disciplinary hospitals to community outreach programmes; from working with HIV and leprosy to cerebral palsy and clubfoot.One of the great challenges in these programmes is adapting to the tools available and new colleagues to become a valuable team member. Volunteering in a developing country gives a unique cultural and work experience, a constructive and giving role from which the volunteer gains skills, perspective and, often direction.

PROJECTS ABROADRecruiting volunteers from around the world, Projects Abroad operates volunteer and work experience programmes in 27 developing countries. The projects are designed to be safe, sustainable and worthwhile.Supported by our full time local staff, host families and other volunteers, there is a great environment within which to use initiative and enjoy a unique constructive, cultural and educational experience.Projects Abroad was founded in 1992 and has supported over 30,000 volunteers in local communities working on programmes such as teaching, human rights, and healthcare.

Allied Health Overseas Volunteer Programmes

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The Role of the VolunteerYour role will vary by placement and your experience. We encourage you to use your initiative and be proactive, this will ensure you get a great degree of involvement in the care of the patients.Every setting is different, in terms of the supervision and guidance, the conditions of thepatients, the resources available and the expectations of you. Hence your role may be veryhands on, or more observational. You would never be expected to do something that you were uncomfortable with and we will take care in placing you at the most appropriate setting.You will need to adapt to very different work practices, conditions and fit into a local team.Many people pinpoint this process as being of lasting value.There is much to learn by giving your skills and time in developing countries, and with some thought you can identify a productive role which is rewarding, constructive and educational.

What Can You Expect? • First hand experience of healthcare in a

developing country• Learn new techniques in working with new

and familiar conditions• Gain problem solving, reasoning,

observation and communication skills• With the right approach, make a

constructive and positive contribution to the setting

• Build rapport, share knowledge and skills with local staff

• An invaluable cultural experience and perspective on your profession

PHYSIOTHERAPYOCCUPATIONAL THERAPY

SPEECH PATHOLOGYHEALTH SCIENCES

SOCIAL WORK

Tara, Otago NZ

Working in Cambodia allowed me to experience new challenges and develop new skills which has contributed to

my professional development. I had to adapt to a different way of working with new colleagues, patients and unique conditions. One of the most valuable experiences was learning how to work respectfully within a different culture. Overall, it was an opportunity which encouraged me to grow personally and professionally of which I am very proud of to have achieved.

CASE STUDY 1

Amar Seva Sangam, Tamil Nadu, IndiaFounded in 1981, Amar Seva has grown into a substantial centre for promoting the rehabilitation and support of people with injuries and disabilities.The centre has many activities including a rehabilitation setting, a residential for home for disabled children, a school, a caliper and prosthetic workshop and also conducts outreach work in a village rehabilitation scheme, following up former patients.There is a great variety of work here, supporting local professionals with patients who may have cerebral palsy, spinal injuries or orthopaedic problems. These are a mixture of residential and outpatients.

During my time in Nepal I was able to try my hand at practical things I hadn’t yet learnt to do in Australia, such as making a dynamic splint. The hospital was under-resourced, so the splint was made using items such as an old coat hanger and elastic bands, but nevertheless the treatment goal was the same as it would be in Australia. I experienced life as a Physio in another country, and also got to network with Physio students from all around the world (which was so interesting). I was surprised to discover that across the world – despite socioeconomic differences – Physiotherapy is very similar, especially in the way of treatment techniques.

PROJECT FACTSDURATION: Anything between one and sixmonths.START DATES: Flexible, volunteers canstart at any time.WHO: The programmes suit students andpracticing professionals.ACCOMMODATION: With host familieswherever possible, shared apartments inCambodia and Vietnam.COST: From AU$2045/NZ$2545INCLUDED: Accommodation, food, fulltravel, medical and indemnity insurance,24/7 in country support, projectdevelopment costs, pre-departure supportand advice.EXCLUDED: Flights, visa, vaccinations,spending money.

PROGRAMME LOCATIONS

CASE STUDY 2

National Borei for Infants and Children, Phnom Penh, CambodiaThe National Baby and Children Centre was established in 1980 to receive orphans and abandoned children and babies in the city and from the provinces. There are around 120 children and babies living at the Centre, mostly having physical and mental disabilities of various kinds and some who are HIV+.The physiotherapy facilities are good by local standards but a long way from what you might expect in the west. The work can be challenging in many ways, adapting to local work practices and establishing how you can best help in supporting the children. It is a placement that rewards initiative, and volunteers often have skills and ideas that can be passed on to local staff, meaning volunteers learn and make a positive contribution at the same time.

Veronica, Fremantle, WA

Placements are continually changing, please contact us to discuss any programmes not listed here. Please visit our website for a full listing of placements and countries.

www.projects-abroad.com.au info@projects-abroad.com.auAU: 1300 132 831NZ: 09 889 0587

DESTINATION PHYSIOTHERAPY OCCUPATIONALTHERAPY

Key: Africa Asia Eastern Europe Latin America and the Caribbean

SPEECHTHERAPY

Bolivia

Cambodia

Ethiopia

Ghana

India

Moldova

Mongolia

Nepal

Thailand

Vietnam

A Day in the LifeOur volunteers are never in the country alone. You will work alongside other volunteers and usually have a house mate in your host family or shared apartment. Working five days a week, you have the weekends free to explore the country. We want to create a balance between a positive contribution, a learning experience and gaining a true understanding and love of the country you work in.

CASE STUDY 3Cerebral Palsy Centre, Kathmandu, NepalThe Self Help Group for Cerebral Palsy is a NGO offering support and education to children with cerebral palsy. The centre provides services for people aged around 5 to 25. The centre has a school next door at which volunteers can help out as well.Although relatively well equipped, it is very different to similar centres in the west and great ingenuity and flexibility is shown by local staff. The physiotherapists there often double up as OTs and Speech Therapists. Much of the work is in developing individual treatment plans for the children and working with their families to enhance the level of care given at home. The centre cares for people from a wide catchment, so self reliance is vital as travel to the centre can be arduous for the families.