This Assignment Has Been Negotiated in Good Faith with the Host Organisation, and The

Gender Specialist
Lautoka, Fiji

This assignment has been negotiated in good faith with the Host Organisation, and the information contained was correct at the time of acceptance of the request.

However, while we take responsibility for matters under our direct control, all assignments and arrangements are subject to change due to the inherent low levels of predictability in developing country environments. This assignment may be amended or withdrawn to reflect changes in circumstances.

General details

Assignment Title / Gender Specialist
Host Organisation / Empower Pacific
Website of Host Organisation /
Duration of Assignment / 9-12months
Start Date / 12 February 2018
Assignment Code / 10535355

HOST ORGANISATION OVERVIEW

Empower Pacific recently transitioned from Pacific Counselling and Social Services (PCSS) in 2012. PCSS was incorporated in 1994 and has grown from a small local NGO with voluntary staff to having seven sites around Fiji, with over 70 paid staff. PCSS, now Empower Pacific, has become recognized as Fiji’s only professional counselling service and has pioneered hospital based counselling and social work programs in Fiji and now the wider pacific region.

Funded by various foreign aid agencies, Empower Pacific has now developed a contractual arrangement with the Fiji Ministry of Health, Department of Corrective Services, Department of Social Welfare to provide counselling and social work services in all major facilities as well as developed a partnership with the Secretariat of the Pacific Community to deliver services targeted at sex workers and HIV response.

Empower Pacific's mission is to enhance the full potential of communities by working in partnership with Government and other community agencies to ensure a holistic model of professional health and community development services. It provides this through the facilitation of targeted needs-based psychosocial support program, which aim to empower people to live health positive lives.

The organisation engages actively in:

Awareness raising about psychosocial and community wellbeing issues
Provision of General and Specialised Counselling Services
Provision of Social work programs
Antenatal HIV/STI screening, education and response. Gender based violence (GBV) education and response
Provision of Child Protection services in collaboration with Dept of Social Welfare
Provision of Income generation and capacity building services
Specific project work with target vulnerable client groups including sex workers, gender based violence etc

ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW

A significant 80% of the total clients that access Empower Pacific services are women. Empower Pacific facilitates specific programs designed and implemented to address women’s issues and promoting women’s welfare. A gender specialist/advisor will provide expertise in evaluating, improving, and if necessary redesigning these programs to enhance the effectiveness of these programs. As part of this role, it is expected that the volunteer will also provide capacity building to local staff to enhance their capacities. More recently, Empower Pacific's Counsellor’s feedback and data has indicated a trend that reflects a sudden increase in the number of clients presenting Family/ Relationship issues following the aftermath of tropical cyclone Winston. This has further reaffirmed the need to enhance the capacity of staff to be able to address these issues.This assignment is a continuation of a current assignment ending this year. Due to the need for support in GBV work/program that Empower Pacific has just recently commenced, this role is significant in helping execute priorty outcomes for the organsaiton.

ASSIGNMENT OBJECTIVES:

Capacity building of counselors and clinical supervisors in managing gender based programs including the development of a robust monitoring and evaluation framework.

Identify and assist local staff in implementing strategies to improve the existing programs aimed at addressing gender issues.

To ensure the inclusion of all people directly affected by the volunteer assignment in the course of your work with the host organisation and host community, including implementing strategies that relate to:
promoting gender equality and empowering women,
disability inclusion, and
child safeguarding.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE VOLUNTEER

In consultation with their line manager and relevant stakeholders, Australian volunteers complete a work plan in the first three (3) months of their assignment. The duties below are an indication of the type of work that may be involved in meeting the Assignment Objectives:

Review of the current programs aimed at addressing GBV
Design and implement training programs in relation to GBV
Develop and/or maintain partnerships with local, regional and international organisations, local and national government, professional and peer networks.

Selection Criteria

Qualifications, Essential Skills & Experience

A Bachelor’s degree or equivalent qualifications in the area of Gender and women’s rights and freedoms;
Record of continuous professional development in advocacy working with civil society in the area of health, violence against women and gender empowerment ;
Demonstrated experience of working on issues related to gender based violence and gender equality;
Demonstrated experience in reviewing programs preferably related to gender, health and human rights.

Desirable Skills & Experience

Ability to work with a diverse group;
Ability to be work with colleagues who may have had limited or no access to formal training in the area of mental health and psychosocial support;
Ability to adjust to the local working environment;
Flexibility to accept possible challenges associated with the competing priorities and/or differing

Line Manager

Chief Executive Officer

Staff Supervision

Counsellors and Social Workers of Empower Pacific

Hours & Days of Employment

From 8 am to 5 pm, Monday to Friday

The expectation is that the volunteer will work the equivalent of a 5-day week to a maximum of

40 hours per week.

Leave Entitlements

The volunteer is entitled to 20 annual leave days in a year.

Same conditions and terms as local colleagues apply, including national holidays. However, as a minimum, Volunteers will accrue 1 weeks leave for each 3 months of work.

Other Conditions

The volunteer will work and advise other teams should they seek advice from the volunteer.

Language Skills and Level Required

Low level of Fijian or Hindi required however a willingness to learn to the local language is expected

Language Support

AVI provides language support during the in-country orientation period. Most often additional resources for further development later in the assignment will be available if required.

LIVING AS A VOLUNTEER

Independent since 1970, Fiji is an archipelago of 332 volcanic islands in the southwest Pacific Ocean. About 110 of Fiji’s islands are inhabited, the largest being Viti Levu (10,642 km2) and Vanua Levu (5,807 km2).

Fiji has one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies, although it remains a developing country with a large subsistence agriculture sector. Fiji’s well developed, although fragile economy relies upon tourism, remittances from overseas workers, and subsistence agriculture. Current socio-economic challenges include governance, mitigation of racial tension, and on-going development.

In December 2006 Fiji's military commander, Commodore Frank Bainimarama deposed Prime Minister Qarase. It was the country's fourth coup since 1987. In Sept 2014, Fiji held its elections with the outcome reinstating Mr Bainimarama’s party into power and confirmation of Mr Bainimarama as the democratically elected Prime Minister of Fiji.

As a second port of entry for the country and the second-largest city in the country, Lautoka provides many of the daily needs required for volunteers. As with most cities, crime and poverty are factors to be aware of and around half of Suva's inhabitants are crowded into settlements on land that has no title.

The Western side of the country where this assignment will be based is drier and sunny. It is a small country- side town with a majority of the population in this area engaged in the sugar industry. There is no shortage of food and a variety of local fruits and vegetable, fish and local delicacies in the local markets around the country. There is a public hospital in Lautoka as well as a range of private doctors and dental facilities available in town. Lautoka also offers a few variety of second hand shops that sells clothing, linens, shoes and in some instances household items. There are also a few restaurants in Lautoka that offer Chinese dishes, Indian dishes and a few fast food restaurants. There are also a few coffee shops that sell pastries in town.

There are also a number of volunteers from different countries that work in Fiji especially in main urban centres Suva, Nadi and Lautoka. There are a quite a number of volunteer sending organisations in Fiji and most of these volunteers are based in Suva and in the Western division. There are also social events including weekend getaways to islands and local villages and an annual cross country hike are part of the activities organised throughout the year by many of these groups while other volunteer

The cyclone season for Fiji is from November to April. Flooding of low lying areas during periods of heavy rain is common and the occasional Tsunami warning for Fiji has been more predominant for the past 3 years. For this reason, volunteers are required to seek accommodation that is 10m or higher during their assignment.

Water on most of Fiji is relatively safe to drink. Electricity is generated through Hydro power and is mostly constant on Viti Levu, however outer islands rely on diesel generators thus have intermittent electricity supply throughout the day.

Health facilities are readily available and accessible in Fiji. Although the facilities may not be as modern as facilities in Australia, the local health workers are able to treat and diagnose illnesses relatively well. AVI has contact details for a local expat doctor that is on hand for a second opinion for volunteers or to help arrange admittance to any of the local public or private hospitals.

Taxis and local buses form the main mode of transport and are relatively cheap for day to day travel. Second hand cars are available and are more costly than in Australia. Communication is relatively easy and reliable in Fiji, with about 4 service providers for internet and at least 3 for mobile services with compatible prices.

ALLOWANCES & SUPPORT

These allowance levels are based on the Cost of Living in the host country location. Allowances will be reviewed periodically and may increase or decrease. Volunteers will be given notice of any change to the allowance level.

Living Allowance

AUD $850.00per month

Accommodation Allowance

AUD $700.00 per month

Housing

AVI in country staff will assist the volunteer by putting them into contact with the Realtors to assist in locating reasonable housing in the different locations. The accommodation allowance provide by AVI is sufficient for a 1 bedroom secure and comfortable housing with basic furnishings with sharing as an option for bigger premises.

Other Allowances & Support

All Australian Volunteers program volunteers receive the following:

Pre-departure Briefing in Melbourne

In-country Orientation on arrival

Pre-departure vaccination expenses

Visa expenses

Pastoral care, assignment monitoring and security guidance

Return airfare to country of assignment

Psychological and medical advice and support services

Re-entry support services

Settling in allowance (assignments longer than 6 months)

Re-settlement allowance (assignments longer than 6 months).

PREPARING YOUR APPLICATION

Please begin by writing your responses to the following four (4) questions, in a document headed -

Response to Selection Criteria

a)Why do I feel that volunteering internationally is the right thing for me to be doing at this time in my life? (up to half a page)

b)What are the biggest personal adjustments I’m likely to have to make to be accepted as a useful colleague and engaged community member in this assignment? (up to half a page)

c)The Australian Volunteers program is committed to ensuring the inclusion of all people directly affected by the volunteer assignment, such as the host organisation and host community. What is your personal experience and/or understanding of social inclusion?

d)How do I match the Qualifications, Essential Skills & Experience? Write a brief summary of your most relevant experiences, results and achievements responding to each of the selection criteria in Section 5.

Personal Circumstances Constraints

Please read and delete as appropriate to the assignment. If not applicable, please delete entire row.

We are NOT able to accept applications from people with the following personal circumstances due to security, cultural, legal or visa restrictions in this location:

Applicants with accompanying children
Same sex partners who wish to accompany applicants as part of the Australian Volunteers program may face issues in applying for and being issued with a visa
Applicants with partners to whom they are not legally married and who wish to accompany applicants as part of the Australian Volunteers program may face issues in applying for and being issues with a visa
Applicants with a criminal record where a criminal conviction may be relevant to the inherent requirements of the assignment. (Note: this is standard for all assignments.)

To find out more details about preparing your application, please visit:

To find out more details about the personal competencies required to be a volunteer, please visit:

HOW TO APPLY

All applications must be submitted online. If you haven’t already done so, you will need to register on our website prior to applying.

Once completed, please visit log in, select the assignment you are interested in and follow the prompts at the end of the page.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are encouraged to apply for this assignment.