Special Education Teacher Adviser

Kia ora, Talofa Lava 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 Samoa. Work alongside our local partner organisation to plan and create a brighter future for all. We are looking for an experienced Special Education Teacher Adviser or someone with the right level of transferable 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 Samoa 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 :

• Qualified teacher experienced working in special education (BA Teaching or Post Grad in Special Education Adviser or proven experience in Special Ed)
• Experience in training and mentoring teachers and teacher aides
• Experience in developing curriculum materials and resources for children with special needs
• Experience with a range of disabilities including ASD, Down Syndrome, Cerebral Palsy, intellectual disabilities and hearing and vision impairments
• Knowledge of the IEP process or goal setting and the ability to model, train, and assist teachers in planning good, relevant SMART goals.

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.

Our Partner Organisation – Loto Taumafai Society for People with Disabilities :

Loto Taumafai Society for People with Disabilities’ mission is to provide access to inclusive, equitable and quality education and support services for all people with disabilities in Samoa.

The teams visit and work with families whose children with disabilities are unable to attend school due to their disabilities as well as any other barriers that may prevent them from attending school. The Loto Taumafai School generally works with children ranging from Year 1 to Year 12. Loto Taumafai Society for People with Disabilities also provides support for a Vocational Unit, which teaches skills in carpentry, carving, and screen printing. In previous years there were also sewing and weaving classes.

The Assignment :

In this assignment the volunteer would be working with teachers to develop the right tools and knowledge to appropriately interact with their students with disabilities, especially when dealing with challenging behaviours, during task transitions and while maintaining on‑task behaviour. Key areas of focus for this assignment would be in assisting and supporting Loto Taumafai Society for People with Disabilities with teaching training, upskilling and in effectively planning lessons geared more towards a student‑centered approach in an interactive learning environment. To accomplish this and deliver the best possible outcomes for the students, the volunteer would be working closely alongside teaching staff (Teachers, teacher aide and Principal) while also maintaining a relationship with the school’s board of management.

The Country – Samoa :

Samoa is situated in the South Pacific approximately halfway between Hawaiʻi 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.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to apply :

Please apply for this opportunity through our website. For more information or if you have any questions on this assignment, email a member of our Recruitment team through

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