Fiji is a stunning holiday destination in the South Pacific and home to 936,000 Fijians. Unfortunately, what many people don't realise is that it has one of the most underfunded health care systems in the world and approximately 40% of the population live below the poverty line. In July 2024 ODA embarked on a journey to the Viti Levu Island and provided vision screening to approximately 1,300 people and dispensed over 400 pairs of glasses via a mobile clinic. The work was conducted alongside Opticare - The Eye Clinic Fiji and Christian Helps Fiji and involved a team of 12 ODA volunteers from Australia.
With more work to be done, ODA Members are invited to apply to join us on another international outreach trip to the Fiji Islands in July 2025. This is the second year running for this project and places are strictly limited. Applications to attend are open exclusively to ODA Members and successful applicants will be notified in the new year. You will need to meet the following criteria to apply:
* Able and fit to travel overseas
* Hold a valid passport and appropriate visas
* Be a current ODA Optical Dispenser Member
* Hold a Certificate IV in Optical Dispensing (or equivalent)
* Be able to take the required amount of time away from work and home
* Possess the means to fund your own airfares, travel insurance, spending money & volunteer fee
* Be culturally sensitive and ready to adapt to a variety of situations
* Previous volunteer experience highly regarded (but not mandatory)
NB: A volunteer fee of $1,750 will be payable and includes 7 nights 4-star shared hotel accommodation (between 2), local transport, some leisure activities and all meals.
If this sounds like you, apply now by filling in THIS FORM by 20th December 2024.
A bit about the trip:
After landing in Nadi at any time on Sunday, we will be transported to our hotel in Lautoka. Over the course of 5 days (Mon - Fri), we will travel by mini bus (approx. 2 hours each way) to various remote schools where we will set up a mobile clinic and screen adults and children for refractive errors. One of our two optometrists will conduct a refraction where required and provide a prescription for the team to dispense a ready-made pair of glasses. At the end of each day, we may have some edging and fitting to fulfill back in Lautoka as well. On the 6th day (Saturday), your hard work and long days will be rewarded with an island leisure trip courtesy of ODA and Christian Helps Fiji. We will depart ways and fly home (or take some time off to holiday) on Sunday.
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