VBB Board, and AVA member Dr Caitlin Recthford on a recent deployment with APS Samoa.
Vets Beyond Borders (VBB) currently has a range of volunteer opportunities available across the Pacific for veterinary professionals ready to make a meaningful contribution to animal welfare in underserved communities.
Through our VetMatch program, VBB connects skilled veterinarians and veterinary nurses with trusted partner organisations that rely on volunteer support to deliver essential animal health services. Right now, partner clinics across the region are seeking compassionate, capable volunteers willing to commit a minimum of 2 weeks to support their work on the ground.
Current opportunities include placements with long-standing VBB partners such as LUNI Lombok in Indonesia, Animal Protection Society (APS) Samoa, and Te Are Manu in the Cook Islands. Each organisation operates in a unique context, but all share a common goal: improving the health and welfare of animals while strengthening local capacity and services.
Volunteering through VetMatch is not about short-term fixes. Volunteers work alongside local teams, supporting day-to-day clinical care, desexing and preventative health programs, and in many cases mentoring and skills transfer. This collaborative approach ensures that the impact of each placement extends well beyond the volunteer’s time in country.
Placements vary in structure and environment. Some are based in busy charity clinics managing high caseloads of companion animals, including strays and community-owned animals. Others involve working in more remote or resource-limited settings, where adaptability, strong clinical judgement, and teamwork are essential. While volunteers cover the cost of their own flights, some locations offer accommodation, helping to reduce the overall cost of participation.
Many volunteers describe their VetMatch experience as professionally and personally transformative. Working in different cultural and clinical settings encourages problem-solving, sharpens core clinical skills, and builds confidence. For some, volunteering provides a welcome reset from the pressures of everyday practice – a chance to reconnect with the values that drew them to the profession in the first place.
VBB places a strong emphasis on preparation and support. Volunteers are carefully screened, provided with detailed pre-deployment briefings, and supported by both the VBB team and partner organisations throughout their placement. Importantly, all VetMatch opportunities are designed to be ethical, sustainable, and aligned with local priorities – ensuring that volunteers add value without displacing local jobs or services.
If you’re looking to step outside your comfort zone, share your skills, and contribute to lasting improvements in animal welfare, a VetMatch placement could be the opportunity you’ve been waiting for.
To view current vacancies or register your interest, visit www.vetsbeyondborders.org/vetmatch or email VBB’s Volunteer Coordinator, Sylvana on sylvana.wenderhold@vetsbeyondborders.org