Q. What is the Fiji Village Project?

A. The Fiji Village Project (FVP) is a not-for-profit international humanitarian project, initiated by medical students, based on models from the World Health Organisation (WHO), International Federation of Medical Students Associations and Fiji School of Medicine Public Health Curriculum. The annual project is executed by medical, dental, nursing and public health students from Australia, Fiji and New Zealand. The project aims to promote health in the South Pacific region and provides the opportunity of a cultural exchange between our Pacific neighbouring countries whilst working towards a common goal. Each year a volunteer team are chosen to go to Fiji for 2 weeks. During the project team members are involved in medical and dental screening of a remote Fijian village, installation of fresh water tanks to the village and clinical placements at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva.

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Q. When was the Fiji Village Project established?

A. The Fiji Village Project was established in 2008 by medical students from the ANU, Fiji School of Medicine and University of Auckland. The first project was in January 2009. Since then, FVP has completed 12 successful project cycles between January 2009-2020.

 

Q. When does the Fiji Village Project run?

A. The Fiji Village Project is an annual 2 week project that runs every January. See current project page for more information. 

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Q. Where does the Fiji Village Project run?

A. The Fiji Village Project is based out of the Fiji Medical School campus in Suva, Fiji. Each year the Fiji Village Project selects a new village based on access to clean water. During the Project students stay at the Fiji Medical School and will spend each day either at the village conducting health/ dental screenings or at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva for clinical placements.

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Q. What clinical placements are available?

A. Clinical placements at the Colonial War Memorial Hospital, Suva are only open to medical and nursing students. In previous years students were rotated through various wards including emergency, surgery, paediatrics and obstetrics/ gynaecology. Dental students will have a dental week in the village to practise their skills via a village dental clinic. Dental placements in a Suva dental clinic are yet to be confirmed. Public health students are not eligible for clinical placements and instead will work in the village both weeks to promote health to the villagers.

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Q. How big is the Fiji Village Project Team?

A. Each year the team is comprised of 15 Australians, 15 New Zealanders and 15 Fiji students studying medicine, nursing, dentistry or public health. The Fiji Village Project is coordinated by an International Coordinators Team comprised of coordinators from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji who are part of the team.

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Q. Who is eligible to apply for the Fiji Village Project?

A. The Fiji Village Project is open to all medical, nursing, public health and final year dental students from Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. You must be a current student to apply to the Fiji Village Project.

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Q. How do I apply to be involved?

A. Each year we open applications for eligible students to apply to be a part of the Fiji Village Project. After submitting your application the coordinators will select the team members and contact the applicants to let them know the outcome of the application. See the apply here page for more information.

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Q. How much does the trip cost?

A. The cost of the trip is divided into two; fundraising and the trip costs.

• The fundraising component of the Fiji Village Project is an individual amount for each student. However, you can fundraise individually or in groups. All of the fundraised money is used to cover the cost of water tanks and installation, medical and dental equipment used in village health and dental weeks and transport of students and equipment to and from the village.

• The trip cost is paid out-of-pocket by each student to cover their flights and accommodation/meals cost. The flights cost will vary depending on distance travelled, time of booking and availability. The accommodation/ meals cost will be confirmed according to the quotations from our accommodation and caterers. We recommend students also budget additional spending money for activities, snacks, souvenirs. See current project page for more information.

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Q. How do I get to the project?

A. Successful applicants will be sent a Fiji Village Project Survival Guide which contains all information regarding booking flights, packing list, accommodation, food and transport within Fiji. 

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Q. What do I bring with me?

A. Successful applicants will be sent a Fiji Village Project Survival Guide which contains all information regarding booking flights, packing list, accommodation, food and transport within Fiji. 

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