News
Fijian Farewell "For Now" from the USP Team
Professor Emerita Marilys Guillemin has completed the second, two-month in-country phase of her assignment in Suva at the University of the South Pacific (USP).
Marilys is on a 12-month volunteer assignment working with USP to support the development of an organisational development and gender equity program. Earlier this year she spent a month building relationships and her understanding of the assignment.
"The first month at USP was crucial for relationship-building and consultation with USP colleagues," Marilys said. "Having established trust and strong relationships with colleagues on the first phase, my second in-country visit was set up for success."
Marilys is working with colleagues across USP to support the establishment of staff excellence awards, support a gender equity action plan, and assist with the development and facilitation of values workshops. She will continue to work with USP for the remainder of her assignment, reviewing the university's promotions policy and processes, and supporting the development of a staff mentoring program.
October, 2025
Photos:1. Marilys with Agnes Kotoisuva, Executive Director, People and Workforce Strategy (top)
2. Marilys cutting her soto tale (“Until we meet again”) celebratory cake (middle)
3. Farewell celebration with USP Human Resources colleagues (below)
Mongolia’s GMIT Welcomes Professor Julie Owens
Photo: GMIT Vice Rector Finance, Enkhbayar Bold meets with Emeritus Professor Julie Owens in September 2025 in the first week of her volunteer assignment.
Emeritus Professor Julie Owens has begun a 12-month hybrid assignment with the German-Mongolian Institute for Resources and Technology (GMIT) to support the development of the University’s Research and Innovation Centre. Located in the Nalaikh district of Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, GMIT aims to educate high quality, internationally recognised engineers and advance research and innovation to better serve society.
Professor Owens will collaborate with the GMIT team to develop strategies, policies, and procedures to manage the University's research and intellectual property, including research translation and commercialisation. Her role includes building capabilities, promoting inclusive development, and providing strategic management support.
In her first week, Professor Owens met with GMIT’s Rector, Professor Battsengel Baatar, and the Director of the Research Innovation Centre. She met with Vice Rector Finance, Enkhbayar Bold, to discuss the business model, overall strategy, and exchange opportunities with Australian universities. She also joined the Rector on the jury for the Mongolian Finals of the global Falling Walls research innovation competition.
With a distinguished academic career, including roles as Deputy Vice Chancellor Research at Deakin University and Pro Vice Chancellor (Research Strategy) at the University of Adelaide, Professor Owens brings a wealth of experience to GMIT. Her expertise will be invaluable in advancing GMIT's mission to educate highly qualified engineers and promote research and innovation.
September 2025
New Assignments Underway in Fiji Partner Universities
The search is underway now for a Leader in Teaching and Learning volunteer assignment with the University of The South Pacific (see details here). More assignments will be announced soon.
Several months of discussions with current and potential university partners recently culminated in two weeks of productive meetings in Suva, Fiji. AAVA Chair, Graham Schaffer, said that announcements on 2026/27 assignments are being finalised.
Watch this website and follow us on LinkedIn for further updates.
August 2025.
Professor Violeta Lopez was warmly acknowledged at the recent IIHS send-off ceremony
Professor Lopez Recognised for Excellence at IIHS, Sri Lanka
After six months of dedicated service in Colombo, Sri Lanka, Professor Violeta Lopez has completed the in-country component of her 12-month assignment with the International Institute of Health Science (IIHS), Nursing. Professor Lopez has made a significant contribution to IIHS's mission of professionalising nursing and allied health education in Sri Lanka and the wider region.
Professor Lopez was recruited by Australian Academic Volunteers Abroad (AAVA) in collaboration with the Australian Volunteers Program. Her work at IIHS, which began remotely in November 2024, focused on key areas including fostering international research partnerships, internationalising curriculum design, and providing invaluable mentorship to early career staff. Her efforts have directly supported IIHS's commitment to improving the quality of the learning experience for its over 3,000 local and regional students, helping them access the global health and education workforce.
"I received a very warm send-off from my home away from home at IIHS," said Professor Lopez.
According to the Chair of AAVA, Professor Emeritus Graham Schaffer "The feedback from IIHS has been wonderful. The team immediately requested the hybrid phase of Violita's assignment be extended two months. She has made a big, positive impact in a short time."
IIHS, as Sri Lanka’s pioneer International University Learning Centre, has a long-standing history of preparing students for global health careers. Professor Lopez's contributions further strengthen this legacy, building academic capacity and enriching the international perspectives offered at the university. While her in-country phase has concluded, the impact of her work is set to resonate for years to come.
3 July 2025
From Left: Professor Violet Lopez, IIHS Board Member Dr.Kithsiri Edirisinghe, University Board Member, Charith Weerasinghe | AVP Country Program Manager - Sri Lanka
IIHS Nursing staff and students send-off Prof Lopez after six very busy months of her in-country assignment in Columbo.
Profesor Lopez on her last day in-country with the IIHS team. She will continue working with the team online for a few months.
From Left: Professor Derrick Armstrong, SINU Vice Chancellor Professor Transform Aqorau, and Professor Angela Hill.
SINU Welcomes Two Volunteer Professors
Professor Angela Hill and Professor Derrick Armstrong have arrived at Solomon Islands National University (SINU) in Honiara to undertake the in-person stage of their volunteer assignments! They were welcomed by Vice Chancellor Professor Transform Aqorau at the Kukum Campus.
SINU, established in 2013, plays a vital role in providing quality, affordable education for the Solomon Islands. Professors Hill and Armstrong are supporting the University to achieve its goals and ambitions through Australian Academic Volunteers Abroad (AAVA)in partnership with the Australian Volunteers Program.
Professor Hill is leading a comprehensive review of academic programs and policies, developing strategies for successful accreditation in her role focused on Quality Assurance and the Student Experience (a 17-month hybrid assignment).
Professor Armstrong is providing strategic counsel on SINU’s goals, governance, and decision-making as Executive Mentor and Strategic Advisor (a 12-month hybrid assignment).
April 10, 2025.
The Value of Partnerships
The Australian Volunteers Program hosted a special event at Fed Square in Naarm/Melbourne, bringing together around 30 Australian-based organisations, program alumni, and staff from across Asia, Africa, and the Pacific. The event highlighted the power of partnerships and provided an excellent opportunity for global connections.
Graham Schaffer, Chair of Australian Academic Volunteers Abroad, participated in a panel discussion alongside Rebecca Mitchell from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), and program recruiters Karalaini Buiniu Kainoco and Tendina Kawage. The panel, facilitated by Lucinda Peterson from AVP, shared insights on sustaining authentic partnerships and emphasised the importance of locally led and driven, sustainable collaborations. They also discussed the future of partnerships, focusing on increasing in-person communication to strengthen connections.
Graham Schaffer, AAVA Chair said it was a pleasure to be part of the panel, “thanks AVP for the invitation to participate. It was a great opportunity to meet other Australian Partner Organisations and many Australian Volunteers Program staff from around the world.”
Photography credit: Australian Volunteers Program
March 20 2025.
Graham Schaffer, Chair of Australian Academic Volunteers Abroad, participated in a panel discussion alongside Rebecca Mitchell from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG), and Australian Volunteer program recruiters Karalaini Buiniu Kainoco (Fiji) and Tendina Kawage (PNG).
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From Left: AVP program recruiter Fiji (Suva) Karalaini Buiniu Kainoco, AAVA's Graham Schaffer, AVP Program recruiter PNG, Tendina Kawage and Rebecca Mitchell from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG).
Volunteer Opportunities for Civil Engineering, Computing and Psychology Professors in Fiji
AAVA is recruiting three Professors to volunteer at the University of the South Pacific in 2025, in hybrid roles both in-country and online.
The assignments in brief:
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Civil Engineering - Develop a roadmap for the civil engineering discipline and determine the pathway to accreditation for the civil engineering program.
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Computing - Support curriculum development in cybersecurity and/or data science.
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Psychology - Develop a framework and business case for a program of courses that support the professional development needs of local mental health practitioners.
Requirements
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Extensive experience at a senior academic level in civil engineering, computing or psychology.
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Experience in mentoring and supporting the careers of others.
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Program volunteers must be Australian citizens, or holders of a Permanent Residency Visa of Australia, or New Zealand residents in Australia with a Special Category Visa.
Application Process
Submit an expression of interest with a brief CV to graham.schaffer@academicvolunteers.org.au. Further information at https://www.academicvolunteers.org.au.
See for more information
Civil Engineering Professor at USP
23 August, 2024.
Submission to the JSCFADT Inquiry into Australia's response to the priorities of the Pacific Island countries and the Pacific region
4 July, 2024
On Tuesday 11 June, AAVA made a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Inquiry into Australia's response to the priorities of Pacific Island countries and the Pacific Region.
AAVA's submission was developed in consultation with our university partners in the region.
AAVA recommended... "The Australian government should support direct, targeted and sustained academic volunteering by senior scholars to provide strategic academic leadership at universities in the Pacific Island countries, not to replace the need for the universities to recruit senior scholars, but to support the recruitment process and empower junior staff while doing so. "
AAVA's submission can be reviewed here.