Volunteer for a two-week placement in India

Equal Health will be returning to India for our 2026 Camp!

Placements are available for Optometrists, Nurses, Occupational Therapists, Physiotherapists, Speech Pathologists, Psychologists, Dieticians, Pharmacists, Podiatrists, Teachers, and an Artist.

Imagine waking each morning unable to see the world clearly, or lacking the therapy support to regain independence with everyday tasks. This is the reality that many people in India face, as health services that most Australians take for granted simply are not available.

Opportunities for short term meaningful and life changing travel experiences are now available for health professionals who wish to volunteer their skills, to help underprivileged people access health care in rural India.

It's incredible how a simple pair of glasses or access to therapy can transform someone's life. Restoring clear vision and empowering individuals to regain independence are what Equal Health strives to achieve each year.

According to our team of health professionals and from leaders in communities we serve, Equal Health's programs can be life changing, both for the people we serve and our volunteers.

Please add your name to our Expression of Interest List for our next camp

Equal Health Expression of Interest List

Read experiences of previous volunteers.

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India – West Bengal Team

Allied Health

Allied Health volunteer positions are available at Childlife Preserve Shishur Sevay in Kolkata and Anandaniketan Society for Mental Health Care in Katwa. Childlife Preserve Shishur Sevay (CPSS) is a family-style, inclusive, small group home for lost and abandoned girls founded in 2006 by Dr Michelle Harrison, an American physician. CPSS is a model of non-institutional care where the girls are nurtured and educated so they can be participating members of society. CPSS is currently home to fifteen (15) girls between the ages of ten and twenty-five years, some of whom have profound disabilities. In 2022 CPSS opened the Children's Smart Centre which offers inclusive education to children with and without disabilities in the community. Currently 30 children, whose ages range between 2.5 and 5 years, attend the centre. Five of the children have disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD.  The Children's Smart Centre operates from Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 1:00pm. The first visit to CPSS by Equal Health volunteers was in February 2017. Anandaniketan Society for Mental Health Care (AN) is a not for profit organisation that provides residential care to 216 children, adolescents and adults. The residents mostly have intellectual and/or physical disabilities, sensory disabilities and/or mental illness. Many of the residents with intellectual and physical disabilities are orphans.  AN aims to serve disabled individuals in rural West Bengal through education, health care, vocational training, and community-based rehabilitation. AN runs a Special School  that provides education for children with special needs  living in the community. Some of the AN residents also attend the Special School. The residents who are orphans live in the Shelter Home for Girls and Shelter Home for Boys, and the residents with mental health conditions live in the Women's Mental Health Shelter and Men's Mental Health Shelter.  The first visit to AN by Equal Health volunteers was in February 2004.  Equal Health allied health volunteers work with Equal Health special education teachers to support AN staff, carers and teachers in their work through training, mentoring, and sharing of knowledge and skills.

Special Needs Education

Special Needs Education volunteer positions for special education teachers are available at Childlife Preserve Shishur Sevay (CPSS) in Kolkata and Anandaniketan Society for Mental Health Care (AN) in Katwa. Childlife Preserve Shishur Sevay (CPSS) is a family-style, inclusive, small group home for lost and abandoned girls founded in 2006 by Dr Michelle Harrison, an American physician. CPSS is a model of non-institutional care where the girls are nurtured and educated so they can be participating members of society. CPSS is currently home to fifteen (15) girls between the ages of ten and twenty-five years, some of whom have profound disabilities. In 2022 CPSS opened the Children's Smart Centre which offers inclusive education to children with and without disabilities in the community. Currently 30 children, whose ages range between 2.5 and 5 years, attend the centre. Five of the children have disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD.  The Children's Smart Centre operates from Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 1:00pm. The first visit to CPSS by Equal Health volunteers was in February 2017. Anandaniketan Society for Mental Health Care (AN) is a not for profit organisation that provides residential care to 216 children, adolescents and adults. The residents mostly have intellectual and/or physical disabilities, sensory disabilities and/or mental illness. Many of the residents with intellectual and physical disabilities are orphans.  AN aims to serve disabled individuals in rural West Bengal through education, health care, vocational training, and community-based rehabilitation. AN runs a Special School  that provides education for children with special needs  living in the community. Some of the AN residents also attend the Special School. The residents who are orphans live in the Shelter Home for Girls and Shelter Home for Boys, and the residents with mental health conditions live in the Women's Mental Health Shelter and Men's Mental Health Shelter.  The first visit to AN by Equal Health volunteers was in February 2004.  Equal Health special education teachers work with Equal Health allied health volunteers to support AN staff, teachers and carers in their work through training, mentoring, and sharing of knowledge and skills.

Eye Care

Eye Care volunteer positions for optometrists are available at Anandaniketan Society for Mental Health Care (AN). Anandaniketan Society for Mental Health Care (AN) is a not for profit organisation that provides residential care to 216 children, adolescents and adults. The residents mostly have intellectual and/or physical disabilities, sensory disabilities or mental illness. Many of the residents with intellectual and physical disabilities are orphans.  AN aims to serve disabled individuals in rural West Bengal through education, health care, eye care vocational training, and community-based rehabilitation. AN runs a Special School  that provides education for children with special needs  living in the community. The residents who are orphans live in the Shelter Home for Girls and Shelter Home for Boys, and the residents with mental health conditions live in the Women's Mental Health Shelter and Men's Mental Health Shelter.  The first visit to AN by Equal Health volunteers was in February 2004.

Nursing

Nursing volunteer positions for maternal & child health, general and mental health nurses are available at Childlife Preserve Shishur Sevay (CPSS) in Kolkata, and Anandaniketan Society for Mental Health Care (AN) in Katwa. Childlife Preserve Shishur Sevay (CPSS) is a family-style, inclusive, small group home for lost and abandoned girls founded in 2006 by Dr Michelle Harrison, an American physician. CPSS is a model of non-institutional care where the girls are nurtured and educated so they can be participating members of society. CPSS is currently home to fifteen (15) girls between the ages of ten and twenty-five years, some of whom have profound disabilities. In 2022 CPSS opened the Children's Smart Centre which offers inclusive education to children with and without disabilities in the community. Currently 30 children, whose ages range between 2.5 and 5 years, attend the centre. Five of the children have disabilities including cerebral palsy, autism, ADHD.  The Children's Smart Centre operates from Monday to Friday from 9:30am to 1:00pm. The first visit to CPSS by Equal Health volunteers was in February 2017. Anandaniketan Society for Mental Health Care (AN) is a not for profit organisation that provides residential care to 216 children, adolescents and adults. The residents mostly have intellectual and/or physical disabilities, sensory disabilities and/or mental illness. Many of the residents with intellectual and physical disabilities are orphans.  AN aims to serve disabled individuals in rural West Bengal through education, health care, vocational training, and community-based rehabilitation. AN runs a Special School  that provides education for children with special needs  living in the community. Some of the AN residents also attend the Special School.  The residents who are orphans live in the Shelter Home for Girls and Shelter Home for Boys, and the residents with mental health conditions live in the Women's Mental Health Shelter and Men's Mental Health Shelter.  The first visit to AN by Equal Health volunteers was in February 2004.  Equal Health nurses work with AN staff, teachers and carers in their work through training, mentoring, and sharing of knowledge and skills.

India – Tamil Nadu Team

Eye Care

Eye Care volunteer positions are available for optometrists. The eye care team work with local Indian partner Society for Education, Village Action and Improvement (SEVAI)  to provide eye testing and spectacles in Tamil Nadu. The eye care team also refers patients seen for eye testing, who require surgery, to local eye hospitals such as Athreya Retinal Centre (ARC) or Joseph Eye Hospital (JEH) in Trichy. The majority of presenting visual problems are associated with cataracts and presbyopia (hardening of the crystalline lens requiring reading glasses).

Allied Health

Allied Health volunteer positions (physiotherapy, speech pathology, occupational therapy, psychology, podiatry, dietetics) are available at Society for Education Village Action and Improvement (SEVAI) in Trichy and rural communities in Tamil Nadu, and The Spastics Society (TSS) in Trichy. Society for Education Village Action and Improvement (SEVAI) was established in 1975 and founded by Dr K. Govindaraju who continues to be its chief functionary. SEVAI's main sites include: Shanti School, Raja School,  Mettamuradur School, Allur, Biodiversity Training Centre, Amoor Village, and Tuttiapatti Tribal Village.  Some  of the programs run and/or supported by SEVAI include:

  • AIDS Program – provides AIDS education, prevention, support and treatment
  • Women's Development Program – provides vocational training, skills training, AIDS awareness training, Health Awareness training.
  • Tsunami Housing Project
  • Transgender Society – supported by SEVAI
  • Inclusive Education Program – for children with disabilities in the Trichy district.

The Spastics Society (TSS)  was founded in 1982 with the specific objective of providing rehabilitation services, education, and vocational training to children with Cerebral Palsy and Multiple Disabilities, to empower, support and enable them to lead independent lives. The services and programs provided by TSS are oriented towards creating an Inclusive Society in which their clients can live their lives with dignity and self-determination, and enjoy the same rights as others in India. TSS programmes include: Early Intervention, Day Care, Home Management, Rural Habilitation, Newborn Screening, Inclusive Education and Community Based Rehabilitation.

Education / Teaching

Education/Teaching volunteer positions for early childhood, primary and secondary teachers are available at Society for Education Village Action and Improvement (SEVAI) in Trichy and rural communities in Tamil Nadu. SEVAI was established in 1975 and founded by Dr K. Govindaraju who continues to be its chief functionary. SEVAI's main sites include: Shanti School, Raja School,  Mettamuradur School, Allur, Biodiversity Training Centre, Amoor Village,  and  Tuttiapatti Tribal Village .  Some  of the programs run and/or supported by SEVAI include:

  • AIDS Program – provides AIDS education, prevention, support and treatment
  • Women's Development Program – provides vocational training, skills training, AIDS awareness training, Health Awareness training.
  • Tsunami Housing Project
  • Transgender Society – supported by SEVAI
  • Inclusive Education Program – for children with disabilities in the Trichy district.

The Spastics Society (TSS)  was founded in 1982 with the specific objective of providing rehabilitation services, education, and vocational training to children with Cerebral Palsy and Multiple Disabilities, to empower, support and enable them to lead independent lives. The services and programs provided by TSS are oriented towards creating an Inclusive Society in which their clients can live their lives with dignity and self-determination, and enjoy the same rights as others in India. TSS programmes include: Early Intervention, Day Care, Home Management, Rural Habilitation, Newborn Screening, Inclusive Education and Community Based Rehabilitation.

Nursing

Nursing volunteer positions for maternal & child health nurses are available atThe Spastics Society (TSS) in Trichy.  The Spastics Society (TSS)  was founded in 1982 with the specific objective of providing rehabilitation services, education, and vocational training to children with Cerebral Palsy and Multiple Disabilities, to empower, support and enable them to lead independent lives. The services and programs provided by TSS are oriented towards creating an Inclusive Society in which their clients can live their lives with dignity and self-determination, and enjoy the same rights as others in India. TSS programmes include: Early Intervention, Day Care, Home Management, Rural Habilitation, Newborn Screening, Inclusive Education and Community Based Rehabilitation.