Prosthetist Orthotist (international humanitarian register)

Prosthetist-Orthotist (international humanitarian register) 

Applications close 30 June 2025 

Australian Red Cross is seeking skilled Prosthetist-Orthotists to join our International Delegate (aid worker) Register. From the Delegate Register, Prosthetist-Orthotists can be deployed internationally by the Red Cross to provide professional assistance to individuals and communities impacted by humanitarian disasters or conflicts. Deployments typically range in duration from six to twelve months and are salaried. 

Please note that recruitment to the Delegate Register does not guarantee employment with Red Cross. It does however place the individual on standby to deploy, and enables suitable preparation and training for deployment, should the need arise.    

If you are interested in working internationally with Red Cross as a Prosthetist-Orthotist, we encourage you to read the below role profile which provides additional information on the requirements of this position, to consider your suitability. Please note that we are only able to consider applications from candidates who are citizens or permanent residents of Australia.  

Australian Red Cross’ International Delegate Register  

The Red Cross and Red Crescent (RCRC) Movement is the largest humanitarian network in the world. It comprises the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent (Federation) and 192 National Societies. The RCRC mandate is to protect and support populations experiencing conflicts, disasters and other vulnerabilities.  

ARC maintains an active register of highly screened and trained humanitarian workers (referred to as delegates within the Red Cross) who are deployed to international crises when local capacity is overwhelmed or where additional specialist resources are required. Deployments take place through fixed-term contracts, with delegates seconded into the operations of the ICRC or Federation.  

In all activities, Australian Red Cross’ delegates, staff, volunteers and members are guided by the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement.   

Humanity • Neutrality • Impartiality • Independence • Voluntary Service • Unity • Universality.   

To read more on these principles, visit https://www.redcross.org.au/about/fundamental-principles/  

Prosthetist-Orthotist Position Summary 

Candidates recruited to join the delegate register as a Prosthetist-Orthotist will be responsible for the delivery of high-quality rehabilitative services to people with disabilities, living in communities impacted by disaster or conflict. Prosthetist-Orthotists specialise in the design, fitting, and provision of both orthoses (braces and splints) and prostheses (artificial limbs), and mobility devices including walking aids and wheelchairs, and ensuring that services and devices are culturally appropriate.   

Education and Professional Requirements 

• Bachelor’s Degree in Prosthetics and Orthotics (previously ISPO Cat.1 or equivalent) 

• Additional relevant degrees (e.g., pedorthics, biomechanics, education) are an asset 

• Minimum of three years of professional experience in the provision of prosthetic and orthotic services 

Other Essential Requirements 

• Citizen or permanent resident of Australia.  

• Fluent spoken and written English.  

• Level B2 (CEFR standard) in a second language (Russian, French, Arabic, Spanish) strongly preferred.  

• Extensive professional experience as a Prosthetist-Orthotist aligned with the technical and behavioural competencies (outlined below).  

• Previous international humanitarian and/or development experience in low-income countries (non-government organisations, international organisations or charity).   

• Digital Literacy, including ability navigate digital devices (laptops, smartphones), analyse web-based information and work effectively with the Microsoft Office suite of applications.  

• Ability to drive a manual car.  

• Personal motivation to provide humanitarian assistance to individuals and communities impacted by disasters or armed conflict.  

• Ability to adapt to and function effectively in challenging living conditions and potentially unstable security environments.  

• Ability to work effectively while under pressure and within multicultural teams.  

• Excellent organisational skills.  

Technical Competencies  

Prosthetics Orthotics (P&O) Programme Management 

• Work directly with patients - and supervise others - in the delivery of effective prosthetic and orthotic services including the manufacture of prostheses and orthoses, providing clinical and technical mentoring and support to national personnel working in P&O projects. 
• Work closely with patients to understand their needs and goals, and to ensure that devices are comfortable, effective, culturally appropriate and as sustainable as possible in the context.

• Provide support in the management of physical rehabilitation activities as well as setting up new P&O centres including the implementation of internal and international P&O standards, service provision standards and supervision of the quality of the services provided (from registration of the service user though to discharge from the service). 

• Promote best practice in coordination with the PRP team and support the Physical Rehabilitation Centres (PRC) and Project Managers in the implementation of guidelines and standards. 

Stakeholder Management   

• Train and mentor national staff in support of related technical activities including detailed quality control procedures 

• Collaborate with all members of the rehabilitation team, and where relevant, external partners, to ensure a multidisciplinary team approach is followed through patient management systems, including technical/clinical record maintenance 

Information Management  

• Ensure all documentation meets local / national legal requirements and that statistical data is collated, using the relevant health monitoring system.   

• Analyse and report on the needs of people with disabilities in the target population 

Behavioural Competencies  

Cultural Awareness 

• Design solutions and plan operations that consider local cultural factors 

• Respect cultural diversity within the team 

• Adapt programmes and operations in line with socio-political and cultural context, with specific focus on addressing the needs of vulnerable groups 

Interpersonal communications 

• Deliver accurate, clear and concise messages, orally and in writing, to inform a range of audiences 

• Actively listen to and encourage feedback from peers, communities, volunteers and other stakeholders 

• Convey complex ideas and plans based on inputs from different audiences in an engaging, appropriate and clear manner 

Judgement and Decision-making 

• Make informed, timely, balanced decisions at an individual and team level through consultation, research and consideration 

• Find solutions to problems in a resourceful and creative manner 

• Explain decisions to those who implement or are affected by them 

Motivating others 

• Provide regular formal and informal feedback and recognises contributions of others to maintain team productivity 

• Positively support others to maintain motivation by clearly articulating the purpose of the programme 

Personal Resilience  

• Appropriately cope with stressful situations by remaining constructive and positive under stress and remaining focused on objectives as the operation evolves 

Candidate Assessment  

All candidates will be assessed based on technical and core competencies specific to this role. Candidates may be further invited to take part in a competency-based interview, assessment centre and psychological assessment. 

Prevention of Sexual Exploitation, Abuse & Harassment (PSEAH) & Child Protection 

Australian Red Cross reserves the right to conduct background checks on all candidates, including police, working with children checks, personal reference checks and other checks Australian Red Cross considers necessary. Candidates who do not pass a work with children check, or whose backgrounds checks suggest they may pose a risk to the safety and wellbeing of others will not be considered for this position. 

Operational Constraints 

In line with the principle of neutrality, please note that staff seconded to the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) cannot be deployed to any country of origin. Delegates must be in good health and agree to be health cleared before any assignment. 

Applications close 30 June 2025 

For more information on the Prosthetist-Orthotist profile, and working internationally with Australian Red Cross, contact Andree Girardau on [email protected]