Health · Circular 29 of 2026
Medical Orderly: Gough Island
Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment
Overview
Provide medical treatment, minor dental and x-ray services to expedition team members on remote Gough Island, including stock management and reporting.
Requirements
- National Diploma / Degree in Nursing/ Certificate in Operational Emergency Care Practitioner or equivalent relevant qualification.
- Applicants must be registered with the HPCSA (Health Professions Council of South Africa) or SANC (South African Nursing Council.) 3-5 years relevant experience required.
- Experience in rural or remote medicine.
- Knowledge of Acute Trauma Life Support and ACLS Acute Cardiac Life Support.
- Knowledge of nursing care processes and procedures, nursing statutes and other relevant legal framework such as the Nursing Act, Health Act, Occupational Health & Safety Act, Patient Rights Charter Act, Public Service Regulations Act and Labour Relations Act.
- Must have leadership skills, decision making, problem solving, interpersonal skills and computer skills in basic programmes.
- The incumbent has to be able to work independently with minimal support under extreme pressure and without supervision.
- The incumbent must have good verbal and written communication skills and the ability to work in a team.
Duties
- The incumbent will be responsible for providing medical treatment to all team members during the expedition and ensure the work is according to the scope of practise regulations.
- Undertake minor dental and x-rays when needed.
- Prepare reports, do stock-takes of food and medicines.
- Order spares and equipment and do other common non-technical duties performed by expedition members.
- Ensure the food is stored according to the medical acts by maintaining high standards of food/ hygiene/ housekeeper/ linen and tailoring roles.
- Provide support to team leader for coordinating and training for the rescue and evacuation/ emergency procedures for the island as well as in a social role to motivate and encourage fellow team members.
How to apply
Must be submitted to the Director-General, Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, The Director: Integrated Human Resource Management, Private Bag X4390, Cape Town, 8000 or hand-deliver to No 63 Strand Street, Cape Town or email to: Recruitmentcoastal@dffe.gov.za
Enquiries: Mr R Hlophe Tel No: (021) 4937067
Notes
Application must be submitted on a New signed Z83 form obtainable from any Public Service Department accompanied by a recent detailed Curriculum Vitae only, to be considered. All attachments for online application must include an application form Z83 and CV only, in PDF and as one (1) document or attachment, indicate the correct job title and the reference number of the post on the subject line of your email. Use the correct email address associated with the post. JPEG (picture/snapshot) application will not be accepted. Shortlisted candidates will be required to submit certified copies of qualifications, Senior Certificate, identity document and driver’s license on or before the day of the interview. It is the applicant’s responsibility to have foreign qualifications evaluated by the South African Qualification Authority (SAQA). The National Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment is an equal opportunity, affirmative action employer. Preference may be given to appointable applicants from the underrepresented designated groups in terms of the Department’s equity plan. Persons with disabilities are encouraged to apply. Correspondence will be limited to successful candidates only. Short-listed candidates will be subjected to screening and security vetting to determine their suitability for employment, including but not limited to: Criminal records; Citizenship status; Credit worthiness; Previous employment (reference checks); and Qualification verification. Short-listed candidates will be expected to avail themselves at the Department’s convenience. Entry level requirements for SMS posts: In terms of the Directive on Compulsory Capacity Development, Mandatory Training Days & Minimum Entry Requirements for SMS that was introduced on 1 April 2015, a requirement for all applicants for SMS posts from 1 April 2020 is a successful completion of the Senior Management Pre-Entry Programme as endorsed by the National School of Government (NSG) prior to appointment. The course is available at the NSG under the name Certificate for entry into SMS and the full details can be obtained by following the below link: https://www.thensg.gov.za/training-course/sms-pre- entryprogramme.Furthermore, Shortlisted candidates must provide proof of successful completion of the course. All shortlisted candidates, including the SMS, shall undertake two pre-entry assessments. One will be a practical exercise to determine a candidate’s suitability based on the post’s technical and generic requirements and the other must be an integrity (ethical conduct) assessment. Following the interview and the technical exercise of all SMS posts, the Selection Panel will recommend candidates to attend a generic managerial competency assessment in compliance with the DPSA Directive on the implementation of competency-based assessments. Persons appointed will be subjected to a security clearance, the signing of performance agreement and employment contract. The Department reserves the right not to make an appointment. If you have not been contacted within three 3 months after the closing date of the advertisement, please accept that your application was unsuccessful. By submitting the employment application form, you agree and consent in terms of Section 11(1) of the Protection of Personal Information Act (POPIA), 2013 (Act 4 of 2013), for your personal information which you provide to the DFFE to being processed by the department and its employees, agents, Cabinet committees, and subcontractors for recruitment purposes, in accordance with the POPIA of 2013. NB: The incumbent will execute duties at a Sub/Antarctic Base and adhere to the health, safety and environmental requirements. The successful applicant will spend a full year (September 2026 to October 2027) at Gough Island. There is no option to return to South Africa before October 2027. The ability to work and live with small groups of people is thus essential. Although the base is well-equipped with e-mail, fax and satellite telephone facilities, the applicant has to be self-sufficient and self- motivated. The location may affect both the physical and mental well-being of the incumbent, their family and close relationships. Candidates must be physically fit, mentally strong and prepared for physically challenging and satisfying work. In addition, the successful candidates may often be called upon to work long hours in extreme conditions on duties unrelated to their function. Short-listed candidates will be subjected to screening and security vetting to determine their suitability for employment. Appointment to these positions is subject to a rigorous medical examination as well as psychometric assessment, which will be arranged for at no cost to the applicants.
Post 29/23, sourced from the DPSA Circular 29 of 2026. Apply directly to Department of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment by 31 August 2026, 16:00. No late applications will be accepted, quoting reference OC16/2026. This is an unofficial index; the advert in the circular is authoritative.
- Location
- Gough Island
- Salary
- R487 197 p/a
- Closing date
- 31 August 2026, 16:00. No late applications will be accepted
- Reference
- OC16/2026
Apply directly to the department, by the closing date, quoting the reference.