Alcohol and Drug Clinician - Te Whakawhitinga

• Hamilton with some possible travel across the district
• Permanent - 80 hours per fortnight. Part time hours will be considered

“Ahakoa ko wai
Ahakoa noo whea
Me whaangai ite tangata

“No matter who they are or where they’re from we must nurture the people”

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is committed to building a health system that serves all New Zealanders.

About the Role

We are seeking a registered AOD clinician to do discipline specific work supporting tāngata hāpori/ tāngata whaiora accessing our service Te Whakawhitinga.

Te Whakawhitinga works alongside people in Hamilton experiencing a significant housing issue and attempts to connect them with the right sustainable supports to meet the need - this might mean accessing supports from within our team of clinicians or accessing the right community resource.

The AOD clinician has proven clinical competence within Mental Health or similar services and works with tangata whaiora to provide whaanau-centred care in this specialist area.

Key responsibilities of the role includes:

• Conducting an initial assessment of AOD needs in partnership with tāngata hāpori/ tāngata whaiora.
• Providing appropriate therapy and intervention for the tāngata hāpori.
• Being a resource for the wider team.
• Connecting tangata haapori to appropriate community resources.

Click here to view the position description.

About the Team

Nurture the people “Ahakoa kowai, ahakoa noo whea me whangai I te tangata”

Te Whakawhitinga is a co-ordinated service aligned to the Te Whatu Ora Waiora vision and underpinned by Kotahitanga. It is part of the wider mental health and addiction services in Hamilton. The Kotahitanga values of unity, togetherness, shared vision, working together, trust, relationships, collaboration and integrations are fundamental to the service model of Te Whakawhitinga.

We intend to meet the needs of tangata hāpori/ tangata whaiora across the housing continuum, who are experiencing health, social and environmental issues that could put tenancies at risk or have resulted in homelessness.

 We will do this by being a tangata hāpori/ tangata whaiora led service that;

• helps a person identify their goals and aspirations that will achieve mauri ora
• supports access to community resources and services that will meet these goals
• works in close partnership with tangata hāpori/tangata whaiora and other agencies in a transparent and coordinated way

The team includes coordinators, alcohol and drug clinicians, an Occupational Therapist, community support workers and Takawaenga.

About Hamilton

Hamilton, where Waikato Hospital is situated, is a vibrant city nestled alongside the scenic Waikato River, offering a perfect mix of nature and culture. Explore the stunning Hamilton Gardens, home to themed gardens from Italy to Asia, or visit the Waikato Museum to delve into the region's rich history. The city also boasts the Hamilton Zoo, where you can walk through an aviary filled with native birds. Hamilton is a lively hub, with a variety of cafes, restaurants, and bars, along with events like rugby, cricket, and the famous National Agricultural Fieldays and Balloons over Waikato festival. With its vibrant atmosphere and proximity to outdoor adventures, Hamilton is an ideal place to live and work.

For more information on living and working in Waikato click here

About you

• A registered AOD clinician with a current annual practicing certificate.
• Ability to work on a referral basis to enthusiastically offer discipline specific assessment and intervention to achieve good health and social outcomes for tangata hāpori/ tangata whaiora.
• Whanau centred, collaborative and partnership approach.
• Competency with te ao Māori, tikanga, and te reo Māori or a commitment to starting your journey and taking ownership of your learning and growth.
• Experience working in a mental health, community health or primary care setting.
• Experience working with Māori and Pasifika groups.
• Highly developed interpersonal communication and negotiation skills including demonstrated ability to build productive working relationships with colleagues to achieve required outcomes.
• Current full drivers licence.

Working at Health New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is dedicated to ensuring excellent healthcare for the people of New Zealand. We embrace a workforce that is diverse and inclusive so that we are better positioned to understand and service our community. We welcome applications from our diverse Māori, Pacific, disabled, and rainbow communities.  

How to Apply

To apply please click “Apply online” or apply via our Waikato Careers website by clicking here.

All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal before 11:59 pm on 19 April 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Robyn Payne at Robyn.Payne@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

We will review applications as received and may proceed with the recruitment process before the closing date of this advert.