Allied Health Assistant - Bodywise

• Allied Health Assistant - Bodywise, Waikato
• Permanent 0.5 FTE
• Join our Bodywise team to support tamariki and whaanau to find a lifelong love of being active.

• 72,074 – 86,719
•  

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 looking for an allied health assistant to work with families referred to our Bodywise programme. Bodywise is a free whaanau-focused healthy lifestyles programme for overweight children aged 5 to 12 years. Our small and enthusiastic team takes a family-based approach and works with parents/caregivers, extended whānau and tamariki to support the family to make healthy lifestyle changes together. The team includes a paediatrician, psychologist and dietitian, which alongside the Allied Health assistant position work towards holistically improving health.

Your work will involve supporting primary school aged tamariki and their whaanau to explore the benefits and joy of activity and movement for health. We need a team member who is passionate about promoting physical activity and has a strong understanding of why physical activity is important for children, both in the short term, and to set them up for a lifelong love of being active.

You will be based in Hamilton, with visits to various community based locations including homes of tamariki. You will be expected to work closely with health professionals from within Te Whatu Ora Waikato; so we are looking for someone who understands the value of collaborative working. It is also expected that you will have, or be able to build strong relationships within the wider community, to be able to link families with community resources and activities.

Key responsibilities:

• Work with whaanau to support their tamariki into physical activities within their local communities and to be more active together as families.

Click here to view the position description.

About the Team/Service

The Waikato District is one of the largest of 20 districts in New Zealand. We are a values based and inclusive organisation that is committed to deliver the best health outcomes for our total population. To do this we are working hard to develop a robust and capable workforce that reflects the population we serve. We strongly encourage applicants from all backgrounds with the necessary capability and who share our values to apply and would greatly value seeing more applicants from our Maaori communities.

Allied Health is a department of the Waikato district that provides Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy, Speech & Language Therapy, Dietetic, Audiology & New Born Hearing screening, Social Work, and Psychology services. Staff within these professions are all involved in direct client care and work in a wide range of situations to improve the health and wellbeing of the people they work with. Their work includes people who are acutely unwell in hospital, or requiring rehabilitation for serious illness or injury, people who have chronic illness or disability and need to improve functional independence and quality of life. Allied Health staff work in partnership with individuals and their family/whānau to facilitate relationships and a smooth journey through the healthcare system.

A wide range of education, training and learning opportunities are offered to our allied health staff, for more information click here. 

About Hamilton

Waikato Hospital is a major regional hospital in Hamilton and is a leading tertiary teaching hospital located in Hamilton, New Zealand, serving as the regional hub for the Midland area, which includes the Waikato, Bay of Plenty, Lakes, Tairawhiti, and Taranaki districts. With around 722 inpatient beds, 22 operating theatres, and a dedicated outpatient clinic and procedure centre, Waikato Hospital provides comprehensive hospital services, including radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy. As a major teaching hospital with affiliations to the University of Auckland, University of Waikato, and Wintec, it offers a dynamic learning environment and access to research opportunities. The hospital is equipped with advanced diagnostic and treatment facilities located on the Waiora Waikato Hospital Campus, with both road and air ambulance support.

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

As the ideal person for this role, you will have the following skills and attributes;

Qualifications, Essential skills and Attributes

• Minimum of NCEA level 2 or similar
• Experience working with people/consumers
• Demonstrated ability for confidentiality
• Competent computer skills
• Current full, clean New Zealand Driver’s license
• Excellent communication skills

Desired:

• Working knowledge of Tikanga Maori.
• Experience working with children and their whaanau
• Good working knowledge of community groups, and activities available to tamariki in the Waikato region.
• Previous training, qualifications or work experience around facilitating group activities, teaching or coaching, activity and movement.
• A solid understanding of working with children with physical and mental disabilities would be an advantage

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 6 October 2025 If you have any questions about the role, please contact Elisa Travaialleur at elisa.travailleur@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz.

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