Allied Health Coach - Mental Health and Addictions Service

• Waikato Hospital
• Fixed term until 30 April 2027 – 80 hours per fortnight
• Have a passion for developing the next generation of Social Workers and Occupational Therapists working in Mental Health and Addictions Service?

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

Health New Zealand Te Whatu Ora Waikato will host the Allied Health Coach and Allied Health Educator for the Second Year of Practice as part of the pilot over the 2026 and 2027 calendar year. The role involves the following:

• Focus on development needs at this stage of learning and practical application, and mastery of essential skills.
• The 1 to 1 time will focus on skill development in their workplace setting, as this will look different for different teams, such as forensics, child and youth, rural, etc. The coaching will also cover how this might look different across the lifespan and rural and urban settings to ensure broader contextual learning, as each time may have a focus of specialty but that does not preclude people presenting with multiple issues and complexities. They will develop individual learning plans with the clinician to support personal growth that meets them where they are.
• Develop good relationships with supervisors, Team Leaders, and Allied Health clinical and professional leads. Their key relationship will be with the Director of Allied Health for this project, given their role will be the first for our district.
• Uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi principles and intentions and support equity of mental wellbeing outcomes for Māori.
• Maintain strong relationships with Pacific mental health and addiction providers and encourage intern experiences of working with pacific peoples accessing services.

Click here to view the position description.

About the Team/Service

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora, Waikato is home to one of the largest base hospitals in Australasia and provides MHAS across the expansive Te Manawa Taki region. Therefore, interns working with us will have a comprehensive range of opportunities to work alongside tangata whaiora and whānau within urban and rural outpatient and outpatient settings.

We can provide interns with ample opportunities to observe and work alongside consultant and senior clinical psychologists, Kaitakawaenga, medical and allied health staff. In each of the following services, interns will be able to gain experience in assessment, individual, parenting, group and whānau therapies with tangata whaiora experiences experiencing the spectrum of mental health disorders. Within and alongside each of the base services outlined below interns will experience how we are working towards embedding partnership, participation, and sovereignty according to our responsibilities and obligations to honour Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

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

Required skills & experience you will need to be considered for this role:

• Registered Social Worker or Occupational Therapist having graduated four years or more.
• Have experience mentoring and supervising students. 
• Registered with New Zealand Professional body.
• Demonstrates clinical skills commensurate with training.
• Understands and is committed to the Te Tiriti o Waitangi and knowledge of the implications on practice.
• Takes responsibility for learning including effective utilisation of supervision.
• Demonstrate an understanding of the significance of and obligations under Te Tiriti o Waitangi, including how to apply Te Tiriti principles in a meaningful way in your role.
• Have a wide range of experience working with people across the lifespan.
• Current full driver’s license.

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 10 May 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Dr Kirsty Dempster-Rivett at Kirsty.Dempster-Rivett@waikatodhb.health.nz

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