Allied Health Educator - Mental Health and Addictions Service

• Waikato Hospital
• Fixed term until 30 April 2027 – full time 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:

• Consolidate the key learning functions for this stage of an allied health clinician, regardless of their specific profession.
• Design education that helps the second year of practice workforce master the basics including: how to manage ongoing risk and safety, how to maintain professional relationships in teams, and one's own professional integrity. This will largely be through identifying these service needs and coordinating hub learning with experts for each professional group and, together as a group.
• Monitor the pace of learning and adapt to group needs as the year continues. They will have key relationships with the coaches in this pilot, professional leaders, and regulatory bodies to ensure learning matches expectations. As with the Allied Health Coach, they will have a key relationship with the Director of Allied Health throughout the pilot.
• 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 five years or more.
• 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.
• 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 contact Dr Kirsty Dempster-Rivett, 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.