Occupational Therapist

• Occupational Therapist - Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldier’s Hospital
• Permanent, Part – Time, 40 hours per fortnight (0.5 FTE)

• Ready to grow your career in a fast-paced acute setting? Join our Allied Health team and play a key role across surgical services, including orthopaedics and SAPU, supporting patients through their recovery journey.
• Be part of a supportive team with access to professional supervision, mentoring, and ongoing development opportunities within a collaborative multidisciplinary environment.

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

As an Intermediate Occupational Therapist, you will work within our acute inpatient service, with a strong focus on the orthopaedic ward, Surgical Admission and Planning Unit (SAPU), and wider surgical wards. You will play a key role in supporting patients across the surgical pathway - from pre-admission and early post - operative care through to discharge planning and rehabilitation.

You will deliver safe, effective, and person-centred occupational therapy interventions, managing a varied caseload across orthopaedic, general surgical, and other surgical specialties. Working closely with patients, whānau, and the multidisciplinary team, you will focus on enabling recovery, promoting independence, and ensuring safe and timely discharges.

This role also provides opportunities to contribute to service improvement initiatives, supervise students, and further develop your clinical expertise within a supportive and evolving acute environment.

Please click here to view the position description

About the Team/Service/ Location

You’ll be part of a dynamic and supportive Allied Health Therapies team within Te Whatu Moanarua, based at Hawke’s Bay Fallen Soldiers Memorial Hospital in Hastings. Our occupational therapy and wider allied health teams are passionate about:

• Engaging people and their whānau in care so they can take control of their health and wellbeing
• Supporting consumers to manage long-term conditions or acute illness from hospital
• Helping people develop or adapt their skills, strengths, and abilities
• Driving innovation and change for better patient outcomes

We offer professional supervision, mentoring, and access to CPD opportunities, along with strong infrastructure to support your professional growth and networks.

Hawke’s Bay offers an excellent work-life balance, with sunshine, beaches, outdoor adventures, great schools, mountains and skiing nearby, outstanding food and wineries, and vibrant communities.

For more information on living and working in Hawke’s Bay click HERE

About you

As an Intermediate Occupational Therapist, you will:

• Hold a Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (or equivalent) with current NZ registration and APC
• Have a minimum of 3 years’ clinical experience, ideally with exposure to orthopaedic and surgical settings
• Be confident in person - centred assessment, goal setting, and discharge planning
• Thrive in a fast-paced environment and work effectively both autonomously and within a team
• Hold Enable NZ Band 1 accreditation (or be willing to work towards it)
• Be proficient in Microsoft Office and hold a full NZ driver’s licence
• Demonstrate cultural competence and a commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi
• Be physically able to meet the demands of an acute clinical role

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 now.” All applications must be submitted through our online careers’ portal by 4th August 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact vacancies@hbdhb.govt.nz

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

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected employees will be given preference and priority for this position.