Occupational Therapist - Acute -Pain

• Waikato Hospital
• Working in Pain and Rheumatology Outpatients
• Permanent, full time

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is firmly grounded in the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is dedicated to serving all New Zealanders. Through integration and collaboration, we’re building a health system underpinned by partnership, equity, sustainability, whānau-centred care, and excellence.

About the Role

You will be working across several teams:

• in pain service, providing therapy services to outpatients and patients in rural clinics.
• in rheumatology service, providing therapy services to outpatients.

This full-time role would be suitable for an Occupational Therapist who is interested and/or has experience in outpatient rehabilitation and chronic pain management and who has a passion for further developing specific pain and rheumatology knowledge and skills.

This position will also assist the acute OT Department covering acute Waikato Hospital wards.

Click here to view the position description.

About the Team/Service

• Friendly supportive team.
• Clinical training and professional development opportunities available.
• Regular supervision provided.

About you

• Registration and current annual practicing certificate with Te Poari Whakaora Ngangahau o Aotearoa (the Occupational Therapy Board of New Zealand).
• Ideally 2 x years clinical experience.
• An ability to live and lead the Waikato District values of:
  • Whakamana - Give and earn respect.
  • Whakarongo - Listen to me; talk to me.
  • Mauri Pai - Fair Play.
  • Whakapakari - Growing the good.
  • Kotahitanga - Stronger Together.
• A commitment to achieving excellent clinical and business outcomes based on quality service delivery and outstanding and empathetic patients care.
• Ability to manage a complex caseload of patients across the age continuum.
• An ability to work autonomously completing comprehensive clinical assessments, as well as use adult teaching principles to engage health consumers.
• A strong team focus, and excellent communication and inter-personal skills.
• A full clean New Zealand driver license.
• 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 in upholding Te Tiriti principals and frameworks, and the application of Mātauranga Māori and Kaupapa Māori approaches, particularly as they apply in healthcare settings.

Working for 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 11:59pm on 28 February 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Kaitlin Basson at Kaitlin.Basson@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz

Please note, we will be reviewing applications when received and may proceed with the recruitment process, before the closing date of this advert.