Senior Paediatric Physiotherapist
- Senior Physiotherapist position – Orthopaedic inpatient, and outpatients, Paediatric Therapy within Starship Children’s Hospital
- Permanent part time role with 0.8FTE (32 hrs a week)
- Meaningful support and orientation to your practice contexts with robust opportunities for critical reflection on practice, including peer review and professional supervision
- On the job training within the paediatric physiotherapy team, and Children’s therapy including joining a well-established in-service training programme
- A great, fun team environment and supportive work culture
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
Starship Child Health is looking for a Senior Physiotherapist to join our Physiotherapy team. This role will be supporting the work of the paediatric orthopaedic service by providing high quality clinical care across in and outpatient settings. Your passion for paediatrics and experience applying clinical knowledge is welcomed in providing premium healthcare services to our tamariki and youth. This role forms part of the wider paediatric physiotherapy team and is a permanent, 0.8 role, 32 hours a week; (potential for full time, 1.0FTE, 40 hours per week).
You will have the opportunity to:
- Provide a physiotherapy service to children and adolescents with orthopaedic and musculoskeletal conditions predominantly in outpatient settings with some ward cover
- Support junior staff and students within the physiotherapy team to develop effective and high-quality care
- Demonstrate a robust level of physiotherapy theory and practice to provide contemporary, evidence-based, effective assessment and interventions in paediatric orthopaedics/ MSK, whilst establishing enabling relationships with children and their whānau (family)
- Train and upskill in the management of clubfeet, including Ponseti method and ongoing orthopaedic and developmental assessment
- Demonstrate a sound knowledge base of normal variants and common differential diagnosis specific to paediatric population and the unique differences in anatomy, physiology, development and cognition in children 0-16 yrs
- Collaborate with the multidisciplinary team to provide a whānau-centred approach and support/ develop the Neuro-orthopaedic service, particularly through MDT clinics and formal gait analysis
- Remain focused in the pursuit of Māori health gain as well as achieving equitable health outcomes for Māori under the Te Tiriti obligations
- Demonstrate culturally safe practice that encompasses a diverse range of beliefs, values and practices
- Participate in a rostered 24-hour 7 days service providing weekend and on call physiotherapy including an extended hours/evening service as appropriate to knowledge and skills
About the Team/Service/ Location
Our team of Physiotherapists excel in a fast-paced, challenging environment where evidence-based practice, strengths in interdisciplinary practice, clinical reasoning, and decision-making skills are highly valued. The team provides a service to all inpatient areas in Starship, Child Health and selected outpatient areas. We provide support and orientation to your practice contexts with robust opportunities for critical reflection on practice, including peer review and professional supervision, as well as on the job training, and development opportunities. We will provide training and upskilling in specific areas of Paediatric Orthopaedic/ musculoskeletal Physiotherapy assessment and treatment to deliver high quality services
For more information on living and working in Auckland click here
About you
As the ideal person for this role, you will have the following skills and attributes:
- NZ registration as a Physiotherapist with current Annual Practicing Certificate
- Minimum 4+ years of post-graduate clinical work experience and 2 years full-time experience within the area of specialty
- Excellent skills in relationship building and communication to a broad range of stakeholders
- Sound clinical reasoning skills and use of evidence informed practice
- Proven skills or enthusiasm for working with children with orthopaedic conditions, rehabilitation, and general musculoskeletal conditions.
- Experience or an interest in managing babies and children with clubfeet using the Ponseti method
- Experience or an interest in gait analysis
- Openness and willingness to learn, receive feedback and develop
- Ability to work collaboratively with a range of professional groups in a multidisciplinary setting
- Effective time management, prioritisation and organisation skills
- Drive, energy and initiative with excellent interpersonal skills
Please click here for the position description
For further information on this role please contact Sarah Butler Clinical Lead Physiotherapy, Allied Health Starship at sbutler@adhb.govt.nz
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
Advertising closes: Sunday 04 Oct 2026 at Time 11:59 pm (New Zealand standard time).
To apply please click on the ‘Apply’ tab below and submit your application online attaching your updated CV and Covering Letter.
Please do not delay your application as we screen applications as they come through and may close the applications as soon as we have a good pool of candidates for the role.
If you have any queries about accessibility, or technical issues with the online process, please contact Vaidehi Sharma - Recruitment Consultant at Vaidehi.sharma@TeWhatuOra.govt.nz quoting ref #ADHB23554 to discuss how we can best support your application.
