Speech Language Therapist

• Speech Language Therapist – Taranaki Base Hospital (New Plymouth) – Maternity Cover 12 month Fixed Term (09 November 2026 – 05 November 2027), Full-time (1.0FTE, 80 hrs/fortnight)
• Use and grow your Speech Language Therapy skills to support better health outcomes for our community
• Enjoy the support that comes from working in a multi-disciplinary 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

Whether you are a New Graduate building your foundation or an experienced clinician seeking scope and variety, Taranaki offers the rare chance to grow as a true generalist within a supportive, social, and highly collaborative team. You will enjoy broad clinical exposure across inpatient, outpatient, and community settings.  Depending on your level of experience, there is flexibility to primarily focus on one of these settings.

You will liaise closely with clients, whānau and other health professionals, and develop strong links with services as required, to deliver coordinated and holistic care.  

You will be independently completing safe and effective assessment and intervention across a mix of inpatient, outpatient and community settings. This includes working with a wide variety of clinical presentations, including dysphagia, stroke rehabilitation, neurodegenerative conditions, and acquired communication disorders. Experience or interest in Videofluoroscopic Swallowing Studies (VFSS) and Flexible Endoscopic Evaluation of Swallowing (FEES) is advantageous.   

You will also have access to regular supervision, peer support, if applicable the New Graduate Framework, as well as continued support for professional development.

Please click here to view the position description

About the Team/Service/ Location

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora-Taranaki is a “team of teams” and employs approximately 350 allied health professionals across its services. You will be joining the Adult Speech Language Therapy service; a welcoming team that is diverse in skills and experience, a team that welcomes collaboration, and that values the contribution of each team member. Speech Language Therapists practice as part of multi-disciplinary teams in a range of medical, surgical, rehabilitation, outpatient and community settings to support people facing health challenges across the lifespan.
The region is known for its friendly culture, affordable lifestyle, and outstanding access to the outdoors. With beaches, trails, and Taranaki Maunga all within easy reach, your workday finishes with real lifestyle freedom.

For more information on living and working in Taranaki click here

About you

A successful applicant will have been able to demonstrate their ability to be a clear communicator, have excellent time management skills, and be a builder of connections with clients, whānau, colleagues, and within the wider community.

You will need to have:-

·         A relevant qualification in Speech-language Therapy that is recognised and approved by the New Zealand Speech-language Therapists' Association (NZSTA) (essential)

·         Current member or eligible for membership of NZSTA (essential)

·         Annual Practising Certificate (APC) or eligibility for APC provided by NZSTA (essential)

·         Working visa/NZ residence/citizenship (as appropriate)

·         A full NZ drivers licence

·         Understanding and/or application of Te Tiriti o Waitangi

·         Competence in dysphagia assessment and management (or desire to develop)

·         The ability to work collaboratively with others to provide integrated care to clients with a diverse range of challenges

·         Strong clinical reasoning, understanding and knowledge of evidence-based practice as well as reflective practice

·         Excellent written and verbal communication skills

·         Commitment to culturally safe practice and equitable outcomes

·         Ideally, you will have two or more years of experience working in a health or disability field of practice, but we are open to applications from an early-career Speech Language Therapist

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 4 October 2026. If you have any questions about the role, please contact Leah Parkinson on email: Leah.Parkinson@tdhb.org.nz 

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