Psychologist - Karaka Special Treatment Unit at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Waikato

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• Make a real difference in the lives of offenders, their whānau and the community
• Be part of a close-knit, diverse and innovative team of passionate people
• Become a part of a world-leading treatment unit for men with serious offending where you can develop and share your expertise as a treatment provider

Mō te tūnga | About the role

Karaka Special Treatment Unit (STU) is a dedicated therapeutic "community of change" at Waikeria Prison, providing a structured therapeutic environment to support the rehabilitation of people with a history of high-risk and violent and sexual offending. The STU delivers evidence-based psychological programmes to reduce reoffending to a maximum of 44 men annually.

As a psychologist at Karaka STU, you play a key role in building meaningful therapeutic relationships with the men in our care, many of whom have faced significant challenges. You will work closely with colleagues to maintain a supportive environment where genuine change can occur.

Your work will involve recruiting, assessing, and developing treatment plans, report writing, and group work. You will also contribute to a therapeutic community kaupapa, ensuring a holistic and culturally responsive approach to rehabilitation. Throughout this time, you will have the ability to design and deliver complementary individual sessions as needed.

In this critical position, you are at the heart of this transformative journey. You will receive regular clinical and cultural supervision to ensure your success and continuous professional development. This position has flexibility between 0.8 and 1.0 FTE.

Click here to learn more about being a psychologist at Ara Poutama Aotearoa.

Mōu | About you

Join Karaka STU and work alongside a dedicated team to make a genuine impact. We are looking for someone with a passion for creating positive change, strong relational skills, and adaptability. In this role, you will navigate complex environments, collaborate closely with custodial staff, and contribute directly to positive transformations. Your resilience and creativity will be key as you balance multiple perspectives and engage in meaningful work. This is a chance to be proactive and reflective, combining your expertise with the satisfaction of making a real difference in the lives of those we serve.

Ngā painga | The benefits

The full salary range is $83,286 - $133,370. Appointment and remuneration will reflect clinical competency, skills, and experience relevant to the role. Frontline Psychologists also can work towards additional allowances and allocated professional development funding. We may also offer flexible and/or part-time options for working hours. Our additional benefits include:

• Generous annual leave – 5 weeks, increasing up to 6 weeks (depending on role and tenure)
• Departmental Day – one additional paid day each year to support team wellbeing and connection
• Professional development support – an annual professional development fund
• National psychology training forum – annual national forum for all psychologists to connect, learn, and share best practice
• Te Reo Māori and Tikanga allowance – support and recognition for cultural capability, particularly for Māori practitioners
• Professional Indemnity Insurance – employer contribution included
• Annual Practising Certificate (APC) – reimbursement provided
• Expert Witness Allowance – where applicable to role responsibilities
• Wellbeing supports, including:
• Eye examinations and eyewear subsidy
• Health and wellbeing appointments
• Access to Employee Assistance Programme (EAP)

Mō mātou | About us

Join Ara Poutama Aotearoa - Department of Corrections, where your work will contribute to improving public safety, reducing re-offending, and address the overrepresentation of Māori in correctional facilities. As a values-led organisation, we use the principles of rangatira (leadership), manaaki (respect), wairua (spirituality), kaitiaki (guardianship), and whānau (relationships) to guide our work and achieve the goals of our Hōkai Rangi strategy.

We value inclusion and diversity in our workforce, and as a Public Service organisation we are committed to building a workforce that reflects the public we serve. We strive to make our recruitment process fair, and we encourage you to discuss reasonable accommodations with us if required.

Tono ināianei | Apply Now

To submit an application and view the position description, click the apply link. All applications must be submitted through our careers site to ensure transparency – applications received via email will not be considered.

When applying, submit a tailored CV and a cover letter describing your motivation for joining the department highlighting relevant skills and experience and the alignment to our work.

Applications close on: Sunday, 26th July (We will respond to applications as they are submitted)

If you have any questions or want to learn more about a career with us, contact Tom.Nicholas@corrections.govt.nz, or visit careers.corrections.govt.nz.