Psychologist - Whanganui and Palmerston North at Ara Poutama Aotearoa (Department of Corrections), Manawatu-Whanganui

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Mō te tūnga | About the role

We have four clinical psychology roles available across the Manawatū‑Whanganui-Taranaki region, based in Whanganui and Manawatū Prisons (Clinical Mental Health) and Palmerston North Community Corrections (Correctional Psychology).

Enjoy the culturally rich, welcoming riverside city of Whanganui, which offers affordable living, strong community connections, and a vibrant creative environment. Palmerston North is an affordable, well connected regional city with strong links to education, research, and social services. With easy commutes and excellent access to outdoor recreation, it offers a balanced and dynamic lifestyle.

Whanganui Prison and Manawatū Prison, Clinical Mental Health.

Based at either Whanganui Prison or Manawatū Prison, in this role you'll be part of the Intervention and Support Practice team, providing mental health assessment, treatment, and trauma‑informed support to people in our care. You'll work closely with our integrated health service to promote holistic, recovery‑focused wellbeing, and you'll have access to ongoing training and professional development.

Your work will include psychological assessment, formulation, trauma‑based interventions, and contributing specialist input within a multidisciplinary team. Our practice is grounded in evidence‑based approaches and guided by Hōkai Rangi values: Manaaki, Rangatira, Wairua, Kaitiaki, and Whānau.

Palmerston North Community Corrections, Psychological Services.

Based in the Community Corrections Hub, you will work across both prison and community settings. We service a diverse and complex population of individuals with a wide range of needs. There is a potential opportunity for work within a youth unit (young men aged 18–20) at Manawatū Prison.

You will carry out specialist psychological assessment and therapy with high‑risk individuals. Our team provides strong support, training, and supervision. A commitment to Te Tiriti o Waitangi and Hōkai Rangi is essential to this role.

Remand Roles

We are recruiting two clinical psychologists to develop services supporting the remand population in Manawatū and Whanganui prisons. One position is within the clinical mental health team, and the other is within the correctional psychology team. In these roles you will have the exciting opportunity to be part of the development of this new service within our region., While it is envisaged that these roles involve some autonomy, you will be part of supportive psychological or multi-disciplinary teams and working with a variety of people with a range of presentations.

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and experience

These professional teams call for someone who:

• Is reliable with strong communication skills.
• Has experience in clinical and/or correctional psychological assessment.
• Has a current registration (full or intern) with the New Zealand Psychologists Board.
• Can demonstrate and commit to culturally responsive ways of working.
• Is an excellent problem solver.
• Works well in a collaborative professional environment.
• Can demonstrate an understanding of Te Ao Māori/Tikanga Māori and bi-cultural practice.
• Has commitment to contributing to the outcomes of Hōkai Rangi.

In return our services can offer you:

• Vibrant supportive team cultures.
• Career-long professional development and supervision.
• An environment in which psychology informs organisational practices.
• A competitive salary and structured advancement opportunities.
• World class criminal justice psychology training and mentoring.

If this sounds like you, visit our website and apply now.

Ngā painga | The benefits

The salary range for the role is $83,286 - $133,370 per annum. Psychologists also can work towards additional allowances and are allocated professional development funding. We also offer flexible and/or part-time options for working hours. Appointment and remuneration will reflect skills and experience relevant to the role.

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. Please also highlight which of the advertised roles you are most interested in being considered for.

Applications close on Tuesday, 28th April

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