Psychology Assistant Project Manager - Planning, Funding and Outcomes at Te Whatu Ora, All Locations

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• 18-month fixed-term/secondment, part-time (up to 0.8FTE; 64 hours per fortnight) position 
• Work from where you are in New Zealand

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora is the country's largest employer, delivering universal public healthcare to 5 million New Zealanders.

We provide essential hospital, specialist, and community health services across 80+ locations — from large urban centres to rural towns and remote communities.

Our goal is to improve health outcomes for all New Zealanders by delivering equitable, accessible and innovative care.

Help shape the future of Aotearoa's mental health and addiction workforce

Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora's national Mentally Well team is seeking a motivated and skilled individual to support robust implementation of the new Psychology Assistant (PA) role across employment settings. This is an exciting opportunity to contribute to a national programme that improves access to psychological support, elevates equity, and strengthens pathways into the psychology workforce.

This fixed-term or secondment role is part-time—up to 0.8 FTE—for an initial 12 months, with the possibility of extension to 18 months. The position is anticipated to start Monday 9 February 2026, with flexibility depending on project needs.

You may apply as:
✔ A fixed-term contractor or employee (with your manager's approval if additional to your current role)

✔ A current Health NZ employee seeking secondment

About the Programme

The Psychology Assistant role is a key initiative under the Mental Health and Addiction Workforce Plan (2024), designed to:

• Expand and strengthen the mental health and addiction workforce
• Increase the number of psychology trainees and postgraduate enrolments
• Improve equitable access to psychological support for tāngata whai ora, with a specific commitment to improving outcomes for Māori
• Create supported career pathways for psychology graduates

A central intention of this programme is to uphold Te Tiriti o Waitangi through equitable design, inclusive sector engagement, strengthened Māori participation, and approaches that recognise mana, whanaungatanga, and rangatiratanga in workforce development.

About the Role

You will work within the national Mentally Well Enablement Team, contributing to a broad programme of MH&A workforce initiatives, with a specific focus on developing the Psychology Assistant workforce.

You will ensure that all project design, engagement, decision-making, and workforce development recommendations actively promote equity and incorporate Māori models of health and wellbeing.

You will lead or support work such as:

• Developing employer and employee guidance for PA roles.
• Designing new graduate training and support programmes that reflect Te Ao Māori values and incorporate culturally grounded practice expectations.
• Contributing to competency and professional development frameworks, including bicultural capability.
• Supporting career pathways and supervision models, including culturally responsive supervision structures.
• Engaging and collaborating with Lived Experience advisors and health, education and MH&A sectors (NGO, Primary and specialist).
• Contributing to related government or system-level tasks as required.

This role is flexible, collaborative, and can be based at any Health NZ office.

About you

We are looking for someone who brings:

• Experience working in a Health NZ-delivered or funded Mental Health & Addiction service, including Te Ao Māori contexts.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively within a national project team.
• Strong understanding of MH&A systems, models of care, and workforce needs.
• Familiarity with psychology workforce and regulatory structures, preferred. 
• Excellent project management, communication, and relationship-building skills.
• Proven ability to engage effectively across health, education, NGO, primary, and specialist sectors nationally.
• Understanding of MH&A clinical placements, supervision requirements, competency frameworks, and regulatory processes.

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 11:59PM Sunday 4 January 2026. For further information, please contact Nicole Rickard on nicole.rickard@tewhatuora.govt.nz or Sue Dashfield (Hiring Manager; Group Manager, Enablement – Mentally Well, Planning, Funding & Outcomes) on Sue.dashfield@tewhatuora.govt.nz.

Due to the December holiday period, this advert will remain open for an extended duration. Screening and interviews will commence from mid-January. We appreciate your patience and look forward to connecting with you in the new year.

Whilst Health New Zealand is undergoing change, affected kaimahi will be given preference and priority for this position.

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