Speech Language Therapist at NZ Ministry of Education, Whanganui

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

• 2 x Permanent, FTE Negotiable
• Whanganui
• Speech Language Therapist, within Learning Support

Help shape the future of Education

He mea tārai e mātou te mātauranga kia rangatira ai, kia mana taurite ai ōna huanga

We work to shape an education system that delivers equitable and excellent outcomes

At Te Tāhuhu o te Mātauranga | Ministry of Education, we work to provide services and support nationally, regionally and locally to the education sector, and in some cases, directly to ākonga and whānau.

We help shape the policies, settings and performance of the education system for early learning, schooling and tertiary. We do this by building relationships and understanding the needs of those who receive our services.

We are making significant changes to how we deliver our mahi by

• Taking practical action to give effect to te Tiriti o Waitangi.
• Giving priority to regional and local voice.
• Delivering greater responsiveness, accessibility and integrated services and support.
• Improving feedback loops and information flows.

Our organisation is made up of talented and committed people across Aotearoa from a wide range of backgrounds and cultures. While we work in different groups and on different things, we all strive every day to make the biggest difference we can for every child, young person and adult student in our education system.

About our group and team

Learning Support is a critical part of the Te Mahau, Te Tai Whenua.. We are charged with leading the education sector in ensuring that children and young people with additional learning needs are supported to achieve their full potential through education.

Our Learning Support specialists work closely with families, whānau, caregivers, schools and early childhood educators in English and Māori medium settings and other agencies to help maximise learning outcomes and promote social inclusion.

Mō tēnei tūranga | About this role

As a Speech Language Therapist, you will play a critical role in our region's Learning Support team by:

• Working to understand the impact of children and young people's communication needs in the context of their home, education setting and community
• Working closely with parents, caregivers, teachers, and other specialists to help them support their children with the development of speech, language and communication skills
• Working holistically as part of a trans-disciplinary team where a child's needs are complex.

Please note there is further information in the attached Job Description.

“At present we are unable to consider applications from overseas candidates who are not a New Zealand citizen or resident due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The New Zealand government has closed the international border and only New Zealand citizens and residents are able to enter the country at this time. In some circumstances, individuals can apply for a Critical Worker visa if they meet the criteria. Please refer to the Immigration New Zealand website for further information”.

Mōhou ake | About you

To be successful you will need:

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in Speech-Language Therapy or an equivalent that meets the requirements of the New Zealand Speech-Language Therapists' Association
• Specialist knowledge of theory, research and practice related to speech-language, child, and human development, and learning and behaviour
• Ability to translate specialist knowledge into practical information
• Ability to co-ordinate service provision in a multi-agency, trans-disciplinary setting
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills and an ability to work effectively with children, young people and their families and teachers across a diverse range of settings
• The ability to understand and apply the principles of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and tangata whenuatanga.

Kua rite koe mō tēnei mahi? | Are you ready to make a difference?

We need to reflect the diverse communities we serve, so we welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, orientations, and identities. As an organisation, we are committed to building racial equity and excellence in the education sector.

We provide flexible working environments where everyone feels relevant, valued and supported. So, if working from home and/or having a flexible start and finish to the day will help with this, we can usually make it happen. We'd love to hear what this might look like for you, so feel free to outline this in your Cover Letter.

In your cover letter we'd like to know:

• about you, your values, your whakapapa
• your interest and motivations for this role
• the abilities, strengths, personal attributes and diverse perspectives you will bring to the role and this organisation.

The Ministry invites applications from fully vaccinated people or people with a valid medical exemption (under the COVID-19 Public Health Response (Vaccinations) Order 2021). We will require evidence of your vaccination status, or your medical exemption, at the pre-employment stage of our recruitment process.

For further information, please contact Jillian Watt at 06 349 6356 or jillian.watt@education.govt.nz

Applications close Midnight Monday 30 May 2022