Rehabilitation Advisor at NZ Defence Force, Wellington - Wairarapa

Mō tēnei tūranga mahi | About this role

Mō te tūnga | About the role

You will support and manage a caseload of veterans of all ages with a diverse range of service-related conditions, particularly those veterans who find themselves needing support regarding their mental or physical well-being. You will advise and make funding decisions to ensure best practice rehabilitation is achieved using evidence based knowledge and clinical experience. You will liaise with rehabilitation providers and treatment professionals around the world to ensure optimal outcomes for our veteran community.

Your day to day work will include working with veterans and their whanau to develop personalised rehabilitation programs to suit their needs. This support may include social rehabilitation to improve community engagement, vocational rehabilitation to support return to work opportunities, the provision of equipment or house modifications to support independence within the home, transport solutions to improve access to the community and much more. You will follow the veteran along the journey of wellbeing, supporting and modifying programs as required to help them achieve a successful and sustainable life as a civilian.

You will need to be solution minded and consider out of the box rehabilitation ideas and work with providers to make this happen. You will work to source culturally diverse treatment options to suit the requirements of the veteran and their whanau at every opportunity. 

Ngā pūkenga me ngā wheako | Skills and Experience

You will be a registered Allied Health Practitioner or Registered Nurse who holds a current annual practicing certificate with their respective board. A minimum of 5 years work experience in allied health or nursing is essential, preferably in the rehabilitation field.

Ideally, you will also have:

• Experience working with community rehabilitation programs such as Te Whatu Ora, ACC or other private funders;
• Experience managing a caseload and working within a Multidisciplinary team;
• Experience reviewing medical/rehabilitation reports and communicating this concisely to a mixed audience; and
• Experience working with people experiencing mental health challenges and an understanding of the management of these conditions.

Ideally, you will have experience working with a diverse group of clients and are both committed to, and understand, the importance of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.

Please note: If selected for interview you will be required to provide certified copies of your medical qualifications including your practicing/registration certificate and a statement of good standing.

A class 1 driver's licence is required. Occasional travel within NZ may be required.

Mō mātou | About Us

The Rehabilitation Team is a small team within the greater Veterans Affairs organisation. We work alongside the Case Management Team and support on complex cases where specialist skills and knowledge are essential.

Veterans' Affairs is exceptionally proud to represent and serve those who have fought in our country's best interests and who make sacrifices – even today – to ensure New Zealand remains a free and safe country. We provide support and services for veterans and their families.

We estimate that there are around 31,000 New Zealand veterans, of varying ages and with diverse backgrounds. With an age range from 19 to more than a hundred years old, our veterans include current New Zealand Defence Force personnel, those who have left the Defence Force and work in civilian roles, and retired ex-service personnel.

Every hour of every day, 365 days of the year, the New Zealand Defence Force is contributing to the defence, security and well-being of Aotearoa / New Zealand. As a modern, professional military, it is our goal to maintain well trained, equipped and disciplined armed forces that can react to crisis at short notice. 

Nōu te rourou | What's in it for you

NZDF is an inclusive organisation that is open to flexible working arrangements and welcomes applications from people regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, age, beliefs/opinions, or family circumstances.

In return for your expertise, dedication and hard work, NZDF is offering remuneration reflective of your experience, along with:

• Funding of your professional registration certificate (APC).
• Supportive career development including funding towards continuous professional development activities.
• Funding of regular clinical or professional supervision.
• 5 weeks annual leave per year.
• Supportive workplace that values the importance of whanau.
• Opportunities for career development and diversification.
• Flexible working environment.
• Great benefits for you and your family including:

o   Fully funded life cover up to $300,000.

o   Access to holiday accommodation across NZ.

o   Discounts Handbook for selected retail, entertainment and service providers.

Me pēhea te tuku tono | How to Apply

To view the Position Description and to Apply, please use the links on this page.

Please note:

• Applicants will be required to undergo a pre-employment drug screening test prior to any offer of employment being made.
• If you are an existing NZDF employee (excluding contractors) you must apply through our Internal Vacancies site, via the HR Toolkit.

Applications close on Sunday 12 February 2023.

Please note: Applicants must be legally entitled to work in New Zealand (NZ) and be able to obtain and maintain the required level of NZ Government security clearance for the position applied for. The minimum citizenship and residency criteria for security clearances to be granted by the NZ Defence Force are as follows:

Low level Security Clearance

• most preferably a NZ citizen, who has resided in this country continuously for at least the last five years, OR
• is a citizen of, and/or has resided continuously in one or more of the following countries for the last five years: either Australia, Canada, NZ, the United Kingdom (UK) or the United States of America (USA); and has a background history that is verifiable and can be assessed as appropriate by the NZ Security Intelligence Service (NZSIS) towards a recommendation of suitability for a security clearance at this level.

If you do not meet these minimum criteria, we will not be able to accept your application.